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Advice by Issue
Some of the most common issues we come across, and how to solve and prevent them.
How to keep your home warm |
Check your insulation | We can check your insulation for free, and provide a no obligation quote. We can also let you know if you qualify for insulation subsidies. Book your assessment |
Check your curtains | Your curtains should fully cover the windows and have two layers. There should be no looping gaps up the top - if so, you need more hooks. If you don't have good quality curtains, and can't afford them, contact our curtain bank |
Close curtain gaps | Above your curtains, if the tracks are not flush with the wall, you can put a rolled up towel or piece of cardboard there, which will make them much more effective. |
Seal doors | Particularly important in earthquake damaged homes. CEA sells door sausages for internal doors, brush strips for external doors, and V seal for gaps in the frame of windows and doors. Shop now |
DIY window insulation | Starting from $30, DIY window insulation acts like double glazing for windows on wooden frames. Studies have shown it is as effective as some forms of retrofit double glazing. Shop now |
Utilise the sun | Make the most out of the free heat from the sun by pulling curtains in the morning. Close them before dark to prevent heat escaping. |
Heat your home | Health experts say living areas should be between 18 and 21 degrees, sleeping areas between 16 and 18 degrees, and both areas slightly warmer for sick people, elderly, and children. You can use a thermometer to check your home's temperature when you are heating it as you normally would. If it doesn't reach those temperature ranges, call us for help. |
Ventilate | Ventilation is very important to maintaining a warm and healthy home. |
How to keep your home dry |
Always use extractor fans | In the kitchen and bathroom when cooking or bathing. If you don't have one, open a window, and leave it open for a few minutes after you finish using the room. |
Remove condensation daily | If you leave condensation on your windows, it just evaporates back into your home, leaving moisture in the air that leads to dampness and mould. Remove condensation each morning, using a scoopy (available online) and you will find that there is less to remove each day! |
Remove mould | Wear gloves, a mask, and eye protection when removing mould. For light mould issues, the cheapest and least toxic cleaning solution is warm soapy water. Use an old toothbrush, scrubbing brush, or cloth to scrub the area well. You may need to use abit of elbow grease here! Flush the cleaned area with water or rinse with fresh damp cloths. Dry the area off with dry, clean cloths. For major mould issues, seek the advice of a professional or give us a call on 0800 GET WARM. |
Ventilate daily | Open windows on opposite sides of the house for at least 10 minutes every day, even in winter. Cold, dry air is easier to heat than stale damp air, so even though it may seem wrong, this is essential! |
Keep doors closed | to the bathroom, kitchen and laundry whenever possible, as these rooms create the most moisture. |
Dry clothes outside | Whenever possible. One load of laundry inside can produce up to 5 litres of moisture. If you have to dry clothes inside, do so in the bathroom or laundry, with the door shut and window open. |
Re-position your furniture | Leaving a gap between your furniture and the external walls of your home will allow air to circulate, and prevent moisture from being trapped. This will help prevent mould on your walls and furniture. |
Air out your wardrobe | Open wardrobes and drawers to allow air to circulate. This will help prevent the mouldy smell on your clothes |
Underfloor damp proofing | CEA can install a polythene vapour barrier under the floor, below insulation, which prevents damp from rising up from the soil and through the floorboards. Our assessors will let you know if your home needs damp proofing when doing an insulation assessment. |
How to reduce your power bill |
Shorter showers | Your hot water consumption can account for up to 30% of your power bill, so make it a rule to keep your showers short. |
Heat pump etiquette | Using your heat pump correctly will save you power. Firstly, make sure it is set correctly; in winter this means that the mode is set to heat (or the sun symbol) and the fan speed is set to auto. Secondly, make sure your filters are clean; pull them out and vacuum them once a month. |
Ventilate daily | Dry homes are easier and therefore cheaper to heat, so make sure you ventilate daily! Open windows on opposite sides of the house for 10 minutes during the warmest part of the day. |
Wash smarter | Think about ways to reduce your bill in the laundry. Do cold water washes when you can, and dry clothes outside whenever possible. |
Cook smarter | Cook using your microwave/slow-cooker, they both use less power than the oven. |
Utilise the sunshine | Open curtains first thing in the morning to let the sun in, and close them at dusk to trap the heat inside your home. |
Say no to standby | Leaving your appliances switched on at the wall still uses power. Switch them off at the wall when you are not using them - especially if going away. |
