Is your house cold?

 

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.

 

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 leads to dampness and mould. Remove condensation each morning, using a scoopy (available in our online store) and you will find that there is less to remove each day!

 

Remove mould

 

Using a spray solution of 70% white vinegar, 30% hot water spray onto the effected area, wipe off after 1 minute. Using bleach does not remove mould, it just bleaches it white.

 

 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 then stale damp air, so even though it may seem wrong, this is essential!

 

Keep doors closed

 

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 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 circulate. This will help prevent mouldy smell on your clothes.

 

Underfloor damp proofing

 

CEA can install polythene vapor 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 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 your 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 the ways to reduce your bill in the laundry. Do cold water washes when you can, and dry clothes outside whenever possible.

 

Utilise the sunshine

 

Open curtains first thing in the morning to let 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.