Tips and advice for

healthier homes

1
Habitat for Humanity is a registered charity and Community Housing
Provider. In pursuit of our vision, a world where everyone has a decent
place to live, Habitat builds and manages affordable housing, delivers
essential repair and renovation services and advocates on behalf of
those in housing need. All of our work is delivered in partnership, and
focused on building strength, stability and independence through the
provision of decent shelter.

Healthier Homes

Our behaviour within the home can have a huge impact on the health
of our loved ones – making simple changes can benefit everyone.
These tips and advice will help you keep your home warmer, drier and
help to reduce your power bills.

The information in this booklet was informed by the Healthy Homes

Initiative Assessment Manual, developed by Te Whatu Ora - Health
New Zealand.

Contact Us

Habitat for Humanity Auckland / Northland

habitat.org.nz/northern/how-we-help
0800 422 4828
northern@habitat.org.nz
 Contents

05 About home insulation

06 Legal requirements and keep yourself safe

07 How to stop losing heat through windows

08 About curtains and rails

09 Top tips

10 How to hang your curtains and rails

12 How to stop draughts

14 How to heat your home

15 Using your heater and hot water bottle

16 How to use your heat pump

18 How to calculate heating costs

19 How to use your hygrometer

20 How to make your home less damp

24 How to clean your extractor fan or rangehood

26 Energy saving tips

29 How to clean mould

31 Basic home maintenance

32 Fire safety in your home

34 Useful links and information

 About Home Insulation

Insulating a home has many benefits. Insulation provides a sound

barrier for your home, keeps the heat in and makes rooms easier to
heat, keeping energy costs down. Insulation is the barrier that will
stop heat escaping out your walls, ceiling, and floors.

Most homes built after 2008, or homes that have been checked
since 2016, will have adequate insulation.

How to find out if your home is insulated:

• You can check the insulation yourself.

• Do an online check to help with understanding what to look for
visit: homefit.org.nz/self-assessment/basic-information/
• Our Habitat Healthy Homes Assessors can check whether the
existing insulation meets standards.

How to check insulation:

• Look for the trap doors that lead to the ceiling space and the
underfloor area.
• Check inside the trapdoors for an insulation notice or label – it
will be stapled just inside the door.
• Use your phone or camera on a selfie stick to photograph the
ceiling and underfloor insulation through the trap doors.
• You may also be able to photograph the underfloor insulation
through the slats.
• You can ask an insulation installer to check if you are living in a
rental property.

Residential Tenancy Act

Landlords must provide tenants with an insulation statement telling

you about the insulation provided in the home. Since July 2021
insulation must meet insulation standards for all new tenancies.

I N S U L AT I O N | 5
 Legal Requirements

Legal Requirements for Zone 1 (Auckland and Northland):

Roof = R 2.9 - Floor = R 1.3

An insulation statement and ceiling and underfloor insulation (where

it can be installed) are legal requirements for rental properties. If a
landlord does not provide these, they face penalties.

Existing ceiling insulation must be at least 120mm thick, and under-

floor insulation should be installed between all the joists. Insulation
should have no mould, dampness or gaps.

If you do not think the ceiling and underfloor insulation is up to

standard, or you do not have an insulation statement, talk to your
landlord first. If you do not get any response, check the Tenancy
Services website at www.tenancy.govt.nz or call 0800 836 262.

Keep yourself safe

It is important your priority is keeping yourself safe when checking
insulation in your home.

DO:
• Use a small ladder.
• Ask a professional to give you advice.
• Use appropriate facemasks, gloves and coveralls if needed.

DON’T:
• Climb on furniture to check insulation.
• Touch foil that has been installed under the floor, it is an
electrocution hazard!

I N S U L AT I O N | 6
 How to stop losing heat
through your windows

Windows are often the weakest link in a home when it comes to

heat loss. At night and when it is cold outside, a lot of your indoor
heat goes out windows. This means your home is either colder or
you spend more money on heating it.

Fix - or ask your landlord to fix – any gaps letting heat out:
• Broken windowpanes.
• Gaps or rot in window frames.

Try DIY window insulation:

• Start by cleaning your window and sills thoroughly.
• To use bubble wrap, spray a little water on the glass and press
the bubble wrap to the window. It should stay there for the
winter.

BUBBLE WRAP
VIDEO TUTORIAL

Alternatively:
• Buy a window insulation kit for wooden-framed windows. These
create an air pocket between the windowpane and the plastic
which acts just like insulation.
• Attach the plastic film to the window frames with double-sided
tape, and then shrink it to fit using a hair dryer.
• Replace faulty window latches to ensure you can close your
windows and maintain a tight seal.
• These items are available to buy from Mitre 10 or Bunnings.

I N S U L AT I O N | 7
 About curtains and rails

Curtains are a relatively affordable form of insulation and can

significantly reduce heat loss through windows. However, the way
they are hung, materials they are made from and the way in which
they are used will largely determine whether they are effective or
not.

Choosing a curtain with separate lining that are full length to the
floor will help reduce heat loss and provide better insulation against
the cold.

We recommend using mutli-fixed or face-fixed rails as there is less

chance of warm air falling behind the curtain and being lost out the
window.

We recommend sealing the bottom of curtains if they do not reach

the floor – either using something to push up against them or
taping them to the sill so air cannot escape out the bottom. This is
the easiest way to keep a large amount of heat in your home.

I N S U L AT I O N | 8
 Top Tips

• Open your curtains in the morning. Let the free heat from the sun
warm your house. Close your curtains before it gets cold outside
and lock in the warmth from the sun and your heater.

• Open windows for at least half an hour every day as this will
encourage the circulation of fresh air and dry out your home. You
can also use a scoopy or a cloth to wipe off any condensation on
the inside of the windows. This will help prevent mould forming
on the backs of the curtains.

• Remove dust build up. Regularly vacuum your curtains to

remove the build up of dust and ingrained dirt. Alternatively,
shaking your curtains or putting them through the drier on a cold
spin will remove dust build up and keep your curtains fresh.

• Don’t wash your curtains too often. Curtains can be washed in

a machine, but hand washing curtains is better. Curtains should
be air dried on the line to avoid shrinkage – do not dry curtains
inside as remember this creates moisture in the air.

• Clean mould build-up on lining or replace lining where needed.

Using hot soapy water regularly to clean the back of curtains will
help keep mould away. Remember to dry curtains so that all the
dampness has gone. Mould on curtains is not healthy and should
be removed or replaced.

I N S U L AT I O N | 9
 How to hang your curtains and rails

Rails

Measure the length of the window from the frame and add 20cm to
either side (so curtains sit on the wall, not in front of the
window).

1. Cut the rail to the measurement using a hacksaw.

2. Ensure there are enough gliders needed to hang the curtains.
3. Screw the rails to the trim using a screwdriver or drill.
4. Insert the end caps to both sides.

CURTAIN RAILS
VIDEO TUTORIAL

Curtains

1. Before hanging the curtains, pull the string on the back to get an
even gather. The curtain should be gathered so the curtain fits
half of the window. (Do not tie off the ends yet).
2. Put curtain hooks onto the back of the curtain. Count the
number of gliders on the curtain track to give you the number of
curtain hooks to put on.
3. Glide the curtain hooks onto the curtain gliders on the track. Pull
the curtain to half way across the window. Pull the string again
if the curtain reaches past half of the window, or pull the curtain
to reach half of the window.
4. Tie off the string.

I N S U L AT I O N | 10
 CURTAIN
VIDEO TUTORIAL

Cleaning your curtains

• We recommend washing every 12 months.

• Do not handle fabrics with dirty hands as this will spoil the fabric.
• Remove hooks and rims before cleaning.
• Cold or warm hand wash with a gentle detergent is best. Do not
wring or rub.
• If hand washing is not an option, machine wash on delicate using
cold cycle.
• Do not tumble dry. Drip dry in the shade with the fabric side
down. Avoid any lining coated side touching as they may stick.
• Warm iron on fabric side only.
• Summertime is the best time to clean curtains.

I N S U L AT I O N | 11
 How to stop draughts

Draughts happen when there are gaps in your home that cause cold
air to force its way in through gaps around windows and doors.

How to find draughts:

• Identify gaps around windows or doors, in floorboards, holes

in walls, ceilings or floors, loose cat flaps, or open chimneys.
• Look for places you can see light coming through.
• Hold a piece of tissue close to the gap. If it flutters, air is
getting in.

How to stop draughts

It is relatively cheap to stop draughts. Below outlines the most

common products and provides tips for their use.

Doors and Windows

• Check doors and windows. If they are loose, tighten them

with a screwdriver. If they do not fit in their frames snugly,
contact Habitat or your local builder to see how we can help.

Draught Snakes

Try a door snake along the bottom of doors. You can buy one or
make one by stuffing a stocking or sock with newspaper, or by using
scrap fabric or old jeans filled with kitty litter. These are a portable
solution to blocking draughts under doors.

D R A U G H T S T O P P I N G | 12
Self-Adhesive Foam, V-Seals or Brush Strips

Widely available from hardware stores like Bunnings or Mitre 10

in different thicknesses for you to cut the length you require. Fit
draught excluders or brush strips for gaps under external doors.

V-Seal is used to go around doors and windows. Ensure you clean

and dry the surface first.

BRUSH STRIPS
VIDEO TUTORIAL

Flexible Sealant

If you own your own home – you can use flexible sealant to fill gaps
between walls, skirting, and floorboards. If you rent, ask you landlord
to do this.

D R AU G H T STO P P I N G | 13
 How to heat your home

Heating your home helps keep your whānau healthy. The World
Health Organisation suggests you heat your rooms to at least 18°C.
Living in rooms below 16°C affects breathing and living (or sleeping)
in rooms below 12°C affects your heart. There are some DO’S and
DON’TS when it comes to heating.

DO:
• Choose the right heater for the space - small electric heaters are
good for smaller rooms like bedrooms. Use heat pumps for
larger rooms.
• Use the thermostat and timer on your heaters so they only come
on when you need them and automatically switch off when they
reach a certain temperature. This is especially important for heat
pumps.
• Heat your bedrooms, especially if young children or older people
are sleeping in them - bedrooms can get very cold overnight.
• Turn off heaters in rooms you are not using.
• Heat the space you are using regularly.
• Shut doors between rooms and corridors to keep heat trapped
in the room you are using.
• Use blankets and/or hot water bottles to keep yourself warm.

DON’T:
• Put a heater underneath a window - the heat will go straight out the
window.
• Heat hallways - the heat will not get into bedrooms.
• Use unflued gas heaters - like LPG cabinet heaters, patio heaters,
gas BBQs or cookers - to heat your home.

Using unflued gas heaters to heat your home is bad for your health.
They release poisonous gases, such as sulphur dioxide and carbon
monoxide into the room because they have no chimney or flue
taking them outside. They release one litre of water per hour of use,
making your home damper and harder to heat. Even though these
heaters are cheaper to buy, they are one of the most expensive
heaters to run. Many people have to run a dehumidifier as well.

H E AT I N G | 14
 How to use your heater

Read the heater manual to ensure you are using it efficiently.

Thermostats and timing functions can help you to manage the
energy you use.

HEATER
VIDEO TUTORIAL

How to use your hot water bottle:

Please make sure you follow these instructions carefully:

1. When filling your hot water bottle, do not use boiling water. Fill to
a maximum of two-thirds or less. Do not overfill, this may cause the
hot water bottle to burst.

2. Hold the hot water bottle by the neck in an upright position and fill
slowly to avoid hot water splashing back.

3. Expel air from the hot water bottle by lowering it carefully onto a
flat surface until water appears at the opening.

4. Screw the stopper sufficiently tight to ensure that there is no

leakage. Finger-tight should be adequate.

5. Finally, make sure the funnel is empty.

H E AT I N G | 15
 How to use your heat pump

Heat pumps are very efficient heaters (they don’t cost as much to
run) but you need to know how to use them. These tips will help you
understand the different settings and how to programme your heat
pump. The recommended minimum temperature in the living room is
18°C and this allows you to stay warm without a huge power bill.

How to programme your heat pump:

1
Press MODE or MASTER
CONTROL button until you
have selected the Heat (Sun)
setting.

2
Press the FAN button
until you have selected the
Auto Fan setting.

H E AT I N G | 16
 3
Setting the TEMPERATURE
higher makes it work harder and
it will cost you more in power
bills. Running a heat pump at
26°C will use 50% more power
than at 21°C.

4
Use the SWING button to adjust
the direction of the air flow
down into the room.

For heating, direct the warm air

down across the floor where it
will rise up, warming the room.

Press the SWING button to stop

the flap at the right position.

Remember to clean the filters at least monthly

H E AT I N G | 17
 How to calculate heating costs

It can be useful to find out how much your heating is costing. This
can help you decide between heaters or to budget how much
heating you can use. Heating is important - you will need to heat
your home for your whānau to be healthy. Yes, you can put on
another coat but the air you breathe will still be cold.

Step 1: Look at the label on your heater

to find how much power it uses. It will
be in watts (W). You can turn this figure
into kilowatts (kW) by dividing it by
1000.

An electric heater is usually no more

than 2400W (or 2.4kW) heater. This
means that if you turned the heater on
full for one hour, it would use 2.4 kWh
(kilowatt hour) of power.

Step 2: Look on your power bill. It will

show the price per unit of electricity.
This will show your price in cents – for
example, 18.37 cents.

VARIABLE USAGE CHARGE kWh x 18.37 cents/kWh

DAILY FIXED CHARGE 29 days x 216.87 cents/day

ELECTRICITY AUTHORITY LEVY 917 kWh x 0.12 cents/kWh

Step 3: Calculate how much it costs to run the heater for an hour
by multiplying the unit price of electricity by the power used by the
heater.

Power used by heater for

Unit price of electricity Cost to run for an hour
an hour (kW)

2.4 x 18.37 = 44.09

2.4kW (2400 W) 18.37 cents
(44 cents every hour)

H E AT I N G | 18
 How to use your hygrometer

A hygrometer measures the temperature of the room, and the

levels of humidity in a room (how damp the air is). Knowing whether
your home is cold or warm, or dry or damp is an important part of
keeping your home healthy. Hygrometers are a great tool to let you
know whether you need to open your windows (ventilate) or heat
your home.

The ideal humidity is between 40 – 70%. Levels over 70% are

ideal for mould and dust to thrive, causing allergies, ill health and
respiratory illness.

HYGROMETER
VIDEO TUTORIAL

If humidity is above 70% open doors and windows to let damp air
out, preferrably in the morning. The ideal temperature is 18°C, or
20°C for homes with young people, elderly or ill people.

Temperatures below 16°C affect respiratory function and

temperatures below 12°C affect heart function. If the temperature
falls below this in a room that is being used, use heating to warm it
up.

Remember, if humidity levels are high, it will take longer to warm the
room so try to keep humidity between the ideal levels.

H E AT I N G | 19
 How to make your home less damp

Mould forms when warm, damp air rises and attaches to a cold
surface, creating condensation. The easiest way to manage/prevent
mould is to let old, damp air out and let new, fresh air in.

Dampness comes into your home:

• From outside the home via leaks or rising from the ground
under your home.
• From inside your home, e.g. dripping taps.
• From the things you do in the home, e.g. cooking, or drying
clothes inside.

Did you know?

• Showers release a half litre of moisture every 10 minutes.

• Cooking on your stove top releases a quarter litre of water every
10 minutes.
• That even breathing creates condensation in your home? That is
why it is best to open your curtains and windows when you get
up in the morning. Let all that dampness out and put fresh new
air into your home so you can breathe easier – it is easy to do
and it is free.

Dampness and mould are bad for your health. Damp conditions
mean more colds and flu, especially for young children or older
people. Mould likes to grow in homes that are damp and cold. Mould
irritates asthma and allergies and makes respiratory illnesses worse.

Here’s what you can do inside your home:

• Use extractor fans.

• Open windows to let the steam out.
• Wipe the shower dry after using.

R E D U C I N G D A M P | 20
 • Close the door to the rest of the home.
• Put lids on your pots while cooking.
• Use your kitchen extractor fan or range hood or close the door
to the rest of the home.
• Mop up the condensation on your windows and dry the cloths
outside.
• Air your home out - open the home right up for 15 minutes so all
the inside air is blown through and replaced by clean, fresh air.
Ideally do when sunny and dry.
• Do not used unflued gas heaters e.g., LPG heaters, patio
heaters, gas BBQs or cookers – inside. These release one litre of
water into the air every hour they are used - many people end up
running a dehumidifier as well.
• Do not dry washing inside - drying one towel inside can add up
to half a litre of water into the air. A whole load can release 2-5
litres into the air.

Using a scoopy to remove condensation from windows:

Wipe down weeping windows on winter mornings and ventilate

rooms to prevent mould forming on backs of curtains. Simply push
the scoopy up the window, collect the condensation in the handle
and pour it down the sink.

SCOOPY
VIDEO TUTORIAL

R E D U C I N G D A M P | 21
The Healthy Homes Standards for rental homes require:

• All bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, lounges and kitchens

should have at least one door or window that opens to the
outside.
• All kitchens and bathrooms must have an extractor fan that
ventilates to the outside.
• Homes where you can get underneath the floor, should have a
ground moisture barrier.
• These are your landlord’s responsibility.

Here’s what you can do outside your home:

• A surprising amount of dampness comes from under and around

your home.
• Remove any vegetation or other obstructions keeping the sun off
the home.
• Remove anything blocking underfloor vents - a breeze under
your home will dry out the soil.
• Remove soil in contact with the cladding.
• Report any drainage, leaks or dripping taps to your landlord if
you’re renting or fix them if you are the owner.
• If you own your home, invest in extractor fans and ground vapour
barriers.

Ground moisture barrier

This is a sheet of polythene laid

over the ground under the home
to stop the damp rising into the
home. If you are an owner, you can
install a moisture barrier yourself.
You can find instructions on the
Eco Design Advisor website:
www.ecodesignadvisor.org.nz

R E D U C I N G D A M P | 22
 How to clean your
extractor fan or rangehood

Even if we’re careful, we create moisture in our homes, especially

in the kitchen and bathroom. The damp can make respiratory
illnesses much worse and it provides ideal conditions for mould to
grow (mould also makes people sick). Having kitchen and bathroom
extractor fans, and using them properly, helps remove moisture.

Checking your extractor fans and rangehoods:

• Your fan/rangehood needs to be sucking enough of the damp

air out of the room – hold a piece of A4 paper under the fan and
if it doesn’t suck it up, then it needs checking to see if the filter
needs cleaning.
• The fans have filters which need to be cleaned regularly to
work properly. Be careful when you do this – turn off anything
electrical and make sure you’re not climbing to reach the fans.
- For rangehoods, you can generally remove the filters and
- wash them in a bucket.
- For ceiling extractor fans, you may be able to vacuum out
- the fan intake.
• The fan must take the damp air out of the home, not just into
the roof. You can check this by looking outside – you will see
the outside vent in the soffit, or, in some homes, it will be a pipe
coming out of the roof.

Use your extractor fans and rangehoods:

• Use them – they are not expensive to run, around 1 cent per
hour.
• Many bathroom fans that are connected to the lights are
designed to run for a certain amount of time after you turn the
light off. The fan isn’t broken – it’s continuing to remove moisture
from the room.

V E N T I L AT I O N | 24
Your responsibilities as a tenant are to:

• Use the extractor fans provided.

• Ensure they are cleaned.
• Let your landlord know if they are not working.

The Healthy Homes Standards for rental homes require:

• All kitchens and bathrooms must have an extractor fan vented to

the outside. If there is already a working extractor fan vented to
the outside, then it does not need to be replaced.
• These are your landlord’s responsibilities.

The deadlines vary:

• Applies to all new and renewed tenancies in private rentals from

1 July 2021.
• Applies to social housing from 1 July 2023.
• Applies to all private rentals from 1 July 2024.

V E N T I L AT I O N | 25
 Energy Saving Tips

The cost of energy is significant for many homeholds. We use

energy for heating and cooling, using appliances, showering,
cooking, and running our homes.

Check out our Energy Saving Tips for ideas on reducing energy in
areas so you can put towards other areas such as heating the home.

1. Ease your shower flow

If your shower fills a 10-litre bucket in less than a

minute, it’s wasting water. Replacing your shower
head with one that flows more efficiently (9 litres
a minute or less) will cut your hot water use
significantly.

2. Reduce shower times

The shower is not only the greatest water user in the
bathroom but is responsible for 27 per cent of water
use in the home overall. The more water you use
in the shower, the greater the water heating costs
are. Reducing water use in the shower will have a
significant impact on energy and water savings. The
average time spent in the shower is eight minutes,
but we recommend reducing shower time to four
minutes.

E N E R G Y S AV I N G | 26
3. Fix Dripping Taps

Depending on how bad the leak is, dripping hot taps can
cost you hundreds of dollars a year. Anyone is allowed
to replace tap washers, and a new washer doesn’t cost
a lot. If you can’t work out how to do it though, don’t try
to force it – just call a plumber! Damaged taps can be
expensive items to replace.

4. Wrap Hot Water Cylinders

In older Kiwi homes, airing cupboards were often

situated near or above the hot water cylinder to take
advantage of the escaping heat. Some pre-2002
electric hot water cylinders aren’t insulated very well
and should have a cylinder wrap.

5. Wrap Hot Water pipes

You should also insulate the first 1-1.5 metres of hot

water pipe coming off your hot water cylinder. While you
can’t put a cylinder wrap on a gas hot water system,
you can make sure any water pipes leading to or from
the unit (either located outside your home or under the
floor) are insulated to protect them from freezing and
bursting in winter.

E N E R G Y S AV I N G | 27
6. Check your hot water temperature

It should be 60°C at the cylinder to prevent the

growth of legionella bacteria and no more than 55°C
at the tap to keep your whānau safe from burns.
Depending on the age and design of your cylinder,
you may need a plumber or electrician to adjust your
thermostat. Research has found that an extra 10°C
on the thermostat of your hot water system could
be costing you $25 a year with a modern cylinder, or
double that for an older one.

7. LED Lightbulbs

Choose LED lightbulbs as opposed to incandescent

bulbs – they are cheaper to run and last 15 times
longer!

8. Conservation

Turn it off at the wall if you are not using it! This
includes lights and appliances such as TV’s, stereos,
playstations, microwaves, and anything else not
needed to be run 24/7 (such as a fridge or freezer).

Take advantage of natural light – open your curtains

and use the sun to produce free heat!

9. Dress for the weather

Wrap up in the winter and use blankets and hot water

bottles to keep yourself warm.

E N E R G Y S AV I N G | 28
 How to clean mould

Mould occurs naturally in the air - all it needs to grow in our homes
is moisture and some food e.g. dust. Because mould spores are
airborne, it can be breathed in. Mould is linked to poor health,
particularly respiratory problems. Taking action to prevent
dampness in your home will help make it less likely that mould
grows in your home.

There are four steps to cleaning mould:

If you have allergies or asthma, ask someone else to do this cleaning.

Step 1: Protect yourself

• Wear gloves, a mask and eye protection.

• Open the windows and doors so there is plenty of air flow.
• Wash your clothes afterwards.

Step 2: Scrub

• Scrub with an old toothbrush, scrubbing brush or cloth to get all

mould off the surface.
• You don’t need to buy special cleaning products - you can use
warm soapy water.
• Clean your brushes and cloths well or throw them out.

Step 3: Rinse

• Rinse it off with clean water or cloths.

• Make sure no mould is left.

Step 4: Dry

• Dry off the area with dry clean cloths.

• Keep walls and windows dry by wiping off condensation.

HOME MAINTENANCE | 29
 CLEANING MOULD
VIDEO TUTORIAL

Maintenance

Repeat these steps every time mould appears. Clean mould as

soon as you see small patches as they can turn into large patches
quickly. Large patches of mould (over one square metre) should be
professionally cleaned.

For mould on fabric (e.g., bedding, curtains), read manufacturer’s

instructions and either; wash and dry thoroughly, take to the dry
cleaners, or throw out.

H O M E M A I N T E N A N C E | 30
 Basic home maintenance

If you are a homeowner or a landlord, it is important to provide a

healthy home and maintain your investment.

Why?
• Gaps in your roof, floor or walls let cold air in and warm air
out. Cold homes lead to more colds, flu, and illness.
• Leaks make the air and surfaces in your home damp and
mouldy. Mould makes asthma and respiratory illness worse
and you will pay more in doctors and medical bills.
• Repair leaks - water damage to your home that will cost
more to repair than the leak itself.
• It’s cheaper to do small maintenance jobs like cleaning and
paint touch ups, than to do big repairs.

Checklist
• Clear gutters of leaves and silt.
• Prune trees away from the roof or blocking windows.
• Clear anything blocking underfloor vents.
• Check the roof for leaks.
• Check and clean drains. Make sure water drains away from
the home.
• Fix any leaking taps or pipes.
• Check doors and windows for damage. Make sure they close
properly.
• Clean filters in heat pumps.
• Clean outlets and intakes for extractor fans and rangehoods.
• Check for mould. Clean mould less than 1m² regularly.

H O M E M A I N T E N A N C E | 31
 Fire safety in your home

Check your home for these things:

Kitchen

• The stovetop is clean and free of any spilled fats or burnt foods.
• The rangehood filters have been cleaned recently.
• There’s a fire extinguisher near the kitchen and you and your
whānau know how to use it.

Living room and bedrooms

• The fireplace has a screen with a proper fireguard, and the

chimney has been checked and/or swept in the last year.
• Powerpoints or multiboards are not overloaded with high
wattage appliances like heaters.
• Matches, lighters or other fire-starting tools are stored out of
reach of children.
• Lights are fitted with the correct bulb size and rating (in watts).
• Electric blankets are in good condition, and not more than five
years old.

Laundry

• There’s no lint built up in the clothes dryer filter (whānau should

check this after every use).
• There’s plenty of ventilation and air space around the clothes
dryer.

Outdoors

• BBQ fittings are tight and secure, and there’s at least one
metre of clear space around the BBQ. Use the soap bubble
test to make sure there are no leaks.
• Flammable liquids in sheds or garages are stored in appropriate
containers.

H O M E M A I N T E N A N C E | 32
Smoke alarms

• There are smoke alarms installed in every bedroom, living area

and hallway in the home — ideally, long-life photoelectric ones.
• Smoke alarms are working properly and have fresh batteries.
• If you are a tenant, it’s your responsibility to make sure batteries
are replaced regularly on smoke alarms that are not long-life
smoke alarms. These usually have an easily accessed 9-volt
battery. You must also tell your landlord if the smoke alarm stops
working.

HOME MAINTENANCE | 33
 Useful links and information

• Winter energy payment

workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/winter-energy-
payment.html

• Warmer, drier homes

health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/warmer-drier-homes

• Make the most of your electricity

energymate.nz

• More information about Habitat Northern Region

habitat.org.nz/northern

• More Housing Help and Tutorials

habitat.org.nz/housing-help/

D R A U G H T S T O P P I N G | 34
D R A U G H T S T O P P I N G | 36