IN THE AIR TONIGHT

Do you walk into your home and notice a musty smell during winter? Do you often wake up to wet windows on the inside? And are you layering on extra clothing and blankets while watching TV to keep toasty and warm? With HRV ventilation and heating, you don’t have to live like this any more

We Kiwis have a certain attitude when it comes to winter – it’s that ‘she’ll be right’ mentality that seems to be part of our DNA. Every year around this time we buy a new hot-water bottle, bring the blankets down from the linen cupboard for night-time TV watching, and set the alarm clock 10 minutes earlier to wipe the condensation off the windows.

But what we Kiwis might not know is that an inability to maintain adequate warmth in your home can affect the health of those living in the home.* Warmer houses are better able to deal with moisture, and a warmer, drier indoor environment reduces the likelihood of damp and mould.* You could already be living in a home that suffers from condensation or has visible mould. According to the HRV State of Home Survey 2017, 37 percent of New Zealand homes suffer from condensation and 34 percent of homes have visible mould.** A combination of these factors can make for uncomfortable living conditions in your home.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?

Introducing the healthy home dream team from HRV: ventilation and heating. Since a drier home requires less energy to heat than a damp one, using adequate ventilation and heating in tandem means a warmer, drier home for you and your family.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Damp air is harder to heat, which is why a ventilation system partnered with a heat pump is the perfect combination. Good ventilation will help to reduce dampness, mould, odours and moisture, bringing filtered, drier air into your home. This dry air is then more energy efficient to heat with your heat pump.

WHY IS THIS BETTER FOR YOU?

It’s simple! If your home is damp and unventilated, there’s a high chance there’s mould present and while you may not be able to see it, you may be breathing it in. Ventilation helps to remove stale air and replaces it with the fresh stuff. It provides up to three filtered air changes per hour which can help reduce airborne particles in the home.

HOW EFFICIENT IS THIS SYSTEM?

Think about it: if you have a damp home, then all your furnishings, clothing and other belongings will have a colder surface temperature, meaning your whole house will take longer to heat up. Keeping the dampness out of the air means your heat pump won’t have to work as hard to heat your home, making the whole process more energy efficient.

WHAT’S THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU?

Use HRV’s online Home Solutions Generator to find the right heating and ventilation system for your home. Visit HRV.co.nz or phone 0800 HRV 123.