HOME & DRY

Kiwis are becoming increasingly aware that cold, damp homes are bad for our health and wellbeing, particularly during winter. But there are other lesser known downsides to excess household moisture that could cost you money over time

Many Kiwi homes have condensation issues. According to the HRV State of the Home survey 2017, 37 percent of the homeowners surveyed say they struggle with it.* Beyond personal health issues, a persistently damp home can quickly start to degrade, potentially causing expensive damage over time.

Moisture can prematurely deteriorate internal paintwork, with peeling and bubbling causing the breakdown of even recently completed paint jobs. Repainting isn’t cheap so prolonging the life of your paintwork with better ventilation can save you money, as well as time and effort if you prefer to do it yourself. Condensation also affects wallpaper and carpet, and over time it can warp even the sturdiest wooden window frames.

Mould is a major problem, too. Once it gets a foothold in your walls, ceilings and cavities, it can be very difficult and costly to get rid of. Around 34 percent of Kiwi homes have visible mould.* In moist conditions, mould and mildew can also be an issue for furniture, curtains, beds, mattresses and clothes. Cleaning or even replacing big-ticket items like these can put unnecessary pressure on your bank balance.

A TWO PART SOLUTION

HRV offers an effective antidote to your household dampness disasters with a ventilation and heating system. Together, these technologies help reduce moisture and condensation inside your home, providing a drier, more comfortable environment that will help protect your house and contents.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

HRV ventilation and heating systems complement each other nicely. The ventilation system works to flush out damp, stagnant air, replacing it with fresh, dry air from your roof space. The system can replace the air in your home up to three times every hour, quickly helping to remove steam from cooking and any musty smells or aromas.

HRV ventilation filters the air at the point of intake and takes advantage of the warmer air in your roof cavity, always working to achieve your set temperature in the home. As your home becomes drier, the HRV heating system becomes more effective – the drier the home, the easier it is to heat, which can also lead to energy cost efficiencies.

THE BENEFITS OF A DRIER HOUSE

A well-ventilated home environment can result in less household maintenance such as wiping down damp windows and repainting or rewallpapering walls, and can also have small but significant benefits such as fewer jamming door frames and no more smelly wardrobes.

A well-ventilated home is less likely to develop mould issues in walls, ceilings and cavities and homeowners stand to save money and time dealing with these issues. And in the long run? A healthier home is more attractive to future buyers if you’re considering resale, making it a sound investment for your family’s future.

WHERE TO START?

HRV has a number of ventilation and heating solutions that can be tailored to your home. A great place to start is HRV’s Home Solutions Generator at HRV.co.nz, or call 0800 HRV 123.