As we move into the cooler months here in Auckland, the importance of maintaining a healthy, comfortable and energy-efficient home becomes a focus for many of us.
With rising challenges on all of our household costs and as we focus more on the environmental impact of our energy usage, thinking about how you keep your home warm and dry in the winter can become more of a challenge. Technology continues to develop though and this brings some great solutions for kiwis who are focused on keeping out the moisture, and all the associated health concerns that come with it.
Heat pumps and ventilation systems provide reliable and efficient ways to do this and so checking in on your system, or considering upgrading at this time can be important. But, there are lots of things you can do to keep your home healthy and your air quality high as we move into the autumn and winter seasons.
The Science of Moisture in Your Home
Moisture can enter you home in various ways, including your daily household activities like cooking or doing the laundry – even breathing!
While some moisture is necessary to create a comfortable environment to be in excess levels of moisture can lead to mould growth, structural damage and health issues. Understanding and managing the balance is key to creating a healthy home.
Identifying Signs of Excess Moisture
Recognising the signs of excess moisture early can prevent long-term damage. Weeping windows and condensation are often easier to spot and clear signs of a problem, but checking around window frames, identifying musty smells or watching out for peeling paint can also help you to spot a problem . It’s also a good idea to check more naturally damp areas of your home like bathrooms more thoroughly, checking behind curtains, blinds and behind furniture for example.
What Causes Moisture in Your Home?
Day-to-Day Activities: Everything from cooking and taking a shower and even just breathing releases moisture into your home. These things on their own aren’t a problem, but you would be surprised at how things can add up. Just cooking your families evening meal can release up to 3L of moisture into your air.
Leaks: Leaks in your roof, plumbing, or other areas of your home can lead to moisture build-up and mould growth.
Poor Ventilation: Poor ventilation will quickly lead to moisture buildup in your home, especially in areas like your bathroom and kitchen when a lot of heat and steam are created.
Daily Habits for Reducing Indoor Moisture
Simple changes in daily habits can significantly manage the moisture levels in your home:
Laundry
In the winter months we tend to dry our laundry in our homes, either with a dryer or by hanging them on indoor airers and racks.
A load of washing can release up to 5L of water as it is drying and so you can see how this could quickly become a problem.
To help manage this, if you have a dryer, make sure it is properly vented and wherever possible make the most of the winter sun to keep drying your laundry outside. When you use a dryer, make sure it is properly maintained and lint removed to keep the airflow moving as it should.
Cooking
Cooking, especially when boiling water on a cook-top there is naturally a high level of moisture release into the air.
When you can, always use lids on pots and pans to minimise the steam in your air. If you have an extractor fan, always use it and it will help move as much of the moist air out of your kitchen as possible.
Bathing & Showering
Bathrooms are naturally damp areas of your house but there are still things you can do to reduce the amount of excess moisture,
You can help to manage this but keeping baths and showers short and using your extractor fans for at least 20 minutes after to help remove the excess humidity.
Ventilation Strategies
Natural Ventilation: Open windows and doors whenever the weather is good enough to allow you to. This keeps the fresh air flowing through your home.
Ventilation Systems: Consider installing a whole-house ventilation system, like the Mitsubishi Lossnay System. This helps to bring fresh, filtered air into your home while removing the stale, moist air. The Lossnay system is an energy efficient way to effectively manage moisture and enhance your indoor air quality
Use Your Heat Pump For Moisture Control: Use the dry mode feature of your heat pump during humid conditions. Most heat pumps have a ‘dry’ setting which you can use to help you remove the moisture from your home. This setting will manage the moisture without cooling which can be especially helpful to maintain comfort and prevent mould growth without over-cooling your home.
Seasonal Moisture Management
Adapting your home’s moisture management strategies to the seasons can really help you to manage your home’s indoor air quality and create a comfortable and healthy environment for you and your whanau.
In the colder months, maintaining a proper heating lebel with efficient heat distribution helps to reduce the risk of condensation building up in your home.
When to consider upgrading your ventilation system or heat pump?
If your home struggles with moisture it might be time to consider upgrading your home’s heating or ventilation system.
The Mitsubishi Electric systems that we install give superior moisture control and air quality benefits, making them a worthwhile investment for your health and your home,
Our team of experts can help you work through the best solution for your home’s needs with a free and no-obligation quote. Get in touch with our team today on 09 827 4784.