Your HomeFit online check report

Dampness or visible mould are signs that a home is not warm and dry. This could mean that the home does not have enough heating, is improperly insulated, is not very well ventilated or moisture is entering the home from the outside. This could be from the ground under the home or through a leak.

Carrying out the HomeFit self-assessment should help you understand how better to heat, insulate and ventilate your home. Make sure you’re turning on the bathroom fan or opening a window when showering, as well as regularly airing out the home to remove damp, stale air.

The best way to clean mould is to use a solution of 70mls of white vinegar and 30mls of water. Spray it on affected areas, leave it for up to an hour, and then wipe it off with a clean damp cloth.

Bathroom fans are one of the best things you can have to keep your home dry and warm and are a requirement of HomeFit and the Healthy Homes Standards. A supplier directory is provided in the report section.

To be effective, fans should have an airflow of at least 25 litres/second (or have a fan ducting diameter of at least 120mm), which should be enough to hold up an A4 piece of paper (or to bend a piece of paper if checking it against the outside grille). If you get one installed ensure that the fan ventilates to the outside, either through a wall, or if in a ceiling, through ducting connected to a grille on an outside wall or under the eaves.

Ideally the fan should be located above the shower. Switch on the fan each time you take a shower or bath, and make sure it runs for at least 15 minutes after all water has drained away. A simple timer connected to the light switch can make this easier to manage and ensure everyone uses it.

HomeFit and the Healthy Home Standards recommend installing a groundsheet. A DIY install can cost as little as $200. See the EDA Factsheet on ground moisture barriers for step by step instructions.

Insulation companies can install it for you relatively cheaply, especially if you also need underfloor insulation done at the same time.

While you're looking under the floor check that air vents in the walls of the crawl space are free from vegetation or dirt building up outside. Air vents are often too small, blocked or not in sufficient numbers to create good cross-ventilation under a home.

Consider replacing the foil with bulk insulation, especially if it is damaged. Foil could be an electrical risk, so be careful not to touch it. Ask an insulation company to quote for a minimum of R1.3 underfloor insulation.

Get a qualified insulation company to check for you. To pass HomeFit and the Healthy Homes Standards you need at least 120mm of roof insulation but, if you're installing new insulation, we recommend at least R3.6 in most of the North Island and R4.0 in the South Island and Central Plateau. A supplier directory is provided at the end of this report.

You may have downlights that require a gap in the insulation. These will need to be upgraded to meet the HomeFit standard, as they could reduce the effectiveness of your insulation (see an installer or electrician). 

HomeFit requires either 'good' curtains or double glazing in the living spaces and bedrooms. This home has neither.

Curtains are the unsung heroes of modern, warm, energy-efficient homes. By “good” we mean at least two layers, full length to the floor, and/or closed at the top (by a pelmet, the ceiling, or tight-fitting track). The thickness of the material is not as important as the number of layers, as it’s the air that’s trapped between the layers that gives the curtains the insulation ability.

Good curtains trap cold air behind them meaning less likelihood of cold draughts from the windows.

For those areas where full-length curtains are inconvenient or just not possible (above heaters or kitchen benches for instance), we recommend Roman or cellular - sometimes called honeycomb - blinds. These should still be tight fitting on the side and against the sill and have at least two layers of blind material. Venetian blinds (whether wooden or aluminium) or shutters are ineffective at keeping in warmth (and therefore don’t pass HomeFit), but have their uses in managing overheating, glare and privacy.

For more information, see the Eco Design Advisor Curtains factsheet.

The home also does not have double glazing. Double glazing can double the performance of single glazing and will make a room noticeably more comfortable in winter. For more information, go to the Gen Less Double Glazing page. A supplier directory is provided at the end of this report.

Cheaper alternatives include window insulation kits, a DIY install, where you stick plastic film to the inside of a window frame to create a still air space between the plastic film and the cold glass - a form of secondary glazing. Kits can be purchased from DIY stores and environment centres.

Check out the range of cheap and effective fixes for window and door gaps at your local DIY store. Some companies offer more technical services such as window tightening or building maintenance and repairs. A supplier directory is provided at the end of this report.

Replacement LED bulbs are widely available and very good value for money, especially in areas of the home where the lighting is used a lot like in the main living space and kitchen.

You may have downlights that require a gap in the insulation. These will need to be upgraded to meet the HomeFit standard, as they could reduce the effectiveness of your insulation (see an installer or electrician).