Keeping warm and dry
Staying warm and dry is good for you and your home
A warm, dry home is more comfortable, costs less money to heat, and helps protect your health and wellbeing. Cold, damp homes can lead to mould, higher power bills, and problems with respiratory health, especially for children and older adults.
We want your home to be a place where you feel comfortable and healthy all year round. Here are some practical tips you can use every day to keep your home warm, manage moisture, and reduce energy costs.
Using your heat pump
All ŌCHT homes have heat pumps to help you heat and cool your home. They are usually the most cost-effective way to keep warm in cooler months.
Set a comfortable temperature (18–21°C) when you’re home.
Use the timer or scheduling so the home stays warm only when needed.
You don’t usually need more than 10 minutes pre-warming before being in a room.
If you’re unsure how to use yours, check the instructions or call us for help.
If you need help understanding how your heat pump works or if it isn’t working as expected, call 0800 624 456 — we’re here to help.
Heat pump how-tos
Heating with your heat pump
Cooling with your heat pump
Cleaning your heat pump
Trap the sun’s heat
Sunlight is free warmth:
Open curtains and blinds on sunny days to let the warmth in.
Close them just before it gets dark to help keep heat inside.
Heavy curtains can also reduce heat loss — even simple ones make a difference.
Reduce moisture from everyday activities
Moisture from cooking, showers, drying clothes, and even breathing increases dampness and the risk of mould.
Always use the extractor fan when cooking and showering.
If there’s no fan, open a window briefly while doing these activities.
Dry clothes outside when possible. Try and get your first load of washing done first-thing in the morning on a sunny day and hang it outside on the line. This will give you a full day of free outdoor drying time.
Drying your washing inside creates moisture, so try and dry things outside if you can. If drying indoors, use a well-ventilated room or open a window to let steam escape.
Wipe down visible condensation on windows and surfaces.
Keep a small gap between furniture and walls to help air circulate.
If you see mould:
Wipe it with warm soapy water or household cleaner. You can kill spores and remove mould on walls and other hard surfaces with a solution of 70% white vinegar and 30% hot water - mix the vinegar and water together, spray the solution on to the mould and wipe clean.
Do this regularly or as required.
If mould is an issue even after you’ve wiped it clean, please contact us on 0800 624 456.
Keep well ventilated
Air movement helps reduce moisture and improve indoor air quality.
Ventilate rooms briefly by opening a window for about 10 minutes each day. This works best when your home is warm - warm air carries out moisture.
Avoid crowding furniture against walls — leaving space helps air flow.
Keep wardrobe doors slightly open for air movement.
Save on power while staying warm
Keeping warm doesn’t have to mean high power bills.
Compare energy plans to find a better deal — a useful site for this is www.powerswitch.org.nz.
Set your heating to a steady, comfortable temperature rather than blasting warmth and letting it drop.
Avoid heating only one room with a portable heater for long periods. This can be more expensive than using a heat pump in “dry/warm” mode to heat main living areas.
What ŌCHT does to help
We also work behind to improve home comfort:
Heat pumps and ventilation systems have been installed as part of the Warm & Dry Initiative, ensuring ŌCHT homes meet Healthy Homes Standards.
Insulation improvements, draft-stopping, and moisture reduction work continue where houses need it.
If you’re finding parts of your home are still cold, damp, or uncomfortable even after trying these tips, please contact us on 0800 624 456 - we want every tenant to live in a warm, dry home.
