Enjoying a healthy home

What makes a healthy home? Ask different people and they’ll probably all give you similar answers – warm, dry and comfortable.

They’re right, all of those do help in creating a healthy home yet there are several paths homeowners can tread to ensure various levels of healthy.

Starting from scratch and building new is a sure-fire way to include all the modern conveniences that make a home a healthy environment. Many of these can also be added or incorporated with refits, renovations and expansions.

Here are a few ideas:

• Insulation – from pink fibreglass batts to the woollen variety and polystyrene-like slabs, insulation is a must in the ceiling, the walls and under the floor. Don’t forget to wrap your hot water cylinder.
• Heat source – wood burning fires, gas heaters and electric heat pumps all offer warmth during the colder months.
• Ventilation – ducted ventilation systems and built-in extractor fans work wonders for taking moisture out of the air inside your home. Open windows even in winter for 30 minutes daily.
• Invest in passive solar heating if building or renovating.
• Check your windows – reduce heat loss through double or even triple glazing, draught protection, and floor length double layer curtains.
• Don’t dry clothes inside the home. If using a drier, vent it outside.
• Check for drainage issues, this could be pipe leaks under the home, or surface water entering the subfloor space. Consult a plumber or drainage expert to rectify any issues.
• Decorate with indoor plants such as the peace lily (aka Spathiphyllum) which helps to oxygenate the air. The peace lily is well known for its air-purifying abilities, breaking down and neutralising toxic gases such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.