Is your household ready for winter? 12 steps to beat the coming chill

• Published date: 12 May 2022

1. Buy firewood now

If you haven’t ordered firewood yet, do so now to avoid the rush or potential long waits when winter arrives.

No matter what type of wood you buy, make sure it is well-seasoned so it’ll burn efficiently.

If you suspect the wood is damp, a cheap moisture meter from a hardware store will confirm whether you can use it this year.

Check out Consumer NZ’s guide to buying firewood before you make a purchase.

2. Clean your heat pump

The filters on your heat pump can fill up with dust. Vacuum or wash them so it can efficiently blow air across the room. While you’re at it, clear the area around the outdoor unit and test the heat pump to make sure it’s working well. If you find that it isn’t, you’ll need to call in a technician.

3. Clear gutters

The first winter downpour will quickly reveal clogged gutters at your place. Make sure the autumn leaves are cleared out of your gutters so water drains efficiently and doesn’t overflow somewhere where it can do some damage.

You can buy extendable gutter cleaning brushes from hardware stores saving yourself the potential hazard of climbing a ladder.

4. Chimney sweep

If you have a woodburner, organise a chimney sweep to make sure it’s working properly once a year. Creosote builds up over time, leading to an inefficient woodburner that’s also a fire risk. If your chimney can be cleaned from the bottom up (from inside) then the job will be cheaper. If your type of fire requires that you need to get on the roof, the job costs climb as you’ll need scaffolding or edge protection as well.

5. Wrap your cylinder

If you have an older hot water cylinder that isn’t insulated, you’re simply throwing money away. While the hot water cupboard is great for helping dry clothes, it’s a waste of energy to have the cylinder uninsulated.

You can buy a DIY kit and easily do the job yourself. Usually, it’s in the form of a big blanket (usually with a fire-retardant layer) that can be cut to size and taped on. Any excess blanket can be wrapped around the pipes for some extra cost savings.

6. Heaters

Dust off any heaters that haven’t seen daylight since last winter and give them a quick check to make sure they’re working. If they’re making a funny noise either get them checked by a professional or get a new one — it’s not worth risking a fire.

Electric heaters are expensive to run. If your lounge does not have a fixed heating option, now’s the time to think about installing a woodburner or heat pump.

7. Electric blankets

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