The Benefits of Having a Wirelessly Controlled Thermostat

Thanks to amazing modern technology and the huge success of smartphones and tablets, many aspects of our lives are now right at our fingertips on the touch pad we keep in our pockets. We socialize with these devices, keep track of appointments, keep up with the news and take photos and videos.

Why Have a Thermostat In Your Home?

The possibilities and benefits of having a smartphone in this day and age are endless.

Your home is an essential part of your life; it’s where you eat, sleep and relax. Heating in the home is very important, and can determine the comfort in your life. Too hot or too cold and you’re left drained of energy and miserable.

Modern thermostats and heating appliances like heat pumps can be the best things you can invest in for your home. The temperature of your house becomes adjustable at the press of a button or the touch of a screen, so your comfort can always be maximized.

So, Why Wireless?

For one simple reason really: simplicity and ease. There’s no need to get up, or hurry home and turn your thermostat on, when you can do it from wherever you are on your phone.

Imagine. It’s the middle of winter, and you realize that because of the recent snow you’re going to be really late home. But you’ve set your thermostat, so it’s going to be eating through your power and costing you money while you’re not even there.

With a wireless thermostat connected to your phone you can easily deal with that problem, turning your heat pump off and saving yourself money until you want it on.

It works the same if you plan on being early home and want the house nice and warm when you go in. Efficient and smart heating can make your home a place that revolves around your lifestyle and can be adjusted whether you’re near or far.

In short, having a wireless thermostat:

• Will save you money on your power bills
• Will save you time and energy
• Will keep you comfortable all year round
• Is flexible to your time schedule and last-minute changes in your life

Your Power Bill Will Thank You

Being able to set times for your thermostat to turn on and off means that you are optimizing the heating in your home. Being able to change these settings at the last minute gives you that extra edge, allowing for life to happen and plans to change.

Yes, getting a heat pump system and a modern thermostat can be expensive and will put a dent in your pocket for a while. But you will be saving money for as long as you live in that home thanks to that investment.

When it comes to heating your house, your comfort should always come first. A warm and dry home in winter and a cool and well-ventilated home in the summer will ensure and protect that comfort into the future.

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Tips for a Warmer Home and Lower Power Bills

It’s an all too common issue that residents living in Marlborough have to deal with during the winter – climbing power bills as the cold weather sets in.

Heaters cost a lot to run and a house not properly insulated could be costing you both money and comfort. Here’s a few tips to save you some cash and keep you comfortable this winter.

Giving Your Walls Their Winter Woolies

You are not the only thing that needs to be wrapped up snug.

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune to get your house relatively insulated. You lose a lot of heat through the floor, roof and walls, and putting barriers up to keep the heat from escaping will make for a warmer and drier home.

Rugs will aid in heat loss through the floor, and making sure you have good insulation in the roof and walls will also help greatly.

Checking for draughts around your home is a must. Look for electrical cables, gas lines and water pipes that go from the interior to the exterior of your home.

There’s a good chance that the caulk which was used originally to keep them in place and prevent draughts has worn down and cracked away. Seal these gaps with expanding foam.

Evicting your Home’s Draughts

Windows can account for around 25% of heat loss in the home but they’re not exactly the easiest of things to insulate.

Firstly, curtains are a must. They should be opened when the sun comes out and closed before the sun goes away again, especially windows that the sun shines directly onto. Make use of the sunshine while it’s around in the winter.

Another little trick is to cover the windows and any glass doors with plastic film, like what you might use to wrap up your sandwiches in. If you’re careful, you can get it to look completely invisible, but it’s still providing another layer of protection against the cold.

Make sure that the windowsills are well-fitted and there are no gaps in the wood. Also, remember to lock your windows rather than just closing them – locks pull the windows tighter shut and makes it harder for the ever-elusive warm air to get out.

Heating and Circulating Warm Air

Old heat pumps and heaters often use a lot more power than newer ones. Modern heaters are built with energy conservation in mind, and their range of settings make it easier to adjust the temperature perfectly for your specific home and lifestyle.

A small portable heater is much better than one big heater in the living room. Shifting it between rooms will ensure the whole house gets some warmth and will let the whole place dry out.

Having a modern heat pump system will also help. Most come with settings that allow you to set temperatures and times, so your house will be warm when you get home from work but won’t be chewing through the power all day.

A ventilation system in your house to circulate the warm air could also be beneficial, allowing the warmth to spread throughout the entire home.

Keeping warm and dry during the cold months boosts your health, comfort and standard of living greatly. Any investment you make in the ways of a heat pump or insulation pays for itself as long as you live in that home.

And once you’ve spent the time and money getting your house sorted, you’ll be saving it all in power bills every single winter.

 

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Meth Contaminated Houses – A Growing Issue

Controversial subject today, but an issue that is close to home for some. This is a problem that affects the entire housing industry. Landlords, tenants, buyers & sellers, are all at the mercy of this national epidemic. What are the solutions?

Methamphetamine Houses – A New Zealand Epidemic

The meth problem in New Zealand is bigger than we all care to admit. Unlike alcoholism, which is visually identified fairly easy, meth is a silent killer, that destroys its user mentally, physically, physiologically and financially.

The amount of users are astonishing. In the article from the New Zealand Drug Foundation illustrates the scale of drug use and its grasp on our country:

Drugs in New Zealand

New Zealanders as a population have some of the higher drug-use rates in the developed world, evidenced in the 2007/2008 New Zealand Alcohol and Drug Use Survey, which reports that one in six (16.6%) New Zealanders aged 16–64 years had used drugs recreationally in the past year.

Read the full article here…

Is it getting worse? There seem to be many conflicting statements being made. At one point it was observed that meth use in New Zealand had halved, but then we see headlines talking about tonnes of meth washing up on our shorelines.

The video below, from the New Zealand Drug Foundation YouTube channel talks about some of the strategies New Zealand has implemented in the hopes to address the issue:

What are your thoughts on this issue? Would you agree that things are betting better or worse? Do you know of anyone who has battled with this addiction?

The Damage To Our Housing Industry

The damage this drug does to its users is horrendous. On a physical level, a heavy user can be easily picked out of the crowd so in a way, its easier to deny its stranglehold by turning your back on it, refusing to acknowledge its presence.

When it comes to your house, be it a rental or an investment property, the damage caused by methamphetamine being manufactured in your property can be financially crushing.

In this article recently published on the Harcourts Marlborough Blog by author Tracey Monaghan talks about the rising impact of meth and the procedures put in place:

Meth contamination – an overview

With the rising impact of meth, developing new standards and guidelines for the testing and remediation of affected properties is critical.

In May a committee was set up to develop a standard (NZS 8510) covering the testing and remediation of properties contaminated by the manufacture or use of methamphetamine.

“We’re making sure we’ve got good procedures in place, keeping our tenants and landlords well informed about those processes and the choices available to them.”

Read the full blog here…

Your Opinions & Experience

Do you have any experience with this issue?

Have you ever rented a house, to find out later that it had been used to manufacture “P”. How much did this effect you financially and physically?

Have you been burnt by a tenant who manufactured methamphetamine in your house? What kind of damage was done? What steps did you take to identify and fix the problem?

Does this drug epidemic change how you feel about renting out your house, or if you are are renter, what are your concerns?

If you’re wanting to get your house tested here are some resources:

• MethSolutions
• MethScreen
• EnviroCheck
• MethTestingNZ

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The Benefits of Home Ventilation Systems

If your house is damp and moldy, condensation streaming down the windows and has a stale smell to the air you need to improve your ventilation. This is where home ventilation systems can make a huge difference.

What are Home Ventilation Systems?

These are systems that move air around your home with fans, providing constant air circulation. Great for any season, they’re the perfect addition to any home. Keeping you cool in the summer without having to open all doors and windows, desperately trying to find a draft.

Different Kinds of Air Purifying Systems

Depending on your requirements, there are a couple varieties to choose from. These systems are not good at heating your house on their own, if this is your concern you might want to look at one of our heat transfer systems here.

Balanced Pressure

This system is generally powered by two separate fans that pull air from different sources. One fan pulls air from outside and directs it into your home. The other fan extracts the same amount of air from within your home and directs it outside.

This creates a continuous air flow, keeping the air clean and fresh. An air tight house will improve the efficiency of the unit.

Positive Pressure

This style is the most common found in New Zealand. Air is pushed from the cavity in your roof, though vents in your ceiling, into different rooms in the house.

For these to work effectively you need to make sure that your house is not too draughty otherwise the unit will struggle to move the air efficiently.

Roof cavities are generally dusty and full of contaminants, so filters are installed to purify the air. This is a potential issue because of where they (the filters) are installed, the tend to not get cleaned as much.

Options for Diy Home Ventilation Systems

Installing one of these units yourself can be a fantastic way to save some money. It will only take a day to complete so perfect for a weekend job.

Make sure you plan out where you are going to place your vents and fans. Take the extra time to fill in any holes or gaps that could potentially alter the units efficiency.

The Best Home Ventilation Systems

The best systems are the ones that are installed correctly. Here are some factors to keep in mind when you are looking at installing one of these units.

The kind of system you install can determine its benefits. Where you place the vents, the style of the house, how well it is insulated and how air tight the house is are all things to consider.

Our suggestion is to talk to your supplier to get the best advice. With their expertise you will be able to compare home ventilation systems to see which would suit you.

Looking for Home Ventilation Services?

There’re plenty of options to explore when it comes to improving the air flow in your house. We suggest contacting a professional before you commit to anything. Make sure the company you decide to deal with have a great reputation and stock only the best products. Feel free to contact us regarding any queries you may have. We will be able to point you in the right direction.

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