GET WINTER READY
GET WINTER READY
WAYS TO KEEP WARM THIS WINTER
Whenwinterarrives,itcomeswiththeadded pressureofkeepingyourhomewarmanddryandyour powerbillundercontrol.
Noonewantsamiserablewinterwithwaterfalls cascadingdownthewindows,draughtyrooms, dampness,andmold.
Wheretostart?
Ifyouhaveanewhome youareprobablylucky enoughtohavegoodinsulation,doubleglazing, heating andwarmcarpet sowinterispretty sortedforyou,buttherearestillsomesaving ideasthatyoucanputintoplace
Ifyouarelivinginanolder-stylehome,rented accommodationorinahomebeingrenovated, thenthingsmaybealittledifferentforyou
Onethingthatweallcanagreeonisthatwe wanttofindthemosteconomicalwaytokeep warmwithoutanincreaseinourpowerbills
Startingwiththesimplestofideas,likethe old-fashioneddoordraughtstopper!Cheapto make,andtheydowhattheysay
Shutthedoorsonunusedroomsandadd self-adhesivedraughtstoppersonwindowsor doorsthathavegapslettinginthecold
Makesureyouhaveyourchimneycleanedand yourheatingsystemisregularlyserviced Every year,youneedtotakeyourelectricblankettoa servicingagenttobechecked
Don’tgivethehottie,wheatpackorbedsocks ahardtime;weallknowthatbedsocksarenot afashionstatement,buttheydothejob
Coverallthoseglasswindowswithsometype ofcovering,aswarmthknowsthisisagood placetoescape Fabriccurtainsarenotcheap butcheckoutcurtainbanksoryourlocal hospicestore astherearesomegreatfindsto befound
Aquickandsimplemoney-savingtipistoadd thermalliningtothecurtainsyoualreadyhave, usingcurtainhooks Finally,makesurecurtains aredrawnfromduskuntildawnsotheycando theirjoboftrappingheatinyourhome
Heatpumps,gas,woodfireorheating system.
Havinglivedwithbothanopenfireandawood burner,asmuchasIenjoythefeelofanopen fire,roastingmarshmallowsandwarmingupmy feet,Ihavetosayafree-standingorin-fireplace woodburnerisfarmoreefficient Whenit comestosafety,Iknowtherewillbenosparks escapingwhenthedoorisclosed Ifpractical,I certainlywouldconsiderhavingawetbackon yourwoodburner,ashotwaterisalargepartof yourpowerbill
Aheatpumporagasfiresavesyoufrom havingtoorganisefirewoodandgivesinstant warmth,especiallywhenarrivinghomefrom work,plusnomess,nofuss
Whenitcomestoheatingsystems,my suggestionistodoyourhomework,takeyour time,andtalktoreputableheatingsuppliers becausewhatmightworkforyoumaynot beforsomeoneelse Onethingweallneedto considerisenergyefficiencyandsustainability
Firewood
Mostofuswaittillthefirstfrosthasmadean appearanceandgointopanicmodeasnothing hasbeendoneaboutfillingthatfirewoodshed ThebestpieceofadviceIcangiveyouisto getorganisedandstackyourfirewoodinyour
We are a local family owned and operated business based in the Far North, Est. 2009.
We offer supply, installation, repairs, service and maintenance.
We can quote, design & supply custom made systems to suit your needs.
Refrigeration
• Milk Vats • Marine • Cool Rooms • Ice Makers
• Commercial Refrigeration • Hot Water Heat Pumps
Automotive
• Machinery • Agricultural • Vehicles
• Transport Refrigeration Heat Pumps
• Ventilation
• Ducted Systems
• Fresh Air Systems
• Extract Systems
Insulation
Insulationhelpstokeepheatinduringwinter andcanhelptokeepheatoutduringthe summer Byinsulatingourhomes,wealsoburn lessfuel,whichisbetterfortheenvironment Reducingthedemandforenergyisoneof thebestwaystocombatclimatechangeand protecttheplanet
Uptohalfoftheheatinahousecanescape throughtheroof,walls,windows,andfloor ifabuildingisnotinsulated Ahomethatis notinsulatedisnotonlyexpensivetoheat, butitalsomakesahomehardtokeepwarm Insulationistheequivalentofputtingabig
Underfloorheatinginthebathroom
IamthefirsttoadmitIlovethetoastiefeeling underfootwhenitcomestotheunderfloor heatinginthebathroom Mycatwouldinsist itisanecessityandwouldhaveitonallyear round,givenhalfthechance Itisanexpensive luxury,butifyouuseitonatimerandonlyuse itoverthewintermonths,itwillmeldintothat powerbillwithoutyouevennoticing
Keepingyourhomehealthy
Havingawarm,dryhomehelpsprotectyour familyfromgettingsick Condensation,orwater that’scollectedonwindowsandwalls,makes
GET WINTER READY
homedampandcancausemouldtogrow mphouseisalsomoreexpensivetoheat ducecondensation:
• Putlidsonpotswhencooking
• Useanextractorfaninthekitchenand bathroom,oropenawindow
• Dryyourclothesoutside(orinagarageor carport)
Ifyoudohavecondensation,wipeitoffeach morningwithatowel
Healthyhomestandards
TheHealthyHomesStandardssetminimum standardsforheating,insulation,ventilation, moistureanddrainage,anddraughtstopping inallrentalproperties TheHealthyHome Standardsbecamelawon1July2019
WhetheryouareaPropertyManagerora
Landlord,itisessentialthatyourproperty complieswithcurrentHealthyHomeStandards, oryoucouldbeatriskofafine Dedicated assessorsnationwidewillworkwithyouto ensureyourpropertyisuptostandard Variouslocalcouncilscanassistwithfunding andgrantsandorganiseassessmentstobe doneonyourproperty
Afinalfewwordsoncopingwiththe wintercold
Makeuseofthesuntodryclothes,dressin layers,investinadressinggownandslippers, addsomeextrapotsofsoupandcasseroles toyourcookingrepertoire,andoncerelaxed, checkouttheavailabilityofsubsidiestohelp keepyourhomewarmandyourfamilyhealthy overthewintermonths
GET WINTER READY
Stay Well This Winter: Wellness Checks to Support and Manage Respiratory Health
Withthearrivalofwinter,managingchronicrespiratory conditionslikeChronicObstructivePulmonaryDisease (COPD)andAsthmabecomemoreimportantthanever. Coolerweathercanleadtoworsenedrespiratorysymptoms overwinter,withanincreaseincolds,fluandchest infections. Tosupportwhānaulivingwithrespiratory conditionsoverthewintermonths,thereareservices availableforenrolledpatientslivingwith,oratriskof, respiratoryconditions.Checkwithyourgeneralpracticeto confirmeligibility,andavailabilityofrespiratorywellness supports.Belowaresomeoftheavailablesupports.
Immunisations
IfyouarelivingwithCOPDorAsthma, immunisationsarealineofdefenceagainst worseningrespiratorysymptoms
• Pneumococcalvaccine
Thepneumococcalimmunisation decreasestheriskofseriousrespiratory infections,suchaspneumonia The internationalCOPDguidelinesrecommend adoseoflivevaccine(inNZ,thisisPrevnar 13)followedbyadoseofPolysaccharide vaccine(inNZ thisisPneumovax23) Speaktoyourhealthcareproviderfor furtherinformation
• Boostrix
TheBoostriximmunisation(Dtap)protects againstwhoopingcough,tetanusand diphtheriabacteria–whichaffectsthe noseandthroat Boostrixisfundedfor eligibleindividuals
• Flu
Thefluvaccineisupdatedannuallyand helpsprotectagainstthelateststrainofflu viruses
Peopleaged65yearsandover or6 monthsandoverwithalong-termmedical conditionlikediabetes asthmaorCOPDare eligibleforfundedfluimmunisations
• Covid
Recommendedtohave6-monthly COVID-19vaccination:Alladultsaged 75yearsandover,adultsagedover65 yearslivinginresidentialcarefacilities,all thosewithsevereimmunocompromise RecommendedtohaveannualCOVID-19 vaccination:alladultsaged65–74years, adultsofMāoriorPacificethnicityaged over50years,anyonewithcomorbidities thatincreaseriskofsevereCOVID-19 FundedImmunisations
MahitahiHauorafundsBoostrixand PneumococcalvaccinesforMāori,Pacific,and /orCSCholderslivingwithCOPD,forpatients enrolledwithaMahitahiHauoramember generalpractice See‘FindaGeneralPractice’ undertheForWhānausectionoftheMahitahi
Hauorawebsite(wwwmahitahihauoraconz) tocheckifyourgeneralpracticeispartofour network,acrossTeTaiTokerau,foreligibility
Spirometry
Spirometryisabreathingtestthatmeasures howwellyourlungsareworking Aspirometry testinvolvesyoublowingdirectlyintoa machine,calledaspirometer Thiswillmeasure howmuchairyoucanblowout,andhowfast Itisanimportanttesttodiagnoserespiratory conditionslikeasthmaorCOPD Itisalso importantformonitoringexistingasthmaor COPD,includinghowwellcurrenttreatmentsor medicationsareworking Howoftenyoushould comebacktohaveaspirometrytestdepends onyourresults,riskandcurrentcondition,and canbeadvisedbyyourhealthcareprovider
GET WINTER READY
Whangarei’s Game-Changer forSmallConcreteJobs
I’maWhangāreilocal,bornandbred–apartfromacoupleofyearsoffonmy bigOE.Istartedoutasacoachbuilder, workingonmotorhomes,truckbodies, andminibuses.Afterfinishingmy apprenticeship,Iswitchedtobuilding,and I’vebeeninthetradeeversince–over 30yearsnow.I’verunmyownbuilding companydoingeverythingfromnew buildsandrenostolightcommercialjobs andspechomes.
Afewyearsback,though,thebody startedcomplaining.Afteralifetimeof liftingandbending,Iwashardlyableto standupright,IendedupatthePhysio. Hepoked,pulled,andtriedtostretch meout,thensaid,“Nathan,yourbody’s buggered Youneedtoslowdownand findsomethingelsetodothatiseasieron yourbody.”
Easiersaidthandonewhenyou’vebeen
self-employedyourwholelife.Theideaof clockinginforsomeoneelsedidn’tsitwell withme,soIstartedthinkingaboutwhatI coulddonext.
Whilevisitingmydaughterandson-in-law inAustralia,theyhadmedoingafewjobs aroundtheplacetokeepmebusy One waslayingasmall3mx1mconcretepad.I wroteupalistofmaterials–pegs,boxing, bagsofpremix–butthenmyson-in-law said,hewouldsortouttheconcreteand bookedtheconcretetaxi.
I’dneverseenorheardofthisbefore–thistruckpulledup,mixedexactlywhat weneeded,andthatwasthat.Nomess, nowaste.Noleftoverwheelbarrowfullof concreteyouendupdumpingbehindthe shed.Justenoughtogetthejobdone, rightthereonsite.
Ontheflighthome,theideahitme–could IdothisinWhangārei?Ilookedintoit,
askedaroundsomeoftheTradespeople Iknowinbiggercities andnoonehad heardofanythinglikeitinNewZealand. So,Istartedplanning.
TheAustraliancompanythatmadethe originaltruckswouldn’tsellmetheplans ortheconcretemixingunitso,Ilookedinto thepatentsituationhereandwasadvised thatithadnotbeenregisteredinNew Zealand,soIcopyrightedandregistered thetruckandlogohereandgotstraight towork.
Iteamedupwithanengineerandbuilt theunitwithhim,andIwastheapprentice onthejob!Mythinkingwas:ifIhelpbuildit, I’llknowhowtofixitwhensomethinggoes wrong.
TheConcreteCourierisacustom-built bodyonaHino500.Itholdsabout2–2.5 cubicmetresofbuildersmix,30bags
ofcement,and450litresofwater.The machinemixesconcreteon-siteinsmall batches–aroundthreewheelbarrow loadsatatime–withnowaste,makingit apracticalandenvironmentallyfriendly option
We’renotcompetingwiththebig concretetrucks–thisisforthesmaller stuff:retainingwalls,gardenpaths,shed slabs,heatpumppads,footings,fence postsanddeckpilesetc Westayon-site untilthejob’sdoneandonlymixwhatyou need.Nopressure,norush,andnoleftover messtodealwith It’sevenavailablesix daysaweek24hrsaday.
It’sagame-changerandsmart solutionforTradespeopleand DIYersdoingsmallerjobs.Andbest ofall–it’seasieronmyback.
