WINTER GETREADYFOR
It’stime to get readyfor winter again. This feature covers healthyhomes, fire safety, looking afteryour heat pumps,preparingyour garden, sorting outyour trees,and more.
Masterton’s Mitre10MEGAhas some homeand garden tipsaswe approach winter
For your home:
Checkyour heat source.Ensure your fireplace is clean and ready, and stockuponfirewoodnow Heaterssell out fast,soact quickly!
Clean your gutters to prevent blockages
Seal drafts to keep warm.Check around windows and doorsfor gaps wherecool air could enter
For your garden:
Protect your plants from frost with simplefrost cloth, which keeps the frostout while allowing sunand rain in
Plant winter vegetables likebroccoli and winter lettucesnow
From nowuntil Mayisthe perfect time to plant winter bulbs
Mulch your garden beds to retain moistureand protect plant roots from the cold.
As well as allthosephysical things we needtothink about, we should also considerthe needs of our bodies and souls.
LifePharmacyinMasterton, for example,offersflu vaccinationsand sells things to boost our immune system, such as chewableEchinacea tablets and Buccaline tablets
WINTER GET READY FOR 2025
Warm, dry, healthy homes this winter
The MastertonDistrict Council has made available, forfreeuse,ahome health assessment toolkit. You can use it to checkyour home formoisture, leaks, draughts,and more.
Why should we bother?
Because cold, dampand mouldy houses can lead to serious health problems,likeasthma and cardiovascular diseases such as rheumatic fever.Theyare also much harder,and moreexpensive, to heat Dryand warm homes arehealthier and morecomfortable.
The 2015 BRANZ House Condition Surveyshowedthat manyNew Zealand homes arelacking decent insulation, ventilation or heating
Wheredowego to borrow akit?
The Masterton, Carterton, and Greytown libraries arelending out these home healthassessment kits Standardlibrarycharges applyifthe kit is lost or missing
What's in the kit?
Thereare severalexciting things in the kit,including:
1 An infrared thermometer:tofind thermal leaks due to poor insulation orineffectiveseals
2 Ahygrometer:tomeasureair temperatureand moisturelevels
3 Astopwatch: to measureyour showerflowrate.
4 Apower meter:tomeasure the electricityusage,the GHG emissions from electricityusage, and the running cost of plug-in appliances
5 Wood moisturelevel meter:tocheck if your firewood is well seasoned
6 Auser guide foreach tool; useful tips about wheretofind more information; and access to on-line videos about howtouse the tools.
7 Access to recording sheets to note down howyour house performs and keep them so youcan checkfor improvements.
If youwantinformation about how to makeyourhome healthier, you can go to HomeFit’s websitefor advice: homefit.org.nz.
HomeFit is an organisation created bythe NewZealand Green Building Council in conjunction with the
housingsector,with the aimof helping people understand how healthytheir home is and support them to makethe necessary changes
HomeFit is an independent inspection-basedassessment of the health, comfort, energy efficiency and safetyofNew Zealand homes
On theHomeFit website you’ll find asimple online checkofyour home
This will tell youwhat’sgood about it and what could be improved in order to get aHomeFit stamp.You’llalso find product installersand HomeFit assessors
HOWHEALTHY IS YOUR HOME?
Youcan nowborrowahome-health self-assessmentkit from your librarytocheck the healthof your home. It’s simple to useand theresults might surprise you. Availablefreetoall librarymembers.
WINTER GET READY FOR 2025
A'mustdo', beforelighting that firstfire
Fire and Emergency NewZealandasks us to pop areminder in our calendarstoget our fireplaces cleaned before youlight the firstfireofthe season. Check:
The chimneyflue has been cleaned in the last year
Afireguardorsparkguardis always used when the fire is lit.
Matches and lightersare kept out of reach of children.
And did youknow, once we light our firesand generatehot ashes, theycan take up to five days to cool completely? Advice from Fire and Emergencyis:
Leave ashes to cool before disposing of them.
Emptyashes/ashtrays into ametal bin.
Pour wateroverhot ashes in ametal bin.
Go to the websitefireandemergency. nz/winter-fire-safetyfor an easy-toread guide about preventinghouse firesthis winter
Remotegarage door and gateopeners
Still getting out of the car to open your gate or garage door in the middle of winter?Why?It’scold. It’s wet. And it’scompletelyunnecessary.
Director ScottLee says that at Hollings First“we’vebeen helping Kiwis stay warm and securesince 1976.Our automatic gate and garage door openerslet youdrive straight
intoyour property withoutstepping intothe rain.”
Just press abutton. Stay warm Stay dry.
“Whether you’ve got asliding gate, swing gate,sectional, tilt, roller,or industrial garage door,our systems work seamlessly: softstart/softstop; autoclose; one remotetorule them
all —your gate and your Garador garage door.”
This winter,comfortand convenience don’t have to cost a fortune.You don’t need afull home reno.You just need aremote. Upgrade your access.Staywarm with Hollings First. Trusted in Wairarapa fornearly 50 years.
Tree maintenance and firewood for winter
Getting tree branches trimmed aggressivelyisone waytohelp prevent lines snapping in high winds.If theysnap,theycould even sparkand cause afire. Nowisagreat time to have trees trimmed away from wires,aerials, roofs and gutters.Clogged or smashed gutters can result in water entering the walls of your home, causing costlydamage.
Sammo Loder from Sammo’s Tree Services is intohis fourth year of business in firewood deliveries, garden mulch, tree pruning and felling,hedge trimming,and digger work
One of Sammo’s sterling qualities is the fact that he doesn’t muck people around. “I neveroverpromise and under deliver,” he says.And his work is both efficient and clean -hetakes all the messawaywith him. Tree work is an investment in caring forour homes and properties.Get in touch with Sammo if youneed your trees sorted.
Youcan also order your firewood from Sammo.Heusuallyhas pine, macrocarpa, gum,kanuka, and, sometimes,there’s oak, wattle,poplar Amix of pine with aslowerburning wood such as gum or macrocarpa is very popular
His ratesare very reasonable Checkout Sammo’s Tree Services’s Facebookand call foraquote.
Sam Loder from Sammo's Tree Services, on thejob
WINTER GET READY FOR 2025
Bewarm andtoasty thiswinter
Paying attention to the qualityofglass in your house can improveits warmth and efficiency.
Doubleglazed windows
We allknowthat double glazed windows keep our houses warmer and drier.New Zealand’sBuilding Code even requires high-performance double glazed windows fornew builds and additions
Thereare manyglazing choices, says ScottLee,owner of Hollings FirstWindows and Doors. He says it’sagood idea to work through your options to find the right glass foryour home that both enhances the look and feel of your home, butalso adds to its warmth and thermal efficiency.
“With options to reduce UV,minimise heat loss,and increase year-round comfort, your decisions can have a significant impact on the performance of your glazing,” he says Hollings Firstoffersinnovative ThermalHEART® technology which takesthe fight against winter cold a step further. Scottsays“athermal insulator is stitched intothe core of everyaluminium profile.” This can be added to the Hollings First Residential Series,Metro Series,or
Youcan do it in stages or room by room as affordabilityallows.”
Retrofitting double glazing
Gareth Hamill, General Manager at ZiggysGlass in Masterton, says “as winter approaches and your bedroom feels colder,this is the right time to talk to us about having your aluminium-framed windows retrofitted with double glazing.”
“Wedon’t pull the windows out -we simplymanage newcomponents in.
Wood burner glass
We’resweeping our chimneys and stockinguponfirewood, ready to get the wood burnersunderway forthe winter.But if youdiscoveryou have a problem with the glass in your wood burner,who shouldweturnto? Ziggys can help
ZiggysGlass offers same day replacement of broken fire glassin
APL Architectural Series windowand door options
wood burner doors. Simplyliftyour door offits hinges and drop it into them. “Werecommend that any cracks in wood burner glass be sorted beforefurther use of the fire,” Garethsays.
Pet doors
If you’re tired of letting your pet outside and then backinside and letting in cold air everytime,apet flap maybethe waytogo. Ziggys Glass can even install pet doorswith chip recognition, to keep out the neighbourhood’sstrays.
Pumping heat
According to some energy companies,atleast 25% of NewZealand households use aheat pump.People likethem because theymoveheat, not just generateheat, making them moreenergy efficient and cost-effective than other electric heaters.
Servicing heat pumpsisvery important to keep themefficient and cost-effective. We’reverylucky to have severalfantastic Wairarapa companies available to sortusout.
Hereare some of the reasons why we should service our heat pumps everyyear:
Extended lifespan: regular servicing helps identify and address minorissues early on, preventing them from escalating intocostlyrepairsand prolonging the lifeofour heat pump
Optimal performanceleading to reduced energy costs: awellmaintained heat pump operates at its peak efficiency, providing maximum heating and cooling output with minimalenergy consumption. This means our powerbills could be lower.
Preventativemaintenance, with safety apriority: routine servicing allows potential problems
to be identified and addressed beforetheycause significant safetyissues.Problems such as refrigerant leaks, blockedfilters, or faultycomponents,for example
Improvedindoor air quality: regular servicing ensuresthat the heat pump’s filtersare clean, removing dust,dirt, and allergens from the air,and improvingindoor air quality.
Peace of mind: knowing that your heat pump is in good working order provides peace of mind foryou and your family.
Some tips provided by energy companies forhow to save money when using your heat pump include:
Keep it on alow setting (18-20o C). Heat pumps aremost efficient when running at aconstant, moderatelevel, rather than constantlycycling on and off.
It takesmoreenergy to heat a spacefromcold than to maintain aset temperature.
Only heat the spaceyou areusing
Close doorsand curtains to keep the heat in.
If youcan, get your house insulated.
Government grants areavailable to cover80-90% of the cost of approved insulationand up to 80% of the cost of approved heaters, foreligible people.Ifyou ownand liveinahouse built before2008, and liveinalower-income area or have aCommunityServices Card, youmay be eligible forinsulation, heating,orboth. Check your eligibilityatthis website: eeca govt.nz/co-funding-and-support/ products/warmer-kiwi-homesprogramme/check-eligibility.
WINTER GET READY FOR 2025
Preparing our gardens for winter
GardenBarn, Masterton’s large,locallyowned and operatedGardenCentre/ Nurserysituated in Solway, is aone stop shop forall your gardening,landscaping and hydroponic supplies
Julie Hatchard, from GardenBarn, has some tips forgarden-lovers wanting to cosset their gardens beforewinter
When pip and stonefruit trees and roses head intodormancyfor winter: it’srecommended they’re sprayed to help break the lifecycle of pest eggs and fungal spores These can hide out in the smallest of crevices and on the ground, so good coverage is essential. It’salso important to do follow-up sprays.
Aquickguideline forspraying is:
In April, and then again in May: use GrosafeFreeFlo Copper and GrosafeEnSpray99Spraying Oil.
In June: use Lime Sulphur to encourage defoliation and kill any overwintering eggs and spores
In July:use Copper and Spraying Oil again.
GardenBarnsuggests youpop in to get the necessaryproducts for spraying,and youcan pickupan
information brochureonWinter Cleanup at the sametime
With regards to pruning: Julie says that the best time to prune roses is latewinter.The aim is to createan open, airybushthat will allowlots of light and air through. Ramblers, however, should be pruned during summer aftertheir main flowering.If youprune themduring winter youwill remove the newcanes thatcarrythe next flush of flowers.
Winter pruning of deciduousfruit trees in their firstfew yearsissimplycarried out in order to shape the tree.After that, it’s to maintain sizeand structure and remove dead, diseased and damaged branches
Forpruning grapes,the technique is to select the strongest growingcanes and prune the main leaders back to twonodes -this is where the shoot will grow from in spring.Julie says “grapevines can tolerateaheavy prune.”
Enhancing soil overwinter: is possible by sowing green covercrops in gardens thatwill be unusedover winter,especiallyiftherehavebeen issues with pests and diseases,or lackofnutrients.
Green Crops areaneasyand natural waytoenhance soil. The plantlife replaces lost nutrients in the soil, encourages earthworms and other
beneficial micro-organisms,sterilises soil, and puts lifebackintoany exhausted soils.
Mustard aidsinthe natural control of wireworm, nematodes,and so on. It also reducesthe chances ofany soil borne diseases within 40 days of diggingin.
Lupins arenitrogen-fixing and are very important forthe maintenance of soil fertility.
ManureSeed Mix (Lupins, Mustard, Garden Oats) is anatural wayofimproving the health of your soil adding both protein (nitrogen) and organic matter to the soil at the same time cleansing it.
Lime can also be dug into vacant garden beds to help buildsoil structure, and gypsum canbeadded to claysoils
GardenBarnhas manymoretips forkeengardeners: includingabout winteredibles, plantinghedges and shelter belts,preparing forfrosts, plantingstrawberries,and much more. Go to the websites gardenbarn.co.nz or icangarden.co.nz formoreadvice
