Almost one in three New Zealand homes suffer from problems associated with dampness and most have mould.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) estimates around 30 per cent of all New Zealand homes have those problems - and a leading home ventilation company says its business operations have shown people can avoid health problems which spring from damp and mould.
Cold, damp conditions provide an ideal breeding ground for mould and mildew - which can have serious effects on health and wellbeing and trigger allergy, asthma and respiratory illnesses. Children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems or respiratory conditions are particularly at risk.
This year, the spotlight has fallen on the state of New Zealand's rental properties. The Building Research Association (BRANZ) says owner-occupied homes are twice as likely to be well-maintained than rented ones. Their research found nearly a third of rentals felt damp to some extent, compared to 11 per cent of owner-occupied homes.
These statistics are alarming, whether you're a renter or an owner, says DVS managing director Tony Sandes. He feels too many Kiwis are living in sub-par conditions which can be avoided through proper ventilation as well as good heating and insulation.
Sandes has 20 years' industry experience and has observed first-hand the benefits a ventilated, healthy home can bring.
"Over the years, our customers have reported to us that controlling excess moisture and condensation in a home, by keeping it ventilated and dry with their DVS, significantly improves the environment for allergy and asthma sufferers.
"It relieves their symptoms and helps to help reduce the number of sick days' families experience each year.
"Dust mites and fungal spores thrive in warm, humid places so one of the best ways to protect against this type of allergen is to make the home drier.
"When you consider a typical household will produce about 12 litres of water per day from cooking, showering, and just living - the equivalent of a big bucket of moisture sloshing around your home - it's easy to see it takes more than the occasional opening of a few windows to dry a home out.
"It's this excess moisture that can cause dangerous mould, mildew and damp," says Sandes.
DVS systems, recognised by Asthma NZ, are the most effective way to reduce excess water vapour. They continuously push out moisture-laden, stale air, replacing it with fresher, drier air. The air is filtered before it enters the home, significantly reducing exposure to dust, pollen, plant spores and other inhaled triggers.
"Good ventilation and home heating are essential for maintaining good air quality. In modern well sealed and insulated homes, this is equally, if not more important," says Sandes.
If your home is damp, it can be harder and more expensive to heat. Ventilating your home properly, in a controlled fashion, removes the excess damp, moisture-filled air and improves the overall air quality inside the house.
A DVS ventilation system costs about five cents a day to run. Because a dry home is more comfortable and healthier to live in, the DVS makes sense as a practical investment for both homeowners and landlords.
Contact DVS today to arrange a free consultation: www.dvs.co.nz or 0800 387 387.