Because shivering through July isn’t a personality trait.
Ah, winter in West Auckland: grey skies, sideways rain, and the ongoing battle between comfort and your power bill. But if your heat pump’s older than your dog and your only insulation is nostalgia, it’s time to sort it out.
Here’s how to warm your home without sacrificing your future travel fund or your soul to Genesis Energy.
🔥 1. Insulation Is the MVP
Start here. Before you crank the heater, stop the warm air escaping like a teenager sneaking out after curfew.
- Ceiling insulation – absolute must
- Underfloor insulation – especially if you’ve got timber floors
- Curtains – thermal-backed, full-length, none of that sheer nonsense
If you’re thinking of selling, this stuff matters. Buyers LOVE a warm, dry home—and they’ll pay for it.
❄️ 2. Heat Pump Maintenance = Less Rage
That trusty old unit? It needs a clean. Like, properly.
- Wash the filters
- Check the outdoor unit for debris
- Get it serviced if it’s sounding like a chainsaw
A well-maintained heat pump heats better and costs less to run. Win-win.
🕯️ 3. Cheap Heating Tricks That Actually Work
- Close off rooms you’re not using
- Use door snakes (or old towels, we’re not judging)
- Put a rug over timber or tile floors
- Heat the person, not the house—hello, electric throw blanket!
And if you’ve got a wood burner? For the love of Cheryl, use dry wood only. No green wood, no MDF offcuts, and definitely no questionable pallets from the back of Mitre 10.
🧠 Bonus: Buyers Notice Warmth
If your home is warm and toasty during open homes, buyers feel it. Literally.
A warm house = “I want to live here.”
A cold house = “Let’s get back in the car and go to Macca’s.”