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According to BRANZ ...
   
... both adequate heating AND continuous ventilation are needed to prevent excess moisture in homes causing condensation, mould and mildew problems.

If indoor temperatures are not maintained at reasonable levels, even normal levels of moisture inside the home can result in condensation during colder periods, even in homes that are well ventilated by the DVS.

BRANZ and the Consumers' Institute recommend the following to assist in controlling condensation during colder weather:
  • Avoid using unflued or bottled gas heating;
  • Keep rooms and internal surfaces warm;
  • Use low levels of heat continuously to minimize temperature fluctuations and keep surfaces warm rather than allowing the house to become chilled, then using large amount of heats for short periods of time to increase the temperature.


In practical terms, this means keeping the chill off the house by leaving heaters on low rather than turning them off completely at night.

Minimum indoor temperatures

Many New Zealand houses are under-heated and poorly insulated, with low indoor temperatures during winter causing health problems, condensation and dampness.

In order to ensure a comfortable and healthy home environment and for the most effective moisture and condensation control, we recommend maintaining your indoor room temperatures above 16 degrees Celsius and, ideally, around 18 degrees Celsius. If temperatures inside the home fall below 12 degrees Celsius, then condensation is likely to form, even in homes that are well ventilated by the DVS.

If temperatures inside the home are not maintained at reasonable levels, particularly on colder days and nights, the effectiveness of the DVS may be reduced. This may prevent the DVS system from being able to achieve as high a level of condensation control as would otherwise be expected.

Some misting or condensation may be experienced due to low indoor temperatures, even in homes that are otherwise well ventilated by the DVS.