Appliance selection for a healthy home

Appliances get picked late, often on looks. But a few of them affect the air you breathe and the moisture in the house every day, so decide them at design stage.

Induction, and a rangehood that vents outside

Gas cooktops release nitrogen dioxide and fine particles. A 2018 study in the Medical Journal of Australia linked about 12% of childhood asthma in Australia to gas stoves, and Asthma Australia recommends switching to induction where you can. You'll need pans with a magnetic base. Induction's magnetic field drops off quickly with distance: use pans that cover the zone, and anyone with a pacemaker should ask their doctor.

Whatever the cooktop, cooking makes smoke and moisture. The National Asthma Council says rangehoods vented outside beat ones that recirculate. In an airtight house, plan the duct and make-up air with your ventilation designer.

Heat pumps for hot water and drying

A heat pump hot water system uses around a third of the energy of an electric storage tank (Your Home), and registered units earn small-scale technology certificates. Options include Reclaim Energy and Sanden (both CO2), Stiebel Eltron WWK and iStore. Put the outdoor unit away from bedrooms and the neighbours.

A vented dryer blows hot, wet air into the laundry, which Choice says can leave water dripping down the walls. In our climate, damp walls mean mould. A heat pump dryer condenses the water into a tank or drain and uses around 63% less energy. Look at models like the 9-star Bosch Series 8 or Miele's 10-star range. The clothesline is still free.

Dishwashers, washing machines and fridges

Check the Energy Rating label (up to 10 stars, with kWh a year) and the WELS water rating (up to 6 stars). Front loaders generally use less water and energy; Choice says up to 70% less water.

Fridges run 24/7 and make up around 10% of household energy bills. Buy the size you need at the best rating you can, and leave the ventilation gap the maker asks for.

You don't need everything on Wi-Fi

In a low-EMF house, ask before you buy whether an appliance works fully without being connected, and whether its Wi-Fi can be switched off. A dishwasher that talks to your phone isn't worth another transmitter. See our guide "How to have a low-EMF house" for the rest.