In winter, most people’s priority is to try to save energy as much as possible. In order not to waste the heat from the radiators, they try to barricade the house, avoiding the slightest draft. They inspect the walls and the roof down to the millimeter, ensure that the windows and doors are properly locked to optimize the use of heating. All these precautions are commendable. But do not forget that it is essential to ventilate your interior daily. Excessive confinement is harmful to both your health and your home.
Wondering how to ventilate the house efficiently? The real question to ask: how long should you leave the windows open in winter? The answer is here.
Ventilate the house – Source: spm
Should you ventilate your house in winter?
Although outside temperatures are lower in winter, this does not imply that the interior of the house should not be ventilated. Certainly, it is quite understandable to want to save energy and gas by insulating windows. But the lack of air can cause a lot of damage. Between the accumulation of dust and bacteria, sensitive and allergic people may suffer. Having a completely sealed space is actually a great way to reduce energy bills. But a poorly ventilated interior is very bad for health: to prevent the air from being contaminated with toxic particles, it is imperative to ventilate the house, even in the middle of winter.
Why ventilate the house in winter? 3 reasons
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Get rid of allergens
Even though the flowering season is not yet near, the house is full of household allergens that can lead to serious respiratory problems. In addition to dust mites colonizing carpets and bedding, your lungs also have to deal with chemicals from cleaning sprays or hair strewn all over your pet. Generally speaking, allergy sufferers often suffer from worsening symptoms in winter due to poor ventilation.
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Fight frequent colds
When the heating season is in full swing, the air in the house becomes very dry. Radiators tend to remove moisture from the air, thereby drying out the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. As a result, your body struggles to fight off viruses and bacteria that try to enter your immune system. The dry and poorly ventilated air is very often responsible for the flu and colds during this period.
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Prevent the growth of bacteria and mold
Finally, when you keep your interior airtight, you contribute to the inevitable growth of viruses, bacteria, and mold. Without fresh air at home, germs multiply in the air and on all surfaces. Even using a humidifier and an air purifier, you still need a source of fresh air to eliminate the abundance of CO2 in the dwelling.
Rainy weather – Source: spm
How long should the windows be left open?
So, how often should the house be aired in winter, without wasting energy?
Generally, it is ideal to open the windows at least 10 minutes a day. If you live in a small apartment, you should keep the windows open for at least 15 minutes. For houses or apartments overlooking busy streets, it is best to ventilate your interior early in the morning before 9 a.m. and late in the evening after 10 p.m. to minimize pollution. Also favor the ventilation of your kitchen which is constantly plagued by smoke and various odors.
Also, be sure to lower the temperature inside the house. When cold air enters windows, we tend to believe that it necessarily takes more energy to heat living rooms. This is a false calculation: to preserve your health, the ideal temperature must remain around 18°C, with the exception of the baby’s room where the room must be heated to 22°C. But, in other spaces, by reducing the thermal value of the house, you will not need to use the high capacity boiler. This will therefore prevent you from having a higher energy consumption.
Read also: Cover the windows with aluminum foil. A lot of people do it: it solves a big problem
Via SPM
