CORRECT VENTILATION IN WINTER
Due to the change in weather conditions, the "ventilation behaviour" must also be adjusted accordingly in the winter months, otherwise there may be unpleasant surprises in the form of mould in the flats.
WHY SHOULD I VENTILATE?
Breathing in and out permanently enriches the air in rooms with carbon dioxide and reduces the oxygen content. In addition, building materials (especially in new buildings) or furnishings (the cheapest goods from some large furniture chains are real "dirt slingers") also emit pollutants that can contaminate the indoor air.
We all react to poor indoor air quality with tiredness or difficulty concentrating, for example. It is therefore essential to ventilate regularly to ensure hygienic air conditions.
Correct ventilation can and should also prevent mould growth in homes. As a basic principle, the higher the humidity indoors, the greater the likelihood of mould growth.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN WINTER?
Due to the cold outside temperatures, we tend to neglect ventilation so as not to let the "cosy" heat escape to the outside. In closed rooms, the humidity automatically increases over time (people, plants, cooking, showers, laundry, etc.). Moulds in particular love high humidity and therefore find ideal conditions! The high humidity indoors must therefore be brought outside into the dry, cold winter air through intensive ventilation.
HOW DO I VENTILATE PROPERLY IN WINTER?
Firstly, it should be noted that this is general advice. As every home has to be assessed differently (floor plan, orientation, location, use, building materials used, etc.), there are no generally applicable rules. However, if the following principles are adhered to, you are on the right track:
- Open everything! Open as many/all windows in the home as possible fully for a few minutes, do not tilt them. Ventilate briefly but intensively ("shock ventilation"). The rapid exchange of air means that the rooms do not cool down completely and the "fresh" air warms up again quickly after closing.
- Repeat the "shock ventilation" several times a day. If you work, then at least in the morning and evening, and several times at the weekend.
- Depending on the layout of the flat and the other conditions on site, air the room for 5 to a maximum of 10 minutes.
- In winter, all windows remain closed between or after "shock ventilation" (no tilting).
DO NOT TILT THE WINDOW!
Tilting windows for long periods of time or permanently is very harmful and (!) even promotes mould growth. Only a comparatively small amount of air can be exchanged through a tilted window and the humidity in the interior therefore remains relatively high. At the same time, however, the walls (especially in the vicinity of the window) cool down considerably, which can lead to condensation forming. It doesn't get any better than this for mould growth: high humidity meets cold building components.
Conclusion: In winter ventilate briefly but vigorously several times a dayso that there is a rapid and complete exchange of air in the home. As a result, the masonry does not cool down completely, the air then warms up again quickly and the humidity in the rooms falls.
