We have to keep our homes warm in the winter, so opening the window isn't particularly energy-efficient. However, ventilating properly in winter can help retain as much heat as possible while also making sure that air is exchanged efficiently.
In order to ensure the ventilation in your building works as well as possible, you should: Always leave trickle vents open and unblocked, even in winter. You will use a little more energy to heat your home, but have fresh air to prevent illnesses.
Although it's tempting to keep all the doors and windows shut during the months winter, it's important to let your house breathe and keep air flowing. Open windows on opposite sides of the home for short periods to allow for cross ventilation. You should also take steps to reduce the amount of moisture in your home.
Use fans to improve air flow
Even without an open window, fans can improve air flow. Point fans away from people. Pointing fans toward people can blow contaminated air directly at them. Use ceiling fans to help improve air flow in the home whether or not windows are open.
“Fresh air isn't the enemy. Open your windows,” says Dr Appelles Econs, an allergy specialist at the Burghwood Clinic. Keeping your windows shut all day will allow chemicals and allergens to build up inside. Even if you live in a polluted city, you are going to have to open the windows from time to time.
Fifteen minutes to half an hour is what you should aim for. The air in your home has pollutants at any given time, so that should be enough time to get rid of them. It's important to give your home a chance to let good, clean air in.
Ventilate briefly but intensively. By opening the windows wide, we help the air exchange occur faster and prevent excessive cooling. In the winter months, about 5 minutes is enough to provide our rooms with the right amount of fresh air. Avoid draughts.
The majority of cold weather comfort issues are caused by heat escape, poor insulation, and inefficient heating systems. But there's another problem you should know about: your thermostat. If your house is colder than your thermostat reads, take these steps: Check the battery.
If there is a cold room in your house, the problem has likely been caused by dirty vents, cracked ductwork, worn insulation or faint drafts.
Each standard, habitable room must provide a minimum of 8,000mm2 of ventilation. Kitchens should also provide a minimum of 8,000mm2 of ventilation. Bathrooms should provide a minimum of 4,000mm2 of ventilation.
Methods of ventilation
Natural ventilation relies on doors, windows and other openings such as trickle vents, air bricks or grilles to provide air. Mechanical ventilation uses fans to move air into and out of rooms.
Micro ventilate — instead of opening all windows in your house, crack-open one window in each room and let in fresh air. Turn on the “winter mode” on your fans — if you have a ceiling fan, it probably has a mechanism that enables reversing the blade direction. Thanks to it, your fan will be pushing warm air downwards.
When not enough air circulates, pollution builds up indoors. Sometimes efforts to make buildings more energy efficient can backfire by not allowing enough air to move, building up pollution. Carbon monoxide can build up to deadly levels indoors without proper ventilation, but it is not the only risk.
Increase ventilation by opening windows wide on opposite sides of your home for 15 minutes every morning to allow moisture laden air to be taken away. Put lids on pots and pans in the kitchen when cooking. Use the cooker hood or extraction fan if you have one.
That's because Australian homes are closer to tents than insulated eco-buildings. As winter sets in, and temperatures plummet, it can sometimes feel as cold inside as it does outside. The reason for this is the poor thermal performance of houses in Australia.
Poor building practices, such as inadequately fitted insulation and having no real damp proofing in place at all are also major contributors to dampness in British homes.
How Warm Should Your House Be According to the UK Government. The UK government used to recommend a temperature of 21 degrees for living rooms and 18 degrees for bedrooms, but now they just recommend 18 degrees for the whole home.
The NHS recommends: "Shutting windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. You can open the windows for ventilation when it is cooler." However, always consider home safety and security when leaving windows open.
Finally, if you can handle it, leaving the slightest opening in your window overnight will make the air circulating your room more comfortable. Yes, you will be losing some energy, but the health benefits you get from bringing fresh air into your home is unparallel and most definitely worth it.
Rising damp is less likely to occur on or around your windows as damp will only rise to approximately 1 metre above the ground. While damp cannot be reduced by opening windows, it can help to reduce the humidity levels in your property to make sure that condensation is not a common occurrence.
Fresh air not only cleans your lungs, it can also boost your mood, lower your heart rate, increase energy levels and even improve digestion (yes, that's right). Florence Nightingale knew the benefits of fresh air long before any scientific study.
You might notice that your nose runs more often or that you get stopped up overnight. Itchy, watery eyes; sore throats; and skin rashes can all result from inadequate fresh air. These symptoms can have other causes, of course, which is why we recommend a professional inspection.
Without proper air circulation, indoor spaces can become a breeding ground for harmful pollutants and toxins, leading to a range of negative health effects. From respiratory issues and headaches to more serious conditions like asthma, the consequences of poor ventilation can be severe.