February 19, 2024, 3:39 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Regular ventilation is important—in every room of the home. However, there are differences in duration and frequency. How should you properly ventilate the bedroom?
Musty smell, mold growth, fatigue–those who don’t ventilate properly risk all these issues. That’s why it’s essential to regularly open the window. However, some might wonder what “regularly” actually means, especially in the bedroom, where the air might not be so fresh in the morning. myHOMEBOOK explains how to ventilate the bedroom correctly.
Why Ventilating the Bedroom Is Especially Important
In general, every room should be adequately ventilated. This is the only way to ensure enough oxygen and, most importantly, to prevent mold growth. The latter can be particularly problematic in the bedroom. Overnight, a person releases moisture into the air through breathing or sweating. According to the Verbraucherzentrale (a German consumer advice center), this can be up to half a liter of water per person–about as much as a single shower. The more people in the bedroom, the more moisture is produced.
Also interesting: 6 Tips to Combat High Humidity in the Home
How to Properly Ventilate the Bedroom
How often and how long you should ventilate depends partly on usage and partly on the season. The bedroom should be ventilated immediately after getting up in the morning, recommends the Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency). As mentioned, people sleeping in the room release water vapor. If not adequately ventilated, this can promote mold.
The duration of bedroom ventilation depends somewhat on the season. The Umweltbundesamt recommends 5 to 10 minutes in the morning during colder temperatures. In warmer seasons, it should be at least 10 to 20 minutes. The reason given is that air exchange occurs more slowly at higher temperatures because indoor and outdoor values are nearly the same.
The Window + Facade Association offers a rule of thumb for winter that’s easy to remember. If the outside temperatures are:
- below 0 degrees: Open windows for only 5 minutes
- between 0 and 10 degrees: Ventilate for 10 minutes
- above 10 degrees: Windows can be opened for about 15 minutes
In general, you should ventilate not just once but several times a day. How you manage this also depends on whether you’re at home. Morning and evening should generally work.
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What Happens in Your Home When You Ventilate Too Much
How Micro-Ventilation Works at Window
Windows Tilted Open at Night–Yes or No?
Many have gotten used to leaving the bedroom window tilted open overnight. Generally, ventilation is recommended with the window wide open for a shorter period–this is known as shock ventilation. However, in the bedroom, it’s a bit different–the Verbraucherzentrale supports the tilted position at night to ensure good air quality.