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More Harm Than Good

What Happens in Your Home When You Ventilate Too Much

Aerate the windows
Too much of a good thing is often no longer good - this also applies to airing the home Photo: Getty Images

December 27, 2024, 4:04 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

Regular ventilation is important not only for the indoor climate and oxygen levels in living spaces but also for preventing mold. But is it possible to ventilate too much?

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Ventilation is well-known for providing fresh air. However, what many people don’t realize is that too frequent or incorrect ventilation in winter and fall can be more harmful than beneficial. In addition to increasing heating costs, mold can form if surfaces cool down too much. Constantly tilted windows are particularly problematic, especially if the heating is turned up at the same time. But how much is too much ventilation? And what is the right approach?

Too Much Ventilation Can Have Negative Consequences in the Home

Ventilation has many benefits, such as reducing humidity and pollutants. However, it is also possible to ventilate too much, which can lead to a number of disadvantages, especially in the cold season, as utopia.de reports. On the one hand, incorrect ventilation leads to high energy consumption and, on the other, to an increased risk of mold.

Mold Due to Incorrect Ventilation

Excessive ventilation can cause surfaces and materials, such as walls and furniture, to cool down. “Moisture likes to condense on cool surfaces. This means a risk of mold,” explains Hans-Joachim Horn from the Consumer Advice Center of Baden-Württemberg to utopia.de. The surrounding wall areas can cool down permanently, especially if the windows are tilted, which increases the risk of mold.

Increased Energy Consumption

If windows are left open for too long – whether tilted or wide open – energy consumption increases considerably. The rooms then have to be brought back up to temperature. This affects not only heating costs but also has detrimental effects on the environment.

Common Mistake: Constantly Tilted Windows

As informed by the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), windows that are left open for long periods of time drastically increase energy consumption and allow wall areas to cool down. This can lead to condensation, which encourages mold. Instead, one should opt for regular bursts of ventilation. To do this, windows should be opened wide for around five minutes several times a day. Ideally, opposite windows should be opened simultaneously to create a cross breeze. This keeps the room fresh without the walls cooling down.

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Correct Ventilation in Winter

According to the UBA, it is sufficient to air rooms twice or three times a day during the cold season. The kitchen and bathroom should also be ventilated during and immediately after cooking or showering. In summer, the air exchange takes longer, which is why ten to twenty minutes of ventilation is recommended.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

Topics Winter
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