Opening windows in cold weather

[Disorganisedmess2023]

I love fresh air coming through the house but obviously this is harder now the weather is colder and damp. How often do you have your windows open at this time of year in UK weather?

Also air gets musty and has dust etc in it

Bedroom window is open 24/7 (unless we are away). We only have patio doors in the lounge so they are rarely open in the winter or at night in the summer.

Some people think it is a bit odd and some sort of obsession to want the windows open from time to time to air the house a bit

I don’t think it’s odd but at the same time, there were threads full of people last year complaining about how cold they were but couldn’t use the heating because of the cost. No wonder they’re cold if they’re having windows open for hours every day in winter. Not that we’re quite there yet where I am but I’m not spending money on heating to let it fly out of the window!

I do keep my bedroom window open as I’m peri menopausal and get ridiculously hot at night. But the rest of the house, if it’s really cold, I won’t open windows more than maybe twice a week and not for long. Never had problems with damp etc. Its only for a few weeks that it’s that cold anyway. So I don’t see the harm.

My bedroom all the time. Just gasped new windows so the vents are open on all windows at the moment. Bathroom normally morning for a while. Rest as and when needed

I wish I could keep my bedroom window open at night, but my mad bat of a brainless cat would try to fly out of it - three storey's high though it is.

I like to open and air the house each day, every day, even in the worst weather, for at least twenty minutes. But preferably for far more!

Oh, and that reminds me of some tenants we had once, who complained about the condensation 'literally running down the walls'. Given that we'd lived in the house ourselves, and never had a problem with condensation, we did think the question 'do they ever open the windows?!' was a valid and reasonable question!

(But we plumbed in a dehumidifier for them too.)

Never.

I open my bedroom window every morning when I get up, even if it's freezing outside.
My bathroom window is open too to prevent mould forming.

Bedroom windows get opened every morning.
Kitchen widows/patio door every evening after cooking to remove cooking smells

My bathroom window is always open.

I leave upstairs windows open whenever it's warm enough and dry enough. When it's cold, I still open the bedroom & bathroom windows for around 20 minutes in the morning, whilst I'm doing the beds & laundry. I believe that dry houses heat up quicker.