How long do you open your windows for this time of year?

[SpringMeadows]

If you are in the UK, how long do you open your windows for in the morning in winter? We have dogs and I leave them open (including the back door) for an hour or two, first thing in the morning. This is because I like to have fresh air in the house daily, but also because I'm rushing around during that time so don't go and shut them. WHen I get to my desk ready to work, I go around and close them. My DP would open them for 20 minutes and then turn the heating straight back on.

It's true that the house gets rather cold during the time the windows are open but are we supposed to live in a stuffy place? So I'd like to hear what others do. Thank you.

Never in the winter! Your homes must be freezing 🥶

Never. But we have very efficient air bricks that don't close and let in air constantly. Fecking freezing this time of year.

Bedrooms and bathrooms have windows on the latch year round. Older DC shut there's in the cold snap but the rest were left open. Downstairs, I'll open them for a couple of blasts every day. Anything from 10 minutes if it's windy or cold to all day long in the summer.
I love cold fresh air coming in and hate the feeling of stale air and the smell of an un-aired room.

No, it's really quite nice and warm, even with the windows open.

Not at all in winter - except the bathroom after using it.

I don't open them unless there's some moisture accumulation after the night, then they get wiped down and opened a little. Also open a bit if I am drying clothes on the heated drier. Anything more and DP would complain bitterly about being cold and I'd probably get the side eye from the cat, too! 😂However at times there's thick fog so no point opening them!

we have an old draughty house, but I open all windows for at least 30 mins every morning. Bathroom windows stay open all the time as do our bedroom. We leave everything open in summer. Can’t stand the smell if I don’t!

I have trickle vents open and a window in each room in the locked open a crack position at all times unless extremely windy.

It is really important to ventilate your house.

Bathroom window open for at least an hour (open it when me and DH have had our showers).

Bedroom window only open for about half an hour as the bedroom tends to be on the cold side as we don't usually have the radiator on.

It it is sunny, as it has been a couple of days this week, then the windows are open for longer - usually until the sun goes in.

Downstairs I don't usually open the windows in winter but the back door is forever opening and closing because I have 2 dogs who go in and out constantly. In the summer the back door is just left open when we are home

We don't, except in our bedroom, where the velux is always a little bit open. We do have open trickle vents though. We both leave for work at 7:30 in the morning, so we don't have time to be airing the house anyway.

My bedroom window is open all the time. Others just for an hour in the morning. Bathroom open after showers for an hour or two. The other windows don't tend to get opened at this time of year. A lot of them are draughty though and the dog is going in and out so there is reasonable air exchange downstairs.

For as long as it takes for the floor to dry after I mop.. I didn't know this was a thing in winter? I don't have damp

Your home must be freezing and it cost a fortune to get it heated up

ours is draughty anyway, but I’ve never left the windows open when it’s cold.

I don't open our windows at all atm, it's freezing.

Never! Why would I pay to heat the house only to let all the heat out? Besides, we don't have any small windows and if you leave the big windows open a crack they just blow fully open in the wind.

This thread is making me wonder if I don't open my windows enough!

We have every window in the house wide open for 15-30 minutes, however cold it is, as soon as everyone is dressed for the day.

On a warm day they'd be open all day, but that's unlikely at this time of year. Trickle vents are always open. One window open just a crack overnight in each bedroom.

Even with this, our house gets very cold. But then I try not have the heating on more than necessary.

I think one of the differences is the age and insulation of your house.

Older houses have more natural ventilation and when I've lived in one, open windows was less of a necessity and resulted in a far colder house that was harder to warm up again.

In a newer house, ventilation needs to be added to (ime) by opening windows and less heat seems to be lost. Plus it warms up again more easily.

20 to 30 minutes. Bedrooms only. We also have trickle vents in all rooms.

Bathroom up to half hour after a shower. Stops mould.

Surely your bedrooms smell if not aired! How rank.

Bedroom windows always open a crack at the very least. Open wide in the summer.

ten min blast with the downstairs rooms daily, at this time of year -
warmer months doors and windows all open at back of the house.

Two hours this time of year definitely not it would be too cold and can’t see the point tbh and I like fresh air!

Will only open the downstairs windows for 30 mins to an hr but I'll open the upstairs windows for 4 to 6 hours with the doors closed. Yes the room does get cold but it warms really quickly.

Those of you who open windows for a good stretch, is your heating off at this time?

Our bathroom window is opened wide after every bath/shower and bathroom door closed. At least until no condesation left on windows/tiles/shower screen. I open my bedroom window every evening to sleep, but only a crack when it was -6c the last few days. If the dogs ears feel cold, even when wrapped in a blanket (they sleep on the bed) I may close the window haha

In warmer weather they could be open all day. If we are in the garden then the door is left open also.

In the winter all windows are open for a minimum of half an hour. If I am home alone then they are open for a few hours.

I also turn down the bedsheets in the morning to air the beds.

I love my house to have fresh air and smell nice. I always find the wafts of air enhance the perfume reed things.

No clue if there's anything to this. But I find if you air the house then it heats up quicker/better. Its like rooms hold the heat more in fresh air rather than stale air. Has anyone else noticed this?

All the time in the summer but at the moment maybe 30 minutes for bathroom to clear after showers and not at all otherwise as house is freezing as it is.

At least an hour a day. Although that can be just a crack in really cold weather. Do this is bedroom's and bathrooms to prevent damp / mould.

Bedroom window pretty much open all the time when we’re home. The radiator is turned off permanently in that room and we keep the door closed while the rest of the house is heated. Bathroom window open while taking a shower or bath. Sometimes I switch the heating off completely and open the windows for half an hour, just to freshen the house - even at this time of year.
Interestingly, Sarah Beeny has an Instagram thread at the moment about this very issue.