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.

Opening a window while cooking bacon or for vaping isn’t what’s being talked about here though - it’s opening all, or most, windows for extended periods.

Half an hour? Mine doesn’t get up to 18 in 2 hours in cold weather! I think we are maybe all talking about different types of houses…

Which tells you that you live in a place with different weather and/or your house is different construction. It’s not warmer to reward you for opening windows.

I didn't say it got up to eighteen it's normally around 16 degrees when I get up and shower but our bathroom has a dehumidifier which I put on, and that warms it up pretty fast.

Actually, dry air warms up quicker than damp air, so opening your windows can mean your home warms up much faster than it would if you just keep all the damp in.

Warm doesn’t necessarily equal damp either. Like I said, I never have any issue with damp or condensation. And 16 is not ‘nice and warm’ as you claimed in another post. It’s 2 degrees below the lower end of temps that don’t actually damage your health…

By "nice and warm", I meant it's a perfectly acceptable temperature for getting out of bed, feeding the animals, having breakfast and doing my morning jobs.

My house is rarely ever heated above 18.5 anyway as it feels unpleasant to me.

That’s not what nice and warm means though, is it? Mine’s only ever heated to 18 too. 16 is bloody cold and uncomfortable.

Everyone has their own definition of what's comfortable - that's mine. I'm not asking you to agree with me?

I think it depends on the house and even the day
My thermostat says it's 15c, I've got a vest and jumper on and am absolutely fine, warm hands etc and had the window open
WFH and it's usually around 16c
Otherwise days I can't get warm and need to bump it to 18c but that's the highest I ever have it on

From my reading of the thread, it's about how long you open your windows for, covering all time periods.

Mine get open for as long as it takes the cat to get in/out. Have reynauds and another neurological condition made worse by cold.

The bathroom window is open a lot, but I haven't opened any others all week due to the freezing temperatures (we've had snow on the ground all week).

When it's milder I open the bedroom windows for a few hrs in the mornings.

I agree, I find 16 perfectly warm and comfortable. Depends on your activities too, if I'm sitting still for an hour reading, I use a blanket. If, like now, I've come in from a walk in 5 degrees then I'm toasty at 13.

The thread title is ‘how long do you open your windows for this time of year’. Not ‘what reasons’. The OP (and most replies) refer to random opening to let fresh air in.

Exactly. My mornings are quite busy as I have animals to sort and chores to get done, so I don't need the heating on full blast.

I work outdoors all day though which probably means I'm more used to the freezing temperatures than most, lol.

Yes?

Which is not the same as opening one while cooking bacon. Obviously. The person who said it wasn’t in her experience was referring to wide open windows all over the house for hours. So your experience of letting out bacon smoke is a bit different and not what was being referred to. That’s all.

I mentioned my next door neighbours having their kitchen window open more often than not, they presumably aren't cooking all the time. It's more common to see windows open on a Saturday breakfast time but other neighbours of mine often have a window cracked at other times too.

@Kalevala what would be your answer to this question from the OP?
If you are in the UK, how long do you open your windows for in the morning in winter?

I have answered upthread already

Ahhh. A competitive cold person. Nobody is ‘toasty’ at 13.
I’m out.

No 'competition'. I specifically said I had been out walking. A temperature increase of 8 degrees after exercise does feel toasty.

I have an air conditioning/ heating system that can be set to "clean" the air as it cools/ heats so, to be honest, I hardly ever open my double-glazed windows summer to winter. I prefer this as it keeps the house silent (Central London), but I know "airing" the house every day is a Traditional British Value and I'm out of step.

Bedroom window open an inch 24/7.

Bathroom window open 5-10 minutes after a shower or bath.