Opening the windows

[Moussemoose]

My DP tells me I shouldn't open the windows if the heating is on.

I think he is odd AIBU.

Opening windows and having the heating on can stop mold and damp. We get condensation on our bedroom windows so I usually leave them open a crack. Much better than dealing with mold and respiratory problems.

Teenage boys really need to have their bedroom windows open for a bit each day IMO.

Rooms need to be heated and ventilated in order to avoid condensation and associated mould. If your windows do not have trickle vents yanbu at all, let your house breathe

Having a window open fresh breeze blowing in and the heating on is pure luxury.

It's not weird at all to want some fresh air. It's not like you're flinging the windows wide open for 8 hours all day long with the heating blasting out. A few minutes to get some oxygen in and bad smells out is normal I'd have thought! I tend to open the back door when I'm in the kitchen, close it when we sit down to eat.

rule of thumb was roughly 1min airing per person and hours spent in the room. so for example: 2 persons in bed at night for 8 hours = 16 min airing.

That sounds like a good rule of thumb.

I air our bedrooms daily otherwise they get awful condensation and mould develops.

Central heating doesn't just heat up the air in a house but also the walls and furniture. Fifteen minutes with the window open won't cool the walls; the walls will quickly warm the air again when the window is shut.

I think he's right that it's wasteful to open the windows while the central heating is running, but you should definitely let the house breathe.

It is ESSENTIAL to have several windows open (slightly) in the house with the heating on. Even on vent (And even when the heating isn't on.)

The whole place can get damp if not. There needs to be a certain amount of airing the place, and letting out noxious fumes.

I thought everyone knew this. It's basic common sense.

My DH turns the heating up, I turn it down and open the windows. I love fresh air and have to air out every room twice a day.

I open wide, but not for long two or three times a day. I hate twice- breathed air.

And as a few people have said, leaving windows on vent helps respiratory problems/asthma.

Like dudville, we always have windows open all year, even if it's just a crack. Ventilation is really important!

You could open the windows nice and wide for fresh air, then close them and turn the heating on. (My DH also comments on our trying to heat the outside, but usually that's if there's a door open...)

As an aside, I have really really bad catarrh - and I feel like I ALWAYS have it, my sinuses feel clogged and I can't breathe adequately through my nose a lot of the time. So I need the window to be open otherwise I will feel like I'm suffocating and feel ill; and my catarrh will make the room's air smell horrible. If we've had to close the windows because of outside conditions, I sleep badly and the room stinks in the morning.

In winter, when it is cold the heating is on of I am in the house awake.

It is ESSENTIAL to have several windows open (slightly) in the house with the heating on. Even on vent (And even when the heating isn't on

Absolute rot, and a complete waste of money and energy. If you need to do that in your house, there is something very wrong with it.

For the uneducated - an extract from the article...

"A house needs to be well ventilated for the comfort of its residents and to help care for the building. A house with poor ventilation can retain moisture and feel draughty or airless. Moisture can condense, leading to problems with damp, while inadequate air flow results in a build-up of indoor air pollutants from household products. It can also produce cold, uncomfortable indoor temperatures, while good ventilation can help to maintain a comfortable inside temperature and a fresh and healthy home."

If you need to do that in your house, there is something very wrong with it. You'd think so, wouldn't you? But I see so many houses with very obvious condensation issues, black spot mould all over windows and even walls. Tenants never want to acknowledge it is due to their lifestyle but it is... simply ventilating regularly prevents it.

It happens more in newer houses. All that energy efficiency rating means new houses are almost totally sealed and so, if the resident isn't careful, doesn't use trickle vents, the 'open just a crack' lock setting, doesn't have a dehumidifier, they very quickly get issues with mould.

I open the windows every morning for about 15 mins. Whilst they are open I switch the heating off.
When I close the windows I put the heating back on. It’s wasteful to have the heating on and windows open.

The thing which really annoys me is shops who open their doors all sodding day. How is that allowed when we’re all being berated about global warming? Also the consumer is paying to heat up the pavements

We live in a very old house. It’s recommended it’s “aired” everyday.

If you don’t open the windows you can get condensation and it also gets smelly!

More...

passipedia.org/planning/building_services/ventilation/passive_house_-_6_reasons_why_you_still_need_windows

nationalpost.com/life/homes/mike-holmes-open-your-windows-in-winter-for-the-good-of-your-familys-health

Common sense to vent the house!

it's just weird that in countries with similar climate (denmark/netherlands/germany) window vents are just not a thing. and if you look at expat forums you will see many confused discussion threads about them :o

yes, you need to air the house regularly and well, just not constantly.

dangermouse7

Common sense to vent the house!

Many thanks - I will inform my DP. I will only be a little bit smug.

it's just weird that in countries with similar climate (denmark/netherlands/germany) window vents are just not a thing. and if you look at expat forums you will see many confused discussion threads about them But they are equally prone to mould! Various equivalents to our deposit schemes have a very similar % of issues with condensation and mould.

Airing in those countries is a thing though!
Windows wide open often with bedding pulled down /back.
I have my bedroom window open all day with duvet folded back to air the bed.

MousseMoose - talk about only taking the one responder who agrees with you !

Dangermouse - nobody has said you shouldn't air your house. Most people are saying you don't have your window open and heating on at the same time. It is ludicrous to suggest you try to heat the sky every day.

I open my bedroom window every morning but only after the heating has gone off and I close it again before the heating comes back on.

BackforGood

MousseMoose - talk about only taking the one responder who agrees with you

What? Am I not supposed to do that?