Ventilating your home during winter? This is how you do it!

In winter we are quick to close all the windows, doors and grilles to keep out the cold. This is sensible, but not effective for the indoor climate in your home. Even in winter, it is important to ventilate your home. Wondering how best to ventilate your home in winter? Read this blog.

Louis Nijssen

November 4, 2021

Reading time: 3 min

Airing is not the same as ventilating

Many people think that ventilation is simply a matter of opening a window or door for a while. However, this is not ventilation, it is airing. Unfortunately, airing by briefly opening a window or door is not enough to ensure a constant flow of healthy air in the house.

Opening a window is obviously a good thing, but as soon as the window is closed, the air quality immediately deteriorates. It is therefore important to make sure that there is always enough fresh air in your home and to remove polluted air.

Why ventilate your house during winter?

During the winter months, everyone wants to be warm and cosy, so the windows are closed and the heating is turned on. Nice and warm, but not very healthy. Without realising it, you are producing all kinds of waste in your home. Over time, the indoor air contains a lot of moisture, carbon dioxide and other harmful substances. Cooking and smoking are well-known examples, but washing, showering, sweating and even breathing produce litres of water vapour every day. Do you have pets? Then moisture levels are often even higher.

A polluted and damp environment is ideal for fungi and can lead to health problems such as headaches, sleep problems, allergies and respiratory complaints. It is therefore important to replace polluted and damp indoor air with fresh outdoor air, especially if it is not possible to open windows or grilles. Proper ventilation brings in fresh air and removes waste and moisture.

How to best ventilate your home during winter?

The best way to ventilate your home is to make sure the air vents are always open, even in winter, and that your ventilation system is set to the first setting by default. Have your ventilation system serviced and cleaned regularly. You can clean the vents yourself to ensure that the ventilation system works optimally.

In addition, make sure you use extra ventilation when you shower or cook. Turn on the extractor hood while you are cooking and leave your ventilation system on its highest setting for at least an hour after cooking. This also applies when taking a shower.

Do you have a heat recovery system (MVHR) in your home? This removes polluted indoor air and blows clean, heated outdoor air into the house. This means you can always ventilate in winter without worrying about energy consumption.

What to do if you do not have a ventilation system?

No ventilation system at home? You can air your house yourself to some extent by opening the windows on two sides of your house wide. Of course, this is not the best way. You lose a lot of heat and use a lot of energy to reheat your home. In addition, the air quality will never be optimal.

Do you want a healthy indoor climate and still have a nice warm house in winter? Then have a mechanical ventilation system installed in your home.