Tips for proper ventilation
Regular ventilation is important for your home’s indoor climate and prevents mould from forming. But to avoid losing too much warmth and heating energy in winter, you need to ventilate in the right way.
The key do’s and don’ts
- In winter, three to four times a day for five minutes
- In spring and autumn, three to four times a day for 10 – 15 minutes
- Ventilate well at night and in the morning in summer
- Do not dry laundry in the apartment
- Ventilate well after cooking and showering
- Do not open tilt windows, especially in winter
- When it’s cold, don’t ventilate for too long so that the inner walls don’t cool down
- Leave a space between furniture and the walls to allow air to circulate
Tip 1: impact ventilation in winter
Opt for short, sharp bursts of ventilation. In other words, open as many windows as possible for around five minutes, three to four times a day. Brief cross-ventilation (a draught) is particularly effective. Conversely, avoid having your windows permanently tilted open: this will let lots of warmth escape without enabling much fresh air to enter.
Tip 2: cooling properly in summer
Ventilate your space well at night and in the morning. If possible, keep your home shaded with shutters or sun blinds throughout the day.
Extra tip: avoiding summer condensation in your utility room or cellar
In summer, only open the windows in cooler rooms, like your cellar, overnight or in the early hours of the morning. Otherwise, the warm outdoor air can create condensation, which can then lead to mould growth.
Tip 3: proper ventilation in spring and autumn
As the temperature difference between your living space and the outside air is relatively low, the air is exchanged more slowly. As such, it’s best to ventilate your home 3–4 times a day for 10–15 minutes each time.
Tipp 4: open the windows even if it’s raining
The damp air is warmed up inside the room and ultimately ends up drier than the stale indoor air – which is why it’s important to ventilate your home even if it’s raining or foggy. Doing so will help improve the air quality.
Tip 5: proper ventilation during longer periods away from home
If you’re only going to be away for a few days, there’s no need to worry. It’s generally fine just to ventilate your home before you go away, and then keep the windows wide open for longer when you get back. If you’re planning a longer holiday or trip abroad, it’s advisable to ask someone to come in and open the windows for a few minutes every couple of days.
Extra tip: combine ventilation with watering duty
Do you have someone who comes and waters your plants? Ask them if they can also open the windows at the same time.
Tip 6: proper ventilation when drying laundry
Laundry should never be dried inside your home – this increases humidity levels by around 30%, creating the perfect environment for mould. If possible, dry your laundry in your tumble dryer, drying room or outside. But if none of these options are available and you do have to hang up your laundry in your flat, make sure you ventilate the room frequently. You can also open windows in other rooms to generate air flow and help reduce the humidity quicker.
Extra tip: ventilate after ironing and cooking
Various household activities such as cooking or ironing generate steam. Ventilate your home thoroughly afterwards to prevent this moisture from building up.
Tip 7: efficiently ventilate a Minergie apartment
Even if you have a ventilation system for indoor comfort, you can still open your windows, or your patio or balcony doors, for five to ten minutes at a time. Having the windows open all the time will waste a lot of energy without noticeably improving the air quality.
Extra tip: clean filters regularly
Generally speaking, you should change any filters in your ventilation system twice a year. You can do this yourself as instructed by a qualified professional (caretaker, installer, etc.) or hire a tradesperson to do it for you if you’re not feeling confident.