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I just stumbled across this German custom of Lüften. Also known as Stoßlüften - Shock Ventilation.
The argument is that it's better to throw open all the windows for 5 minutes in Winter, 15 in Spring/Autumn, and 30 in Summer, and that it's better than leaving windows on the latch/vent mode for long periods in terms of energy efficiency and comfort. I guess you don't cool down the fabric of the house as much when doing a quick air change as you would with a constant draught.
So I was pondering trying this as currently I've been running a dehumidifier for a week, and struggle to keep the humidity under 65%, today its unusually low at 58%. But the weather forecast reckons it's currently 92% humidity outside and the average annual humidity is 70-90%. So if I do this, I'm going to obviously swap the nasty stale air for nice fresh air (except on Friday when the new concrete plant cleans out their furnace and stink out the town) but am I going to raise the humidity in the house?!
Are you in the UK? Just asking as our dehumidifier has been showing 40 something % RH for a while (set on auto at 60%). Thought this was just a dry time if year (when it's not raining).
Yes, south-east. Dehumidifier doesn't have a read-out but the Nest stat does show it.
We normally have a couple of windows on trickle, always use a ducted cooker hood when cooking, and the bathroom has a fan that runs whenever the light is on and an over-run, plus we always open the window when showering.
We do dry clothes inside occasionally in winter but always with the dehumidifier running and we don't see a notable spike so I think the dehumidifier keeps up. It pulls about 5 litres a day.
2 adults, 60's bungalow with early cavity wall insulation. Which may not be helping but we don't have any obvious problems apart from humidity being high, wanting to sit in the low 70's which results in a bit of mould and mildew.
but am I going to raise the humidity in the house?!
No. That number is relative humidity. The amount of actual water air can hold dissolved in it varies a lot by temperature. So if you take a roomful of air at 5C and 92% relative humidity, and warm it up to 20C, the relative humidity will be quite low and it will feel dry because moisture from you and things in the room will be able to evaporate. This is how come warming a room dries out things in it.
If you did the opposite, a room full of air at 20C and 92% RH and cooled it down to 5C then the air would not be able to hold the water vapour and it would condense on everything. That is why we have dew in the mornings.
In damp houses moisture condenses in the coldest areas whic are usually windows but also in corners of exterior walls because that's where the air is coldest and can hold less vapour.
No. That number is relative humidity. The amount of actual water air can hold dissolved in it varies a lot by temperature
Thanks, so airing the house this way will should reduce humidity considerably, great 🙂
In cold weather yes. Let us know how you get on 🙂