The Undeniable Benefits of Airing Out Your House (As Told by the Experts)

It’s easy to take air for granted because we’re surrounded by it. But, fresh air is important not just for your health but for your home as well. That’s why airing out your house should be a priority because it comes with so many benefits. 

If you take your health seriously, then airing out your house is something you’ll want to do often. A well-ventilated home can help to reduce your chances of getting lung cancer, it can reduce the levels of radon present in your home, and in order for your heart to do its job effectively, it needs an abundance of oxygen to work with. 

Why spend so much money trying to cool your home artificially when there’s cool air coming from outside? Why use an electrically-run device to heat your home when you can do it naturally, without spending a cent? You can save hundreds of dollars every year by naturally regulating the temperature in your home. Just open your windows and let nature do the rest. 

Clusters of fungi, or what you recognize as mold and mildew, can cause quite a headache. If there’s too much moisture in the home, these can thrive and multiply, wreaking havoc on your health and home. There are many sources of condensation in the house. Plumbing leaks, boiling water when preparing food, even breathing can increase humidity levels. If you want to avoid your property getting damaged from moisture, then frequent ventilation is a must. And if you must replace your windows in order to ensure proper airflow, then do what you need to do.

It may sound a little ‘out there’ but it’s a scientific fact that proper ventilation makes for a healthy mind. Your brain uses about 20% of the oxygen in your body, so the more oxygen you have access to; the better it is for your brain. What’s more, the mood-boosting hormone serotonin is associated with higher levels of oxygen supply. This ‘feel-good chemical’ helps improve sleep patterns, reduce depression, and relay signals from one area of the brain to another.  

Nobody likes a house with a weird odor inside. Dusty and musty odors, the smell of stale sheets and new furniture; there are many things the nose reacts to. You may have a cat or dog living with you and often have to deal with cat urine or the wet dog smell. Maybe there’s a gas leak or somebody likes smoking in the house. Airing out your home will work wonders to control all these odors, and your nose will thank you for it. 

We’re living in the age of pandemics and many viruses have been shown to linger in the air for hours after a carrier has left the room. While increasing ventilation in your home may not be enough to protect you from such viruses, it sure can help cut down the concentration of viral particles in your house. At the end of the day, you want to lower the odds of spreading viruses and bacteria, and introducing fresh air into the home is one way to do that. Airborne transmission is a real danger that can be avoided by airing out your home. 

Ensuring proper airflow in your home isn't just about comfort—it's essential for health. By regularly airing out your home, you can reduce the risk of asthma attacks and other respiratory issues. Stagnant air tends to accumulate dust, allergens, and pollutants, which can irritate the lungs, especially for individuals with pre-existing conditions​. Fresh air circulation also helps in reducing the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria, as noted by the CDC, which emphasizes the importance of ventilation for preventing illnesses​. Air conditioning systems also play a crucial role in filtering allergens and improving air quality, contributing to a healthier indoor environment​.

One of the most common issues homeowners face is mold, which thrives in moist, poorly ventilated environments. Mold can not only cause structural damage to your home but also pose serious health risks, particularly to those with allergies or weakened immune systems. Points out that proper ventilation helps regulate humidity levels, reducing the risk of mold formation​. Fresh air circulation helps to dry out any damp spots in your home, keeping mold growth at bay and ensuring a safer living environment​.

Fifteen minutes to half an hour is what you should aim for. The air in your home has pollutants at any given time, so that should be enough time to get rid of them. It’s important to give your home a chance to let good, clean air in. The longer you can ventilate your home, the better it is and the safer you and your home are.  

You may remember from your high school biology class that we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. The goal is to get new, oxygen-rich air from the outside while letting out any CO2 that may be packed up in the house. Airing out your home helps prevent you from breathing in old, stale air. 

Airing out your house once a day will make a world of a difference. If you live in a highly polluted urban area, however, you may consider doing it every other day. Otherwise, doing it daily is ideal, especially if there are a lot of people in your home or there’s somebody with respiratory issues. Your lifestyle will definitely play a role in how often you do it, but the standard is once a day. 

People spend money on air purifiers and fans in the hopes that they’ll improve airflow. They invest in plants that they believe help purify the air. The problem with all these options is that they cost money, time, and energy. You’ll have to change out your filters at some point. A fan uses energy. The plants will need watering every now and then. 

The best way to air out your house is to open the windows. The bigger the windows and the more windows you have, the more fresh air you can let in. The best time to crack a window open is early in the morning and late in the evening since this is when the air is most polluted. Those living in busy areas will find that there’s less traffic at night. Opening windows in the morning will of course let out all the carbon dioxide you exhaled during the night. 

Casement windows, awning windows, and bay windows are especially good at naturally ventilating your home. There’s no need to open them all the way either, even a slight slit can help achieve all the effects mentioned above. Airing out your home is simple as that, so make a habit of opening your windows often to enjoy the benefits of a well-ventilated home.