Whether it is dust, pollutants, odours... There are many reasons to air your home. The fact of renewing the indoor air allows you to bring in fresh air. But how do you go about it and why? We take stock of the situation with you.
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Is indoor air more polluted than outdoor air?
According to specialists, indoor air is on average 5 to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. The origins of this pollution are numerous: household products, perfumes, cooking fumes, dust, incense and candles all contribute to vitiating the air in our homes.
In addition, poor insulation also encourages dampness that is conducive to the development of fungi and dust mites, which are known to be the main allergens in our homes along with dust.
This pollution is not without risk, as it is potentially carcinogenic and a source of multiple respiratory problems. Whether it is asthma, rhinitis or allergies: most of these ailments can be avoided if we air out these places where we spend an average of 80 % of our time confined.
How do you know if the air is polluted?
There are many different pollutants in household air: some are visible or odorous such as smoke or cooking smells, while others are invisible, colourless and odourless such as radon, carbon monoxide, bacteria or insecticides.
Depending on the type of pollution you are looking for, your living habits or the place where you live, it may be worthwhile to equip yourself with detectors: a carbon monoxide detector A radon detector is recommended if you live in an area with radon potential. However, not all pollution can be measured. For example, it is possible to estimate the risk of being exposed to covid-19 with a CO2 detector without identifying the airborne virus.
Equipping yourself with all the detectors available on the market is not necessarily the best or most economical solution. Furthermore, it will not exempt you from airing your home and using a VMCIt is vital that the air is changed regularly.
How long does it take to ventilate a house?
To renew the air in a room or in your home, it is advisable to open the windows wide for 5 to 10 minutes a day. This ventilation time is sufficient to renew the air without cooling your home.
However, for those in a hurry, it is possible to air your home faster if you open the windows on both sides of the house wide. The air flow created will allow you to reduce this ventilation time to between 2 and 5 minutes, even if it can be uncomfortable in cold weather.
Finally, we advise against airing a room with a window ajar. A partially open window does not allow air to circulate freely. This action forces you to ventilate for longer periods, which can reduce your thermal comfort and lead to moisture as a result of condensation on the walls.
Sikana EN | Airing and ventilating - Well in my apartment
Should you air out when it rains?
Opening the windows on rainy days is the best time to air your home. In addition to renewing the indoor air, the moisture in the outdoor air helps you to restore the relative humidity in your home.
A house that is too dry will be able to restore its humidity level to above 30 %, while a damp house will regulate its humidity level below 50 %. To achieve this, however, you will need to ventilate long enough to allow the indoor air to renew itself completely.
Finally, airing your home during rainy weather is an excellent way to improve your well-being. Invisible to the naked eye, the negative ions present in rainwater help to purify the air by reducing pollution while reversing the electrical charge of the air. The air is thus purified and gives you a feeling of relief and well-being.
How long to air after insecticide?
As soon as an insecticide is sprayed, it is important to air the room for at least 30 minutes after allowing the product to act for about 15 minutes.
The time of action of the pesticide will allow the destruction of the pests while avoiding to return too soon in the room after spraying. Indeed, the volatile organic compounds contained in the gas are extremely harmful to our lung tissue, which is why it is mandatory to leave the room for a minimum of time.
A long airing period will completely renew the air in the room and remove harmful airborne particles. It is important to ventilate as little as possible if you do not want to irritate your lungs or breathe in highly carcinogenic gases.
How long to ventilate after a gas leak?
If you think you have a gas leak in your home, the best thing to do is to turn off the gas and then ventilate your home for at least 10 minutes. As gas is lighter than air, it will naturally escape to the outside.
In any case, do not delay in opening the windows, because the more the gas is concentrated in the air, the greater the risk for you and the occupants:
- From 1 % of gas, the occupants can smell it,
- From a concentration of 5 % in the air, there is a risk of explosion,
- From 25 % of exposure, the risk of intoxication is major.