Humans spend at least two-thirds of their lives indoors. So the quality of indoor air plays an important role in our health. Dust, cigarette smoke, bacteria, odors – all these have a decisive impact on the quality of the air. Then only generous ventilation provides a remedy.
The air in the rooms
Today, far too little attention is paid to the quality of air indoors. Yet it contributes significantly to increasing physical and mental performance as well as to a comfortable indoor climate. Clean air contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.03% carbon dioxide and 0.93% noble gases. This composition changes as soon as people, plants or objects are in a room or apartment. For example, people release moisture and carbon dioxide into the indoor air. The oxygen content decreases as it is consumed by respiration. So ventilating affects many things that make up a healthy climate!
Humidity
Humidity determines in a special way whether you feel comfortable in a room. Too low humidity dries out the mucous membranes, then, for example, bacteria and viruses can spread faster and cause a cold. Humidity that is too high is quickly perceived as oppressive; it can occur if you air the room too infrequently. Not to be neglected are the amounts of water vapor emitted by occupants in apartments. A resting person sweats out about 1 liter; an active person about 2.5 liters. A family of 4 people releases up to 10 liters of water as steam into the environment every day. This corresponds to a full bathtub per week! Optimal for a good indoor climate is a relative humidity between 40 and 60%.
Molds
Mold spores are practically everywhere in the air. However, they require moisture to germinate. In poorly ventilated rooms, it happens quickly that moisture from the air condenses on surfaces. If a spot remains damp for a longer period of time, it provides a breeding ground for mold. Conscious, prudent behavior can minimize the development of moisture. First and foremost is adequate, proper ventilation of rooms: fungal spores cannot thrive on dry walls! Visible or hidden mold in apartments is not acceptable under any circumstances. Allergy sufferers can be additionally weakened by mold, the quality of living also suffers due to the unappetizing smell. To eliminate mold, it is necessary to look for the cause of its formation.
Carbon dioxide
Already 130 years ago, the German researcher Max Pettenkofer had recognized the carbon dioxide content of the air as a measure of indoor air quality. For the well-being of humans, the CO
2
-content of the air is therefore of great importance. Day after day, each person breathes in and out around 24 kilograms or the equivalent of 20,000 liters of air. If the concentration of carbon dioxide in a room increases, we become tired and our concentration suffers. If the carbon dioxide content rises even further, visual disturbances, dizziness, central nervous dysfunction, headaches and, in the worst case, death by internal suffocation occur.
Ventilate – Open the windows several times a day!
Really good is to exchange the “bad” air for “good” four times a day. Optimal would be to exchange the room air even every two hours completely. In the morning after getting up, it is important to ventilate the room well, because people lose a lot of moisture during the night. At noon and in the evening should also be ventilated to reduce the carbon dioxide content of the air. For a good and healthy sleep, it is recommended to ventilate even just before going to bed.
- Ventilate regularly and several times a day, it is best to make a cross ventilation for 3 minutes. This creates a draft, which even renews the stale air in niches and corners. In addition, even a short time is then enough to exchange the air completely.
- Short-term opening of windows (shock ventilation, about 4 to 10 minutes) represents another effective measure to renew stale air. By the way, this airing is much more productive than leaving a window open all day in the tilt position. In addition to energy loss, condensation of moist indoor air can lead to mold.
- To increase the indoor humidity during the cold season can be used humidifiers.
Recommendations in case of stress
- See your doctor if you have any physical complaints.
- Continuous inhalation of pollutants can lead to adverse health effects. Therefore, have an examination of the indoor air to determine the source and then eliminate it.
- When purchasing building materials, furniture and carpets, you should pay attention to the manufacturer’s content information and the eco-label.
