6 ms·

In Europe there is a UNI norm, dating back to 1974 or so, mandating the need of both an evacuation and an air inlet in case of gas stoves. Even if it is essent

by jaclaz 6y ago

In Europe there is a UNI norm, dating back to 1974 or so, mandating the need of both an evacuation and an air inlet in case of gas stoves. Even if it is essentially for safety, it has (where implemented correctly) the side effect (advantage in this case) of creating a flux of fresh air. Where this is not needed by the norms (electric stoves and similar), expecially in modern "energy saving" houses, problems of humidity and mold often arise. As said in other threads, our grandmothers and mothers used to open all windows briefly every morning, nowadays - for one reason or the other - most people do not do this and - coupled with the increased air tightness of windows and doors - makes mechanical ventilation a need.

vram22 6y ago
> As said in other threads, our grandmothers and mothers used to open all windows briefly every morning This is a common practice (except in very cold or highly polluted parts of India) even today - and not just briefly, either - windows are often open until evening, until a bit before mosquito entering time. And some people again open windows after 8 pm or so, because the lore is that mosquitoes won't move much after that. But that is oldish stuff, and it can be different these days. And even in those colder or more polluted areas, some people still do it.
- valarauko 6y ago
  Lots of Indian homes have removable mosquito mesh on their windows, so you can keep your windows open all day (and night).
  - vram22 6y ago
    Right, it is called netlon, and some even have it as fixed mesh. Didn't think to mention that earlier.
arp242 6y ago
I've seen apartments and office buildings where it's literally impossible to open windows, as well as quite a few where you could only open the windows by a few cm. I worked in an office building without windows that could open years ago, and I got a headache around 2pm every day. It had some mechanical ventilation, but it's not really the same as actual fresh air. It was by far the most horrible office I've ever worked at. A lot of people also don't like it when I open windows for a bit to let some fresh air in, even when the air is clearly stale and musty. I don't know why people are so opposed to opening windows. My pet theory is that it's a subconscious psychological connection to a certain piece of software :-)
- snazz 6y ago
  > I don't know why people are so opposed to opening windows. I'm guessing it's that people don't like wasting or letting out air that's been heated, cooled, humidified, or dehumidified. I live in a place that gets all four seasons and my house is completely sealed up except for during a few weeks when the outdoor temperature is just a bit cooler than the indoor ambient temperature.
  - Izkata 6y ago
    It also lets in the bugs and allergy triggers. My head has generally been clearer since I moved into the city and kept the windows closed, compared to suburbs or city with open windows.
rsync 6y ago
"As said in other threads, our grandmothers and mothers used to open all windows briefly every morning ..." ... and also their children and grandchildren because who, anywhere, wouldn't do this ? Even while living in Minneapolis, in the dead of winter, we still cleared the air each day. I guess forced air heating made that relatively pain-free since you can reheat the entire house very quickly ...
- tafda 6y ago
  I’ve heard this usually described as a German custom “lüften”, conveniently in line with Covid guidance. Would be interesting to see a world map of daily clear-the-air adoption. I hadn’t heard of it before this year. https://welcometogermerica.com/2018/12/how-to-air-out-a-room-like-a-german.html https://welcometogermerica.com/2018/12/how-to-air-out-a-room...
- zephyrthenoble 6y ago
  I have never "cleared the air."
- NikolaNovak 6y ago
  >>who, anywhere, wouldn't do this ? FWIW - Many places/people. Most, in my anecdotal experience. - I've seen numerous condos in north america and Europe that do not have effectively openable windows, certainly not in quantity to properly vent the entire unit. So you couldn't if you wanted to. - Some cultures have very differing perspectives; where I'm from, interior "Cross-winds" are deemed to be deadly. You will NOT open two windows at the same time anywhere in the house, ever, period. If any window happens to be open and a kid opens the front door, they'll be yelled at to close it ASAP lest... I dunno, something about their lower back? - But most people I've spoken to / lived with, across countries and continents just don't bother / it doesn't occur to them. It's not a thing (this includes living with three host families in Minnesota in the 90's - none of them opened their windows much if at all, trusting their HVAC to take care of them. Two of them were medical professionals.
  - Mediterraneo10 6y ago
    > where I'm from, interior "Cross-winds" are deemed to be deadly. In Romania, too, popular belief considers drafts to be a dangerous cause of illness, but at least in my own experience, opening all the windows in the morning is an exception. Airing out the house daily in winter is seen as a healthful thing to do by many if not most families... but of course once all the windows are closed again, there shouldn't be the slightest hint of a draft anywhere in the house.

by jaclaz 6y ago

vram22 6y ago

> As said in other threads, our grandmothers and mothers used to open all windows briefly every morning This is a common practice (except in very cold or highly polluted parts of India) even today - and not just briefly, either - windows are often open until evening, until a bit before mosquito entering time. And some people again open windows after 8 pm or so, because the lore is that mosquitoes won't move much after that. But that is oldish stuff, and it can be different these days. And even in those colder or more polluted areas, some people still do it.

valarauko 6y ago
Lots of Indian homes have removable mosquito mesh on their windows, so you can keep your windows open all day (and night).
- vram22 6y ago
  Right, it is called netlon, and some even have it as fixed mesh. Didn't think to mention that earlier.

arp242 6y ago

I've seen apartments and office buildings where it's literally impossible to open windows, as well as quite a few where you could only open the windows by a few cm. I worked in an office building without windows that could open years ago, and I got a headache around 2pm every day. It had some mechanical ventilation, but it's not really the same as actual fresh air. It was by far the most horrible office I've ever worked at. A lot of people also don't like it when I open windows for a bit to let some fresh air in, even when the air is clearly stale and musty. I don't know why people are so opposed to opening windows. My pet theory is that it's a subconscious psychological connection to a certain piece of software :-)

snazz 6y ago
> I don't know why people are so opposed to opening windows. I'm guessing it's that people don't like wasting or letting out air that's been heated, cooled, humidified, or dehumidified. I live in a place that gets all four seasons and my house is completely sealed up except for during a few weeks when the outdoor temperature is just a bit cooler than the indoor ambient temperature.
- Izkata 6y ago
  It also lets in the bugs and allergy triggers. My head has generally been clearer since I moved into the city and kept the windows closed, compared to suburbs or city with open windows.

rsync 6y ago

"As said in other threads, our grandmothers and mothers used to open all windows briefly every morning ..." ... and also their children and grandchildren because who, anywhere, wouldn't do this ? Even while living in Minneapolis, in the dead of winter, we still cleared the air each day. I guess forced air heating made that relatively pain-free since you can reheat the entire house very quickly ...

tafda 6y ago
I’ve heard this usually described as a German custom “lüften”, conveniently in line with Covid guidance. Would be interesting to see a world map of daily clear-the-air adoption. I hadn’t heard of it before this year. https://welcometogermerica.com/2018/12/how-to-air-out-a-room-like-a-german.html https://welcometogermerica.com/2018/12/how-to-air-out-a-room...
zephyrthenoble 6y ago
I have never "cleared the air."
NikolaNovak 6y ago
>>who, anywhere, wouldn't do this ? FWIW - Many places/people. Most, in my anecdotal experience. - I've seen numerous condos in north america and Europe that do not have effectively openable windows, certainly not in quantity to properly vent the entire unit. So you couldn't if you wanted to. - Some cultures have very differing perspectives; where I'm from, interior "Cross-winds" are deemed to be deadly. You will NOT open two windows at the same time anywhere in the house, ever, period. If any window happens to be open and a kid opens the front door, they'll be yelled at to close it ASAP lest... I dunno, something about their lower back? - But most people I've spoken to / lived with, across countries and continents just don't bother / it doesn't occur to them. It's not a thing (this includes living with three host families in Minnesota in the 90's - none of them opened their windows much if at all, trusting their HVAC to take care of them. Two of them were medical professionals.
- Mediterraneo10 6y ago
  > where I'm from, interior "Cross-winds" are deemed to be deadly. In Romania, too, popular belief considers drafts to be a dangerous cause of illness, but at least in my own experience, opening all the windows in the morning is an exception. Airing out the house daily in winter is seen as a healthful thing to do by many if not most families... but of course once all the windows are closed again, there shouldn't be the slightest hint of a draft anywhere in the house.