During the Spring, How Often Should You Open Your Windows?

It’s springtime in Ohio, and you’re having an urge to fling open your windows to take advantage of the pleasant spring breezes. But should you? There are a few considerations, including how all that fresh air might affect your HVAC (if it’s running), as well as how the outdoor air affects your indoor air quality. Let’s look at both issues with regard to open windows.

Should You Have Open Windows?

In our part of the world, you probably won’t be opening the windows until it’s a warmish day. After all, it’s not recommended to do so while you’re running the heating or cooling. So make sure it’s a day when you can turn off the heating; we’re presuming you won’t need the cooling till summertime. But if you do, don’t open windows, as your HVAC system will not run efficiently when you have the windows open.

But should you open the windows on a day when you don’t need the HVAC? Definitely. There is nothing like spring breezes, and you should make the most of them, letting all that fresh air blow through your home. Spring breezes are invigorating.

Indoor Air Quality and Open Windows

But how will fresh air affect your indoor air quality? There are a couple of things to think about. Opening a window is a great way to let out stale air that has built up over the winter, but it’s also a great way to let in pollutants, such as dust or pollen. If you’re sensitive to these pollutants, you’ll need to keep them under control.

Here’s what you could do: Open the windows in the morning to take advantage of the fresh air, then close them in the afternoon and evening and turn on an air purifier to remove some of the pollutants. If you use a filter with a higher MERV (minimum efficiency reporting value) that traps airborne pollutants, you might also turn on the air conditioner to help improve the indoor air quality.

Still wondering about whether open windows is a good idea? Contact Energy 1 Heating and Air Conditioning, serving Lorain, Elyria, and Oberlin.