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What Is Lüften, and Does It Work?
28 November 2024
Right now in the UK people are more driven than ever before to eliminate the build up of condensation in their home. This might lead them to look into methods of condensation control from other countries, and they might run into the concept of Lüften – a German concept that’s a big part of their daily life.
So, in the pursuit of condensation and mould free homes, what is Lüften, and does it work when stopping condensation and mould?
What is Lüften?
Lüften is the concept and practise of letting out old, stale, and humid air from a property, whilst letting in fresh air. It’s a big deal in Germany, and it can even crop up within tenant agreements when people are looking to rent a property.
The idea is that replacing the stale and humid air in a home has a few benefits. The first is that it reduces the chance of condensation and mould occurring, and the second is that it improves the quality of air within the home.
The way that this is achieved is through opening all of the windows in a property for a few minutes at a time. The windows are opened wide at the beginning of the day, or at the end (and in some cases both), just long enough for air to circulate through the property.
Now, we understand the need for air to circulate through a property very well, as it helps to reduce the chance of condensation setting into a property, but the big question is why do the German’s hold so strongly to the concept of Lüften?
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Why Is Lüften So Important in Germany?
German properties have, in the main, been constructed to keep as much heat within them as possible, with the reverse being true during the summer months. With that being the case, airflow and ventilation is often at a minimum in their properties, meaning that it is very difficult for air to flow in and out of a property easily.
With all that in mind, it’s easy to see why a practical solution would be the concept of Lüften.
By ingraining the idea of a few minutes of ensured air circulation at the beginning and end of a day, you are consciously taking steps to reduce the possibility of mould and damp setting into a property, whilst also improving the quality of the air for the occupants within.
A few minutes is enough for the concept to have its effect, and normally this has a minimal effect on the temperature and heating within the property. That’s because the insulation within the properties walls is where most of the heat is being stored, and it would take longer for it to escape than the windows being open – so timeliness is key.
Of course, Lüften is a popular and closely followed daily routine in Germany, and would be comparable to making sure the lights aren’t turned on in a room you aren’t using in the UK.
So, if it is so popular and effective in Germany, could it work in the UK?
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Would Lüften Work in the UK?
The concept of ventilation in a property isn’t a new or radical one here in the UK, it’s just that our properties are constructed with the likes of air bricks, vents, and are, on the whole, draftier than some properties found in Germany.
Plus, there are plenty of properties throughout the UK that have been built without adequate or modern insulation, so our walls, ceilings, and flooring might not be as capable of retaining heat as a German properties might be.
So, whilst ventilation might have been more of an inbuilt solution in UK properties, that may well have changed in recent years.
Because the price of heating bills has risen so dramatically (along with all other costs in the UK), there has been a focus in recent years on insulation, and keeping heat within a home. This has led to people installing insulation, obviously, but perhaps taking other steps which could reduce the capability and effectiveness of the ventilation in the property.
Things like blocking air bricks and vents, not running extractor fans to save on electricity bills, and other small actions like this, all in conjunction with the big one: not opening windows to keep the heat in.
The idea of keeping the heat in a property is as ingrained in UK culture as the concept of Lüften is through Germany, and because of that, plenty of people in the UK are reluctant to open their windows to allow airflow, leading to increased levels of condensation and black mould growth thanks to all of the reduced airflow throughout the rest of the property.
So, would Lüften work in the UK?
In this instance, yes it would.
Increasing airflow in a property is always a good thing, especially if the few minutes that the windows are open is after a shower, cooking, or in the morning after waking up. Basically, Lüften could be a great idea for people throughout the UK who are looking to increase ventilation in their property after trying to protect against losing heat.
For more information on how you can potentially increase condensation control solutions and ventilation in your property you can always read more on our website.
Great explanation on Lüften! This is the first time I’m hearing about this German practice, and you made it really easy to grasp. The idea of incorporating Lüften to prevent condensation and improve air quality is something I find intriguing, especially as I’m exploring more about real estate and home maintenance. The difference in property constructions between the UK and Germany is fascinating and explains why Lüften is second nature to them.
I’m curious if you think Lüften can be effectively adapted in older UK homes, given the differences in building materials and construction styles? Also, has there been any data or studies reflecting its success rate in reducing mold in Germany?
Thanks for shedding light on this interesting topic! Looking forward to more insights and would love to discuss more on this.
Thanks very much for your comment – we are glad to hear you found the piece interesting!
As far as incorporating lüften into older UK homes, it certainly can’t hurt when it comes to the build up of condensation and black mould. It might be worth looking at the age of the property in question (as well as whatever ventilation options were installed at the time of construction, or by previous owners), and then involving lüften in whatever other condensation control solutions you might think appropriate.
Ventilation is the key to reducing condensation, and lüften is an incredibly simple (albeit manual) way to go about introducing ventilation options in any property – especially those that might have been built without the likes of air vents, air bricks, or even more modern solutions like extractor fans or positive pressure units.
You might find this Reddit thread interesting, in which non-German Europeans respond with how common the practice of lüften is in their country. From this thread you get the impression it’s quite widespread across the continent, it just hasn’t made the same impact on the UK.