a cultural question...

[ratcreature]

I've noticed several times references in fiction about people airing out their house once it got warmer that made it sound as if Americans don't open their windows in winter to let fresh air in. Like as if they don't air their house if it's freezing outside.

Is that true? Is it a central air conditioning thing where you don't really need windows to get fresh air, and shouldn't disrupt climate control or something like that? Because otherwise I can't imagine not to open my windows at least twice a day for a little while. Admittedly it's rarely extremely cold here, but this winter we had days when the daytime high was below -10°C and I still aired out my place briefly.

Here you are even required to do so in rental agreements because otherwise you get problems with moisture buildup and such.

Comments

[lilacsigil]

I'm in a part of Australia where it will be very hot for several days (up to two weeks) in a row then have a sudden cool change. It's such a relief to open the house up after those hot days and nights! Where my grandparents lived, though, they were locked up all summer like you, and I don't think I could deal with that.

[ratcreature]

Yes, it sounds so horrible. I understand it more with heat because I have no experience with A/C but it seems to me that it is harder to cool a house significantly than to heat it. But I really don't get why people would voluntarily do it in winter (except maybe with extreme temperatures or idk if you live somewhere extremely polluted), when really it does not get that cold inside after opening the window briefly and will heat up soon enough and fresh air is so nice.

[mirabile]

It is hard to be locked up for months like that, I agree. We might get another cool spell but mid-May, it's hot all the time here in the southwestern part of the US. I envy you the sudden cool change!