Titelbild Ratgeber: Bereich Atemwege
 

How can an indoor environment be improved?

We breathe in and out around 20,000 times a day to supply our bodies with oxygen. We spend a lot of time in enclosed areas where the air is at its poorest, air humidity is too low, the temperature is not ideal and the air may be contaminated with pollen, domestic dust or odours. Overly dry ambient air may lead to the unpleasant consequences of irritated eyes, rough skin, dry mucous membranes and an increased risk of infection and colds. And it is not only people who suffer when the ambient air is too dry: plants, wooden furniture, parquet floors and musical instruments also show symptoms.

The optimum humidity indoors is around 40-60%. Air humidity can often fall a long way below these recommended values, particularly during the heating period. This is because the cold winter air can absorb less moisture than warm air. If cold air from outside finds its way into rooms in the winter it is quickly warmed. However, since the air always "tries" to achieve a very high level of humidity, it is a good idea to have the air humidifier running from the start of the heating period. This is to prevent the air from drawing the moisture it needs from other sources such as plants, furniture, or even the human skin and mucous membranes. It is therefore a good idea to check the air humidity.

Example:

  • Air temperature = 10°C and humidity = 50%
  • Heating the air from 10°C to 23°C lowers the humidity to 20%

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