Households urged to open windows from Tuesday | UK | News

Households in the UK are being urged to open windows “for short bursts” from Tuesday due to rising humidity and pollen levels. While it may seem counterintuitive to open windows when there’s so much pollen in the air, allowing some ventilation in your home, even for a short time, is actually beneficial and can prevent hay fever symptoms from worsening. The Met Office is predicting warmer temperatures and sunny skies this week before conditions become unstable again at the weekend, meaning a rise in pollen levels. Almost the whole of England is covered in a red ‘very high’ pollen warning today (April 6), with high amounts of birch and ash pollen in the air, with warnings expanding to even more areas on Tuesday.

Very high pollen warnings are in place for the whole of England and Wales on Tuesday, while amber warnings for ‘high’ levels cover Northern Ireland, Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian and Borders, Strathclyde, Central, Tayside and Fife and Grampian. Red ‘very high’ pollen warnings cover the whole of England again on Wednesday; Levels will remain ‘very high’ and ‘high’ across England and Wales until Friday.

Although NHS advice recommends keeping windows closed “as much as possible” to prevent allergens from entering your home when pollen levels are high, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t open windows at all. In fact, it is recommended to open windows for short bursts of five to 10 minutes during hot weather, as this helps ventilate your home and improve indoor air quality.

If you keep windows closed all day, your home can become very humid, and high humidity levels create the ideal environment for indoor allergens like dust mites to thrive, which can make hay fever symptoms worse. Humidity will be high in parts of England on Tuesday, with levels peaking at 75% in London.

The British Allergy Clinic explains: “When humidity is high, pollen grains can absorb moisture from the air, causing them to become heavy and fall to the ground. While this may seem beneficial, certain types of allergens, such as mold, thrive in damp conditions. These can produce spores that exacerbate hay fever symptoms, especially for those sensitive to mould.”

To avoid this problem, it is recommended that homes open their windows for short bursts of five to 10 minutes to provide ventilation and improve the air quality in your home. It’s best to do this during times of the day when pollen levels are low, usually in the late morning or early afternoon.

Peter Foldbjerg, VELUX Director of Daylight, Energy and Indoor Climate, told The Express: “While you may want to keep windows closed all day to keep pollen out, it is still important to ventilate to avoid additional health problems from moisture or other indoor pollutants.

“In addition, some patients experience that their hay fever symptoms worsen in humid conditions, suggesting that good ventilation becomes even more important.

“To manage hay fever at home while also maintaining a healthy indoor climate, ventilate rooms in short bursts of 5 to 10 minutes. If you can, open multiple windows at a time to increase airflow. Ventilate at the right time. Use a pollen count forecast to monitor pollen levels in your area and ventilate when pollen levels are lowest.”

Ana Zuravliova, Trend Expert Curtains DirectHe added: “Opening windows at the right time also allows fresh air to circulate regularly throughout the home, preventing stale air from building up.

“Pollen levels tend to be highest on hot, dry and windy days, particularly around sunrise and in the early evening between 5pm and 8pm, so it’s best to open windows in the late morning or early afternoon when pollen levels are generally lower, or keep shutters or shutters partially closed during periods of high pollen to help filter the air.

“For households struggling with allergies or living in crowded urban areas, an air purifier can also help remove airborne particles and create a more comfortable environment to sleep in. Controlling light levels, ensuring good ventilation, and keeping fabrics and surfaces clean all contribute to a calmer environment.

“Keeping indoor humidity balanced can also help, as overly humid air can encourage dust mites and mold growth, both of which can affect air quality.”

Other simple measures you can take to improve the air quality in your home during hay fever season are to regularly clean surfaces where dust accumulates, avoid drying clothes on radiators and invest in a dehumidifier.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert Domestic and GeneralHe said: “Lowering the humidity level in your home not only keeps mold at bay, but also helps prevent those pesky pollen symptoms.

“Excessive humidity in the home can increase the amount of dust mites, which can lead to increased allergens. Ideally, the relative humidity in your home should be below 60%, especially if your home struggles with seasonal allergies.”

“Some easy ways to keep your humidity levels under control include keeping the washing machine and dishwasher doors open after each wash, avoiding drying clothes on radiators and investing in a dehumidifier.”