What is ‘house burping,’ and should you try it this winter?

WASHINGTON — As much of the country continues to dip into freezing temperatures, a surprising home trend is gaining popularity online. 

It’s called “house burping,” and it involves briefly opening windows, even in the middle of winter, to let fresh air into your home and push stale air out. 

The practice has gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, with wellness influencers promoting it as a simple way to refresh indoor air.

The idea of house burping is rooted in lüften, a long-standing German practice that translates to “airing out.”

According to The Washington Post, opening windows multiple times a day is so normalized in Germany that some apartment leases require it, even during winter. German courts have ruled that tenants may be expected to open windows for about 10 minutes at a time to prevent moisture buildup and mold.

Air quality professional Tony Abate, chief technology officer at AtmosAir Solutions told the Today Show house burping can help reduce indoor contaminants, mold risk and carbon dioxide buildup by diluting stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air.

There are certain times when opening windows may be most helpful, including first thing in the morning, after cooking or showering, or after guests leave, according to Today. Abate cautioned that it doesn’t need to last long; about 10 minutes or less is typically enough to exchange air.

Other hating and cooling professionals say the trend should be approached with caution in the U.S. According to BNG Heating and Cooling, opening windows can be helpful occasionally, but daily “house burping” doesn’t always make sense for U.S. homes that rely on central heating and air conditioning.

BNG says briefly opening windows can be useful when airing out strong odors after cooking or cleaning, or when outdoor temperatures are mild and humidity is low. But doing it every day, especially in cold or humid conditions, can backfire.

The company warns that opening windows can allow excess humidity into homes, which may increase the risk of mold and force air-conditioning systems to work harder. It can also let in pollen and outdoor pollutants during allergy seasons and lead to higher energy costs as heating systems work to replace lost warm air.

Instead of relying on daily window opening, BNG recommends modern ventilation options for improving indoor air quality. These include whole-home ventilation systems that exchange stale indoor air for fresh outdoor air while preserving heat in winter and cooling in summer, as well as air purifiers and humidity control systems.