There’s a hot new home trend that’s far from getting the cold shoulder.
As a deep freeze envelops a good chunk of the country, “house burping,” in which people open the windows of their homes to let in fresh air — even in the dead of winter — has grown in popularity. It’s part of a German practice called “lüften,” which translates to “airing out,” in order to ventilate.
Air quality professional Tony Abate, who is the chief technology officer for AtmosAir Solutions, said house burping may actually be good for you, too, noting it prevents mold, contaminants and carbon dioxide build-up.
“You bring in some more air from the outside, you dilute those concentrations and you reduce them,” he said on TODAY in a segment that aired Jan. 21.
That kind of action can help Americans, who spend roughly 90% of their time indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Lüften is practically a way of life in Germany. The Washington Post reports that some leases contain a clause requiring tenants to open their windows several times a day.
Lucie Rauschnabel, who was raised in New York by German parents and grew up practicing lüften, explained why it’s essential to her in a 2024 TikTok video.
“My parents thought it was hilarious that a trend like that is trending. It’s just something that’s so integrated in the German lifestyle and so normalized,” she told TODAY.
There are optimal times to burp your house, including first thing in the morning, after a shower or cooking and after people have come over for a visit.
Lüften does have its detractors, though, with one 2021 study claiming it may have a negative impact on energy efficiency in Germany, which can be problematic, given how electricity costs in homes have skyrocketed in the United States.
And while house burping may be all the rage, Abate says anyone interested shouldn’t do it for too long.
“Ten minutes, no more than that is really necessary,” he said.
This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:
