Lüften sounds simple – but ‘house-burping’ is more complicated in Pittsburgh

A German habit has been trending in recent weeks: ‘lüften,’ or airing out your home. It can help older, damp homes in the US – if circumstances are right.

By: William Bahnfleth, Penn State, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: February 4, 2026

Words: 1,029

Last Updated: 2 weeks ago

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By William Bahnfleth, Penn State

Recently, the German term “lüften” has been circulating on social media and trending on Google. The term refers to the practice of opening windows and doors to replace stale indoor air with outdoor air, a longtime practice in many European homes. Americans have dubbed it “house burping” in many videos on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

William Bahnfleth, a professor of architectural engineering at Penn State, …

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