The Importance of South-Facing Homes and Good Ventilation in Nerja

Living in Nerja, on the Costa del Sol, means enjoying over 300 days of sunshine each year. But even in this sunny paradise, winter can bring challenges, especially when it comes to humidity and ventilation. Without proper airflow and sunlight, your home could face issues like mold and musty smells. Maintaining the condition of your furniture, clothes, and overall living space is key, and two factors play a major role in this: south-facing orientation and good ventilation.

A sunny south-facing home in Nerja – maximizing natural warmth and light year-round.

Why South-Facing Matters

In Spain, homes were traditionally built to make the most of the natural breeze, helping air circulate freely throughout the house. However, modern construction techniques focus on energy efficiency, with materials that keep the home insulated to retain warmth or cool air. While this is great for keeping your home cozy in winter or cool in summer, it can also lead to poor ventilation if not properly managed.

A south-facing apartment or house takes full advantage of the sun, allowing natural warmth to flood your home during the winter months. This not only helps keep your heating bills down but also dries out the air, reducing the buildup of moisture that can lead to mold.

Our Personal Experience

We learned these lessons the hard way. In 2017, after selling one of our apartments in Nerja, we rented an apartment for 5 months as a temporary solution before getting back to Madrid. It was a very nice, recently renovated apartment but it wasn’t south-facing and barely got any sunlight during the winter months. Even though we ventilated the apartment daily, the moisture buildup became a problem, especially during a particularly wet winter. I’ve included a few photos below to show the issues we faced.

Effects of poor ventilation: How furniture and fabrics can suffer without proper airflow.

Since then, we’ve made it a priority to ensure proper ventilation and sunlight in all our renovation projects. We’ve been highly successful in avoiding the problems that can come with poor airflow and damp conditions.

The Role of Good Ventilation

Ventilation is essential in any home, especially in areas prone to humidity like Nerja. Poor air circulation can cause dampness, and over time, this can lead to the growth of mold, mildew, and other issues that affect your home’s air quality.

Modern ventilation systems offer great solutions to these problems. Take, for example, the Pax extractors we’ve installed in our home. These smart extractors, controlled via an app, allow us to monitor and manage humidity levels in real time in our bathrooms. Thanks to this, our bathrooms always stay dry and fresh. These systems are quiet and much more efficient than traditional loud extractors, making them ideal for any modern home.

Smart ventilation solutions: Pax extractor fan and app help manage humidity with ease.

Technology helps: Adding Smart Air Conditioning with Sensibo

Another key to maintaining a comfortable and well-ventilated home is our Sensibo smart air conditioning system, which we’ve used for four years. Sensibo allows us to monitor and control humidity, temperature, and AC settings in real-time—even when we’re not home. The best part is that it’s very easy to install and it works with any existing air conditioning system, so there’s no need for a full upgrade. With Sensibo, we can keep each room at ideal humidity and temperature levels automatically, helping us avoid moisture buildup and ensuring the home stays fresh all year round. Sensibo also helps us to optimize the use of air conditioning (both cooling and heating) and save money, making it a valuable addition to any modern home setup.

Effortless climate control: Sensibo device and app keep our home’s humidity and temperature perfectly balanced, anytime, anywhere.

Tips for Buyers and Renovators

If you’re buying or renovating a home in Nerja, these factors should be high on your checklist. A south-facing property and a solid ventilation plan can make a huge difference in comfort and long-term maintenance.

If you’d like professional help with your renovation or consultation on these issues, feel free to reach out. My team and I will make sure your home stays fresh, dry, and comfortable year-round.

For more tips and updates on living in Nerja, follow me on Instagram and Facebook, or visit www.nerjawithsanna.com . You’ll find plenty of guides and advices to help you make the most of life on the Costa del Sol.

Beautiful Nerja – where sun, sea, and a well-ventilated home make all the difference.