How to measure humidity in a room. Indoor air humidity: its permissible and optimal norm in a residential apartment. Optimal air humidity in the apartment

The humidity indicator is important for all apartment residents, because its non-compliance with the norm can lead to health problems. Therefore, everyone should know how air humidity is measured at home. This will help keep the microclimate of your home under control in order to improve this parameter if necessary.

Using this device you can measure the humidity level in a room

Importance of Humidity for Health

For good health, the humidity in the living room should be 40-60%. Deviation from this value does not initially cause noticeable discomfort, but gradually leads to deterioration in health. Increased air dryness entails such negative consequences as:

Drying of mucous membranes. It contributes to the weakening of the immune system and the development of colds.
Increased amount of dust. This leads to an increased risk of developing asthma or allergic reactions.
Deterioration of skin condition. It becomes rough, tight and wrinkled.
Fatigue and decreased performance.
Sleep disturbance (especially in children).

Low humidity in the room can have a negative impact on the health of members of the house

There is nothing good when the air in the house becomes too humid. The negative aspects of this phenomenon are obvious. These include:

The appearance of mold in the apartment, which leads to the spread of pathogens. Mold has a detrimental effect on the human body. It is very difficult to get rid of it.
Risk of chronic bronchitis and asthma.
Exacerbation of all types of joint ailments.
Deterioration of the condition of the premises.

To avoid unpleasant consequences, you need to know how to measure the humidity level in an apartment, and, if necessary, adjust the value of this indicator.

In this video you will learn how to determine the humidity level of a room

Measurement options

You can understand how much the humidity level in a room corresponds to the norm using different methods. Some of them require presence in the house special devices, and in other cases you can get by with improvised means without purchasing any devices. Everyone can choose the meter that suits them best.

Application of a hygrometer

With this device, air humidity is measured easily and quickly. You need to choose a hygrometer in which the error is minimal. It is best if it is no more than 1%.

Exists great amount room hygrometers. They differ not only appearance, but also the principle of operation and the number of operations performed. Thus, many devices, in addition to humidity, display date, time, air temperature and Atmosphere pressure in room. The more functions a hygrometer has, the higher its cost. If you only need the device to measure the humidity in the room, you should not overpay and buy a multifunctional device.

Wet glass method

This option is suitable when there is no special device at hand, but you urgently need to find out the air humidity in the room. Of course, it will not show the exact percentage of moisture content in the apartment, but it will allow you to understand whether this indicator corresponds to the norm. To measure air humidity at home, you will need a regular glass beaker, water and a refrigerator.

To carry out the test, you need to fill a glass with water and cool it to a temperature of 3-5 °C. Then the container is removed from the refrigerator and placed in a place that is located away from batteries or other heating devices. After this, you should carefully observe the walls of the glass. Here's what they'll talk about:

If the container first fogs up, and after 5-10 minutes it is completely dry, it means that the air in the apartment is too dry.
Condensation in the form of large droplets flowing down the walls indicates that there is too much moisture in the air.
If everything remains the same, that is, the glass has not dried out or fogged up, then there is no need to worry, since the air in the room is sufficiently humidified.

Using a regular thermometer

This option is based on the work of a psychrometer and is the most accurate. In this case, a simple mercury thermometer and a cotton pad or piece of bandage will help determine the air humidity in the apartment. You need to proceed as follows:

Measure the air temperature in the room with a thermometer and write down its value.
Wrap the tip of the device with a damp disk or cotton wool, wait 10 minutes and record the result.
Calculate the difference between two values.
Use the Assmann psychrometric table and find out the exact humidity indicator.

To measure the humidity level in a room using a thermometer, you need to follow the instructions

other methods

Tell us about the humidity level in the house can scales of a fir cone. In a dry environment they compress tightly, and in a humid environment they open wide. The problem is that not everyone has the opportunity to quickly get such a determinant.

If humidity levels are very different from the norm, this can be determined by your internal sensations and the state of your body. Excessive dry air is indicated by such signs as tightness and roughness of the skin, the appearance of dry eye syndrome, a sore throat in the absence of signs of a cold, and poor sleep.

Too much humidity can be recognized by the appearance of mold and condensation on the walls, the occurrence of a greenhouse effect in the room, as well as by constantly fogging up windows and rotting indoor plants.

Ways to solve the problem

When the humidity level is not normal, you need to try to change its value in better side. For this purpose there are special devices and tested folk remedies. So, to get rid of dryness in the room You can use the following tips:

purchase an air humidifier;
increase the number of indoor plants;
hang several times a day in winter wet towel to the battery;
After taking a shower, leave the bathroom door open.

For those whose air is over-humidified, it is recommended to install a dehumidifier at home or buy a dehumidifier. A modern air conditioner can also reduce excess humidity. If purchasing such equipment is not part of your plans, you will have to ventilate the room as often as possible and not hide from the sunlight behind thick curtains.

Every person should know how to check the air humidity in an apartment, because this will allow him to improve his well-being and avoid serious problems with health.

Much has already been said about the importance of maintaining humidity at the required level. Moreover, a person’s well-being and health are affected not only by too dry, but also by too humid air, which is especially important for winter period when both options are very likely.
How to determine air humidity in an apartment or house? We will talk about 3 options for measuring humidity, which both require the purchase of the necessary devices, and methods that do not require any costs.

Hygrometer

The first and easiest way to measure humidity is to purchase a special device for measuring humidity - a hygrometer. There are several types of hygrometers, the operation of which is based on different principles.

When choosing a hygrometer, first of all, you should focus on its accuracy; you should not buy a device whose measurements have a deviation of more than 1%. It should be mentioned that there are now a large number of brands and types of hygrometers on sale, which can look like thermometers, like small wall or table clocks, and can have either an electronic or mechanical display.

This method cannot boast of accuracy, but we can say with confidence that every home has everything necessary to measure humidity. A glass, some water and a refrigerator are all we need.

Place in a glass or shot glass cold water and place it in the refrigerator for several hours until the temperature of the water in the container cools down to 3 - 5 ºС. Then place the chilled glass of water in the room where you want to measure humidity, away from heating devices or hot battery and watch him.

If the surface of the glass is first covered with condensation and fogged up, and then dries completely within 5-10 minutes, the air in the room is very dry
If within 5-10 minutes after you placed the glass in the room, large drops of condensation formed on its walls and began to flow down the walls of the glass, then the air in the room is very humid
If after 5-10 minutes the surface of the glass has not dried, but has not flowed, then the air in the room has average humidity

Measurement using a thermometer (based on the psychrometer principle)

The third method essentially copies the operating principle of another device - a psychrometer. The room temperature is measured using a conventional mercury thermometer and is recorded. Then the head of the thermometer must be tightly wrapped with wet gauze or cotton wool and after 10 minutes measure the temperature again.
Now we subtract the temperature of the “wet” thermometer from the temperature of the “dry” thermometer, and from the temperature difference using a special table we determine the air humidity in the room.

Air humidity affects a person’s well-being, and its deviation from optimal values in long term leads to deterioration of health: the immune system and its protective functions, there is a feeling chronic fatigue, the appearance of the skin changes. Negative consequences appear only after a fairly long period of time, so it is important to know how and with what to measure air humidity at home and adjust it in the right direction.

Lack of moisture in the apartment (below 40%) leads to irritation of the nasal mucosa and other cavities, as well as to the appearance of large quantity dust. It contains harmful microorganisms, such as dust mites, which provoke the development of allergies. High humidity (more than 60%) is fraught with the appearance of black spots on the walls formed by fungus. Such mold reduces the body's protective functions and even accelerates the aging process.

Among the specialized instruments for measuring humidity levels, the most famous are the following:

Hygrometer is one of the easiest to use. This tool has a small screen that displays the percentage of moisture contained in the air. The cost of such a device can be quite high.
Psychrometer- a device for determining air humidity, consisting of two thermometers. Its operation is based on recording indicators of the temperature difference between dry and wet sensors. The operation of this device can be emulated at home using just one thermometer.

To determine air humidity using the psychrometer principle, we need one thermometer and gauze cloth. First of all, you need to fix the current room temperature, then wrap the base of the thermometer with a cloth soaked in water. After waiting about 10 minutes, you need to subtract the second value from the first value and refer to the psychometric table.

Here the first column corresponds to the readings of a “dry” thermometer, and the top row of numbers corresponds to the readings of a thermometer wrapped in wet gauze. The intersection of these values will be the percentage indicator of air humidity in the apartment.

Instruments that measure air humidity make it possible to quickly obtain accurate information.

Traditional methods

When there are no specialized tools at hand, various tricks invented just under such circumstances will help determine the humidity level. Despite the noticeable bias in the results of such workarounds, The data obtained will allow us to assess the situation as a whole.

The main advantage of improvised means is their wide availability and almost complete absence financial costs. Their disadvantage is the time required to obtain results. Thus, a choice must be made between cost and efficiency.

Glass with cold water

For getting necessary information you only need a glass of cold water. It must be placed in the refrigerator for several hours, then the water temperature will be at 3-5 degrees Celsius. After which you need to place the glass closer to the center of the room, away from heat sources.

Conclusions are drawn based on three possible options total:

Lack of moisture. At first the glass fogged up, like windows in winter, but within 5 minutes it became transparent again - the moisture quickly evaporated, which means there is not enough of it and the air is dry.
Norm. If after the above time the glass remains opaque as before, then the humidity level in the tested room is optimal.
High humidity. When drops of water form on a glass and flow down its walls, then we can say that the moisture content in the air exceeds normal levels.

Measuring humidity using a spruce branch

Air humidity measurement is available using spruce branch, which should reach at least 20 cm in length, and preferably 30 cm. One end of it must be fixed on the board, and the other end left unfastened.

The point is that when high humidity spruce branch becomes heavier, which means it sinks down. Over the course of several days, you need to check the humidity level using precision instruments and make appropriate notes on the board based on changes in the position of the branch. After just a week of such observations, you can get a fairly accurate homemade instrument.

Determining the humidity in an apartment without a device is relatively easy with the right approach.

Determining humidity using a fir cone

A fir cone will also be a good informant. The indicator of humidity will be the position of its scales:

excess moisture in the air causes the scales to close;
its deficiency causes the lump to open.

For example, if you bring it home, it may close in the evening and return to its previous appearance in the morning. This is due to the fact that In the evening, the lack of heat leads to an increase in humidity levels.

How to increase the humidity level in an apartment?

We figured out how to determine the air humidity in an apartment. Now it would be useful to find out how to correct it if its indicators deviate from the norm. The simplest solution to the problem of dry air is to purchase humidifier. It is filled with water, which turns into gaseous form during operation.

There are three types of humidifiers:

Traditional humidifier passes air through a tank filled with water. Here it is not only moistened, but also gets rid of and cleansed of dust. The downside of this solution is that the limit is at 60%. In addition, traditional humidifiers are quite noisy and can distract from everyday tasks.
Steam humidifier. The advantage of such a device is the ability to use any water, even contaminated water. The device is capable of increasing the humidity level by more than 60%. However, boiling water evaporates accompanied by a lot of noise and excessive power consumption.
Ultrasonic humidifier distinguishes it from other devices by its relatively quiet operation. A noticeable disadvantage is the need to use exclusively purified water.

It is possible to achieve an increase in humidity without resorting to specialized devices. Widespread a damp towel left on the radiator. Due to heating, moisture changes from liquid to gaseous form. When the towel is dry (cloth is also allowed), it needs to be replaced.

A similar method is to use small basins of water installed on the radiator. Naturally, they hold much more moisture than a piece of fabric, which means they will have to be changed much less often. You can place them on a chest of drawers or on a closet. In this case, you will have to refill the containers with liquid even less often, but the humidity will not increase significantly.

Some household little things also help to achieve higher air humidity. This is facilitated by a large number of house plants in pots or breeding fish in an aquarium.

How to reduce humidity?

Just as there are , there are also dehumidifiers. This device drives air currents through itself and condenses it. Thus, the moisture settles in the dehumidifier as a liquid, and the air is directed back into the room. This result is achieved due to the lower temperature in the dehumidifier than in the room.

When purchasing a device, consumers are usually guided by its power, which is measured in liters of water produced per unit of time. The numbers here can be completely different - from 12 to 300 liters per day.

The devices come in two forms:

portable– placed in any convenient location with the possibility of subsequent movement without any difficulties;
stationary– are attached to the wall, have higher powers.

In rooms such as the bathroom, kitchen and restroom, hoods are installed that cope not only with moisture intake, but also neutralize unpleasant odors.

To achieve drier air, it is also not necessary to use devices. The simplest way to achieve the desired result is to systematic ventilation of the home.

Conclusion

The level of air humidity affects a person's well-being in the short term and health in the long term. It is advisable to maintain it in the range of 40-60%, which is . Air humidity is measured using instruments such as a hygrometer and a psychrometer, the latter of which can be recreated at home. There are also traditional methods that allow you to determine the percentage of humidity, but their disadvantage is the low efficiency of obtaining information.

Technological progress makes it possible to control the humidity in the apartment both by dehumidifying and humidifying the air. The desired result can be achieved both through special devices and using handy tools.

Buying a dehumidifier or is the simplest and in a convenient way. Many modern air conditioners are also able to control moisture content.

Comfort and favorable conditions for a person in the house are created not only by furniture and good windows- Temperature and humidity are no less important. Air humidity in an apartment characterizes the content of water vapor in it. There is a concept of relative air humidity. This value shows how much moisture is missing in the apartment for condensation to start under given conditions. environment and air saturation with water vapor. So, let’s figure out what humidity is most comfortable for humans.

Measuring air humidity in an apartment

The humidity in a room changes with the seasons and depends on the activities of the people in it. Excessive use of air conditioning or heating batteries. When it rains, the humidity in the apartment increases noticeably. In any case, increased or low humidity will have a bad effect on a person’s well-being and on the things around him (from building materials to household appliances).

For comfortable stay In an apartment, a person needs a humidity of about 40-60%. With such indicators, the body feels the best.

For constant monitoring, there is a device for measuring air humidity in an apartment. This device is called a hygrometer. It is very easy to use, no more difficult than a thermometer. There are several types of hygrometers:

Hair. Made from synthetic hair. Capable of measuring humidity from 0% to 100%. You can simply hang the device on the wall.
Digital thermo-hygrometer. A more complex device that also measures temperature. Measures humidity in two places at once: at the location of the device itself and at the location where the sensor is mounted. The cable length is 1.5 meters. Measuring range 0-90%.
Wireless thermohygrometer. Capable of taking measurements at several points at once; if there is an excessive drop or increase in moisture, it triggers an alarm. Range 0-90%.

How to measure air humidity in an apartment if you don’t have a special device at hand?

Take an ordinary glass and fill it with cold water. Place the glass of water in the refrigerator for several hours.

The water temperature will drop to 3-4°C. Now you can take out the stack and bring it into the room. Place it away from heating devices and observe for 5 minutes:

if the stack first fogs up and then becomes dry, then the air humidity in the room is reduced;
if the walls remain foggy after 5 minutes, the air has normal humidity;
streams of water on the walls of the stack indicate an excess of moisture in the room.

Increased air humidity in the apartment

If the windows in your rooms are constantly fogged up and your laundry takes several days to dry, most likely your apartment has high humidity. Over time, you will notice the appearance of one of the most unpleasant and dangerous problems - mold. On walls or flowers Black, red, greenish or gray spots will begin to appear. Mold spores are constantly present in the air, but it is high humidity that provides favorable conditions for the growth of the fungus. We need to deal with this problem very quickly, because mold can cause allergies and many others. serious illnesses. If the fungus gets into food, it can cause serious food poisoning. The biggest danger from fungus can be the spread of infection throughout the body. Even in very hot or cold weather, you need to ventilate your apartment at least twice a day.

Air humidity in the apartment

Air humidity in the apartment Comfort and favorable conditions for people in the house are created not only by furniture and good windows - temperature and humidity are no less important. Humidity in

Source: womanadvice.ru

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Indoor air humidity: its permissible and optimal norm in a residential apartment

Indoor air humidity affects not only the condition of furniture, floors and walls - first of all, our health and well-being directly depend on it.

In addition to the usual state of comfort, indoor air humidity significantly affects the presence of certain diseases.

Excessive humidity can cause allergic rhinitis. asthma and rhinitis.

In dry air, the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity dries out, due to which symptoms of sinusitis may appear, creating an “ideal” environment for exacerbations of sinusitis.

Insufficient humidity is a sure way to weakened immunity, increased fatigue, a feeling of “sand” in the eyes and rapid aging of the skin. Children are very sensitive to changes in humidity levels, and newborns are the most sensitive. Their sensitivity is the most high level Therefore, you should be very careful about the level of humidity in the children's room.

Dryness of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract in children contributes to the development of infections, allergies, and can cause a runny nose with blood in the child. and if you already have a runny nose, treatment will simply be ineffective.

Indoor air humidity depends on weather and climatic conditions, time of year, the presence and operation of household appliances and human life processes: washing, bathing, drying, ironing clothes, and so on.

The most critical situation appears to be in heating season. Frosty air contains little moisture, so ventilation alone cannot achieve optimal air humidity in the apartment.

With constantly running central heating and heaters, the air dries out even more; during this period, the level of air humidity in the room can drop to 20-25%, while the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx critically perceives the figure as 35%, and in children - 50%. In summer, the air in the room and in the car is significantly dried by a running air conditioner.

How is humidity measured and what is its norm in a residential area? The unit of measurement for humidity is percent (%), which shows the proportion of the original mass or volumetric humidity.

What percentage of air humidity should be normal? It is generally accepted that the optimal air humidity in an apartment is 45%, while the established norm ranges from 30% to 60% depending on the purpose of the room:

dining room/living room - 40-60%;
adult bedroom - 40-50%;
children's room - 45-60%;
office/library - 30-40%;
kitchen/bathroom - 40-60%.

It is very difficult to maintain these indicators, in most cases modern apartments and homes for most of the year, air humidity is low, which leads to a decrease in performance and causes a feeling of drowsiness even in an absolutely healthy person. Those who wear contact lenses suffer especially: the mucous membrane of the eye also noticeably dries out.

It is worth noting

Dry air helps cool the body, as moisture evaporates from the skin, which cools the body.

Excessively dry air accumulates static electricity and easily raises household dust. Its suspended microparticles calmly settle in an environment with normal humidity, which leads to various kinds of everyday problems.

Particular attention should be paid to achieving the normal air humidity in an apartment where there is a child or newborn. To achieve normal, and therefore comfortable, levels, you must have a humidifier at home.

In order to achieve optimal air humidity in an apartment for a person, one should, firstly, monitor this indicator, and, secondly, take all possible measures to humidify or dry the atmosphere in living and working areas.

Methods of air humidification, monitoring and measuring humidity levels at home

We discussed above what air humidity is considered normal for an apartment as a whole and for each room in particular. If indicators deviate from the norm, then there must be ways to stabilize them, we will talk about them in this section.

During cold winters, your heating system can make the air in your home too dry, making it uncomfortable for you.

It can also cause cracks in woodwork and drywall.

To improve the moisture content of the air, you can install a humidifier in the room you spend the most time in or throughout your home.

IN summer time When the room is not heated, depending on the climate in your area, there may be either too much or too little moisture in the house.

The following measures are required to control humidity.

Ventilate the room regularly. However, despite its simplicity, this method is not the most effective. In summer, the air is not very saturated with moisture, and ventilation does not help to humidify the air. But in winter, opening the windows for 5-10 minutes will allow you to achieve a comfortable level of humidity for a person. The wider the windows are open, the faster the room will be ventilated; in addition, during this time the air will have time to renew itself with minimal heat loss, unlike a window left open in the room for a long time.
Increase the number of indoor plants. which have a beneficial effect on air humidification, and are also a kind of natural “device” that can be used to measure air humidity: wrinkled and dried leaves are an indicator of a dry atmosphere. Plants perfectly ionize the air, and some of them, in addition to moisture, are capable of releasing organic substances that clean and disinfect the space.
Availability of an aquarium in the room also helps maintain normal humidity levels, you just need to regularly add evaporating water.
Do wet cleaning . ideal - morning and evening.
Place vessels with water in the apartment. It is best to do this on window sills, near central heating radiators.

Evaporating water is good remedy air humidification. Unfortunately, this is far from hygienic and, in most cases, not at all aesthetic.

How to determine the air humidity in an apartment yourself, to understand whether there is a need to dehumidify or humidify the air? You should systematically monitor the microclimate and humidity level of your home.

How to measure air humidity at home:

Basically, for these purposes, a special device is used to measure indoor air humidity - a hygrometer. Today there are several types of hygrometers based on different operating principles. They can look like a small wall or table clock, have a mechanical or electronic display, and can be combined with thermometers to measure room temperature. For a hygrometer, the accuracy of the readings is primarily important. The maximum deviation in measurements should not exceed 1%; today's electronic hygrometers are quite accurate, but the device must be installed away from drafts.

In the absence of a special device that measures air humidity, you can find out this indicator using a simple glass beaker and water. To do this, you need to fill a glass with cold water and put it in the refrigerator until the temperature of the water in the container cools down to 3-5°C.

Place the cooled glass in a room away from a heating source and observe:

if the condensation has completely dried after 5-10 minutes, the air in the room is very dry;
if after 5-10 minutes condensation has collected in large drops on the walls of the glass and flows off them in streams, the air in the room is excessively humid;
normal humidity in the room if after 5-10 minutes the condensation has not dried, but has not flowed either.

Thus, the glass and water turn into a DIY hygrometer.

Regular mercury thermometer- this is what else is used to measure air humidity at home without a hygrometer, but this process is quite labor-intensive.

It is done in 2 stages:

The temperature in the room is measured and the thermometer readings are recorded.
The thermometer head is carefully wrapped in wet cotton wool or gauze, left for 10 minutes, then the temperature is measured again.
Find the difference between “dry” and “wet” temperatures and use a special table to determine the air humidity in the room.

The easiest way to humidify the air today is to purchase a special device, some of which are additionally equipped with a humidity meter.

Types of humidifiers for the home, an air conditioner with an air purification and humidification system as a more powerful and advanced device

Maintaining a dry-moisture balance in your home with a home humidifier is important for your well-being, and while reducing moisture levels can be beneficial, too high level Humidity is hazardous to your health.

Below is a complete list of tasks that a special humidifier can handle:

leads to the “golden mean” relative humidity in the premises;
eliminates electrostatic charges;
contribute to the creation of a favorable microclimate in an apartment or house;
prevent the development of respiratory tract diseases;
have a beneficial effect on the skin, preventing its aging process.

You can buy a humidifier for your home at any hardware store or online store.

They come in several types:

Cold steam humidifiers or traditional ones. humidification occurs due to the evaporation of cold water, which is poured into the tank, from where a fan drives it through special filters. The water for such a humidifier must be well purified, or better yet, distilled, since otherwise the filter quickly becomes clogged and fails. The main advantage of the traditional model is that, depending on the level of humidity in the room, the device can independently regulate the rate of water evaporation.
Steam humidifiers. humidify the air due to steam evaporation, the steam temperature is 50-60 ° C, if the water boils away completely, the device turns off automatically. Such humidifiers are not recommended for children or house plants.
Ultrasonic humidifier for home- today this is the most popular and advanced model. In addition to the fact that such a humidifier is suitable for any type of room, it is very effective, silent, compact and safe, and also consumes little electricity. However, its use requires demineralization of water, for which special cartridges with ion-exchange resin are used, or only distilled water is poured into them. If these measures are not taken, after drying, tiny droplets of water with salts dissolved in it may form on furniture and other surfaces. white coating. The operating principle of an ultrasonic humidifier for the home is based on the vibration of a membrane, upon contact with which water is sprayed.
Air washer. combines the functions of humidification and air purification. The operating principle of such a device can be compared to a vacuum cleaner that performs wet-mechanical air purification. Inside the device there is an ionizing silver rod that purifies the air from dust, pollen and other allergenic particles. It is easy to use. For all its advantages, it has a significant drawback: air humidification can be increased to no more than 60%.

It is important to know

The humidifier must be designed for the size of the room. Otherwise, you may add too much moisture to the air.

A humidifier with adjustable humidity control will help with moisture balance.. Most humidifiers have a recommended room size on their packaging. So before purchasing a humidifier, take a quick measurement of your room.

An air conditioner with humidification and air purification is a kind of “climate control” for an apartment, capable of bringing all the main “air” indicators to ideal: temperature, degree of air purity and humidity.

Such a system condenses moisture from the street atmospheric air and directs it into the room, so there is no need to constantly add water to the device, which must also be purified.

The high intensity of this air conditioner allows you to quickly and evenly humidify the air in large areas; the incoming outdoor air passes through two purification units. Powerful ventilation system, built into air conditioners with humidification and air purification, contributes to the constant renewal of the atmosphere in the room.

The only one negative side Such models of air conditioners are their high price. However, today this is the best means for normalizing the climate in any home.

As a result, in order to control the air humidity in a room, you need not only to take into account its size, but also set clear goals for yourself: you need to create comfortable atmosphere in the house or prevent the development of diseases and allergies in the baby. As we see, modern technologies easily ready to cope with any problem.

Indoor air humidity: its permissible and optimal rate in a residential apartment

The air humidity in the room must correspond acceptable standards. Its optimal value is responsible not only for a comfortable microclimate in the apartment, but also helps maintain a person’s well-being, prevents the development and occurrence of respiratory diseases, drying out and premature aging of the skin.

The air we breathe is one of the main factors affecting our health. In this article we will talk about how to measure the humidity in a room so that you can always stay in good health and feel cheerful, comfortable and full of energy.

Optimal air humidity in the apartment

Comfortable air for the whole body should have a humidity within 45%. But for each room this parameter may vary within acceptable standards:

Office and library – 40-45%.
Dining room, bathroom, kitchen and living room - 40-60%.
Adult bedroom – 40-50%.
Children's room - 45-60%.

change of seasons;
weather change;
operation of heating devices and air conditioning;
features of materials used for interior and facade finishing.

Therefore, you need to know how to measure the air humidity in a room in order to maintain optimal conditions.

Important! These factors can reduce air humidity levels by at least 20%.

Harm from high humidity

A visible sign of an increase in the humidity level in the room is fogged up “crying” windows. Things become excessively damp, and an unpleasant musty smell, mold begins to develop in the corners.

As is known, mold fungus is a microorganism unsafe for human health. It can cause serious illnesses:

Allergies turning into asthma.
Decreased immunity.
Diathesis in infants.
Frequent headaches.
Rapid development of cancer cells.
Otitis.
Bronchitis.
Diseases of the cardiovascular system.

And this is just the beginning of the list of terrible health problems that can result from increased air humidity. Therefore, you need to be able to determine the air humidity at home in order to eliminate such problems.

Important! The healing process at air humidity above 60% takes a long time and is incomplete.

Dry air danger

The problem of dry air is especially relevant in the hot season, when the ambient temperature rises significantly. This means that dust, pollen, animal hair and other allergens easily move around the rooms and do not settle on furniture. Thus, it is easier for them to enter the human body through the respiratory tract and cause a serious reaction. This is especially dangerous for young children.

Important! When you stay in a room with dry air for a long time, moisture evaporates from the skin. This leads to cooling of the body.

In addition, dry air causes the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract to dry out, which makes the organs vulnerable to the action of microbes. Working in a room with dry air is difficult, even for a very efficient person, as the body quickly gets tired. A person constantly experiences a feeling of drowsiness. Increased static electricity is also a characteristic phenomenon in such rooms.

Important! Pediatricians say that dry air causes changes in the normal functioning of the kidneys and the development of dysbiosis even in healthy children.

How to determine air humidity in an apartment?

What device measures humidity and where to buy such a meter? If the air in your apartment is too humid or, on the contrary, dry, then you need to take some measures to establish its optimal level. But first, you should familiarize yourself with how to determine and how to measure air humidity at home. There are several ways to measure air humidity.

Hygrometer

Using this device is the simplest and most reliable option. When choosing a hygrometer, you should pay attention to its accuracy. The measurement deviation should be no more than 1%.

Important! Similar devices on modern market are multifunctional devices. In addition to measuring humidity, they can display temperature, pressure, clock and other data.

Glass tumbler

This method is not accurate, but if necessary it will help you understand the humidity values. The necessary items to carry out such a task are probably in the arsenal of every housewife.

Procedure:

Fill glass vessel cold water.
Cool the contents of the glass to 3-5 degrees.
Place the vessel in the room away from heating devices and analyze the result.

Result evaluation:

The walls of the vessel fogged up, but after about 10 minutes they became dry. This result indicates an extremely low level of humidity.
The foggy walls of the glass have not dried even after 5-10 minutes and drops flow into the glass. These indicators indicate high humidity air.
The condensation formed on the walls of the glass container has not evaporated, but does not flow down in large drops. This effect indicates that the moisture in the air is within normal limits.

Thermometer

Measuring air humidity with a thermometer is carried out according to the principle of operation of a psychrometer.

Procedure:

First, you need to measure the air temperature using a standard mercury thermometer. Record your readings.
Wrap the head of the device with damp, wet cotton wool or gauze and after 10 minutes, evaluate the thermometer readings.
Subtract the number of the “wet” thermometer from the temperature of the “dry” thermometer.
Find the resulting difference using the values of Assmann’s special psychometric table, determining the level of air humidity in the room you need.

How to increase air humidity?

Knowing how to check the air humidity in an apartment, you will see, albeit not an exact, but an approximate picture of the real situation. Thanks to this, you can take the following measures to saturate it with moisture.

Humidifier

As a rule, such devices are designed to operate in rooms up to 150 square meters. The principle of its operation is as follows: water is poured into a special tank to a certain level. When a humidifier operates, water evaporates and saturates the air with its molecules.

There are three types of humidifiers.

Traditional type

The mechanical humidifier accomplishes its mission with the help of a built-in fan. It forces air through a special container with water, as a result of which the air is cleaned of dust and saturated with moisture.

Important! Significant disadvantage Such a device is characterized by a high noise level during operation and limited humidification capabilities. A traditional humidifier can only raise air humidity to 60%.

Steam type

Such a device works in the same way as a kettle. The water boils and comes out as steam. Some models have special nozzles for inhalation. Thus, the device can be used not only to increase air humidity, but also to treat the respiratory tract.

Important! A steam humidifier can increase air humidity to levels greater than 60%.

Flaws:

Hot steam, the temperature of which reaches 60 degrees, can cause, if safety rules are not followed, damage to human skin and the surface of nearby objects.
High noise level during operation.
Quite a lot of electricity consumption.

Ultrasonic type

Such a device, thanks to a built-in special membrane, turns water into steam. It is less noisy than mechanical and steam humidifiers. The presence of a water heating function helps effective fight with germs in the air.

Works only with distilled water or with special cleaning cartridges to clean and soften the liquid. The latter should be changed regularly.

Important! When choosing a humidifier, be sure to consider the size of the room. Otherwise, its use may lead to excessive moisture.

Traditional methods of increasing humidity

If you do not have a humidifier, you can use simple traditional methods not only to determine the air humidity in a room at home, but also to correct the situation.

In this case, the following measures are suitable:

The easiest way is to place a wet towel or sheet on the radiator. When the fabric is heated, the water from it will begin to evaporate. After the towel has dried, it should be wetted again.
An analogue of the first method is to place containers of water on heating devices. You will need to add water inside the container every few days.
You can place containers of water on pieces of furniture, such as a cabinet. With this method, the water does not evaporate as quickly as with a battery, but still, the humidity increases.

Important! An aquarium with fish also has a beneficial effect on air humidity, like any other container with water.

For next method You will need a bowl of water and a bandage. Having placed a cup of water near the radiator, one end of the bandage should be placed in the water, and the other should be secured to the heating element. The water will constantly rise up the threads of the bandage and, with the help of the heat emanating from the battery, evaporate into the air.
If the air is too dry, drying washed clothes indoors can moisten them.
The presence of a large number of indoor plants has a beneficial effect on normalizing air humidity levels.
Leave after shower open door in the bathroom. This way you will get rid of excess moisture in the bathroom and saturate the air in other rooms with it.

How to reduce humidity?

In case the rooms increased level humidity, then you should start dehumidifying the air.

Air Dryer

A special device will effectively and quickly remove excess moisture from the air. It forces air through an “evaporator” where, due to the temperature difference, the moisture turns into condensation. Drops of water flow into a specially designed container. The air warms up again and returns to the room.

Important! When buying such a unit, you should pay attention to its performance, which is measured by the number of liters per day.

Dehumidifier for household needs can absorb from 12 to 300 liters of water per day and comes in two types: portable and stationary:

The first version of the device can be moved from one room to another.
The second one cannot be moved to another room, since it is mounted on the wall.

Important! Dehumidifiers can be used even in cold rooms. Frost formed during operation is automatically removed. If the water tank is completely filled and not emptied in a timely manner, the dehumidifier automatically turns off.

Moisture absorber

This type of device is very convenient to use in small rooms. A special tablet that fits into the device adsorbs water from the air. It is designed mainly for an area of up to 20 square meters.

Important! The main disadvantage of the absorber is the need to frequently change the tablet.

As a rule, such a device is used when high air humidity occurs during a certain season.

Important! The absorber is very convenient to use, does not make noise during operation, has compact dimensions and a favorable price.

Traditional methods of reducing humidity

In order not to spend money on the purchase of special devices, and if the issue of high humidity is not critical, then you can use one of simple ways available to everyone:

Regular ventilation, even in rainy weather, helps reduce the amount of moisture in the air in the room. The more often you ventilate, the more the air dries.
Hit sun rays through uncurtained windows helps to dry the room.
In rooms where ventilation is impossible, for example in a toilet or bathroom, you need to get rid of excess moisture using a hood. However, they often cannot cope with heavy loads. Installing an exhaust fan comes to the rescue.

In addition, they can help Appliances, which are also used for other purposes.

An oil radiator with a built-in fan can remove excess moisture from the air in a small room.
Modern air conditioners regulate not only the indoor air temperature, but also the humidity level.

Important! Interestingly, air temperature and humidity are important not only for humans:

indoor plants also need a certain moisture level - from 40 to 70%;

Take seriously the problem of dry or too dry humid air. If there are problems with this, then it is necessary to solve them quickly, because they can result, at a minimum, in poor health.