How to determine air humidity in an apartment: available methods

The well-being and health of its owners depends on the state of the microclimate in the apartment. The level of humidity is one of the main indicators characterizing the parameters of the air that people in the room breathe. Therefore, it must be periodically monitored. This indicator must remain at the level established by sanitary and hygienic standards.

Therefore, the residents of the house are faced with the question of how to determine the air humidity in the apartment. Various methods are used for this. Even without special instruments, anyone can measure the humidity level in a room. Existing methods will be discussed in detail below.

Why measure humidity levels?

When studying the question of how to determine the air humidity in an apartment, it is necessary to consider first of all what this indicator affects. This will allow you to assess the importance of carrying out such a procedure.

The indoor air humidity should not be higher or lower than the specified range. While indoors, a person may not immediately notice that the surrounding conditions do not meet the requirements of sanitary and hygienic standards. But over time, such violations can affect the health of the owners.

Due to increased humidity, asthma and allergies develop. A reduced value of this indicator leads to disorders of the mucous membranes, decreased immunity, and skin aging. Children are especially sensitive to unfavorable living conditions. Therefore, parents are simply obliged to monitor the level of humidity in their apartment.

Why is high air humidity dangerous for the body?

If mold has already appeared in the room due to high humidity, its fungal formations can irritate the respiratory tract and create conditions for the appearance of allergies. This dangerous tandem can trigger asthma. Increased air humidity enhances the growth of cancer cells in the presence of oncological abnormalities. Promotes the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Permissible value

When studying the question of how you can determine the air humidity in an apartment, you should consider the permissible values of this indicator. It should be noted that humidity is measured as a percentage. This is a fraction of the primary mass volume of moisture.

Experts say that the optimal value for the room is 45%. In this case, its deviation in both directions is allowed. Thus, the humidity in the apartment should not fall outside the range of 30 to 60%.

There are standards that determine air parameters depending on the purpose of the room. In a living room or dining room the range is 45-60%, and for an adult bedroom it is 40-50%. In the children's room the humidity should be higher. Normally it is at the level of 45-60%.

But for a library or office it is important to maintain this figure at the level of 30-40%. This will protect documents and books from premature destruction. In a kitchen or bathroom, humidity can range from 40 to 60%.

Relative and absolute

Absolute air humidity, the formula of which is the ratio of the mass of water vapor to the volume of air, is measured in grams per cubic meter (g/m3).

Unlike absolute humidity, relative humidity is a situational value tied to the temperature at the time of measurement. To calculate relative air humidity, the ratio of the actual vapor density to the maximum possible at the existing temperature is used (d/ds, where the designation d is the concentration of water vapor in the air, and ds is the highest possible value of air humidity). This indicator is measured as a percentage. To convert to this unit of measurement, the division result must be multiplied by 100.

In the codes of standards that tell about air humidity standards, we are talking about relative values, that is, the degree of saturation of air with water vapor. Measuring this indicator at home can be carried out with special devices for microclimate control; in particular, using a home weather station. There is also a simpler device - a household hygrometer.

6th grade students will learn about what instruments are used to determine air humidity in physics lessons. Here they are introduced to the principle of operation of a psychrometric hygrometer, which consists of recording the difference in the readings of a dry thermometer and a moistened one with water. As the liquid evaporates, it cools, so the second value will be lower. Based on the difference in readings, the desired parameter can be determined.

Environmental humidity also has other characteristics:

Dew point. This term refers to the temperature level to which the air must be cooled at the existing pressure and humidity in order for it to become saturated with water vapor.
Dew point deficiency. This term refers to the difference between air temperature and dew point.

Calculation of various parameters of air humidity is extremely important in some areas of activity. In particular, it is carried out when forecasting:

runway conditions at air temperatures near zero;
cloudiness;
probability of thunderstorms;
icing.

This indicator is also important in chemistry: it can affect the course of certain reactions.

Effects of high humidity

Delving into the topic of how to determine the air humidity in an apartment, you should clearly understand the consequences of deviation of this indicator in both one and the other direction. Inconsistencies are a warning sign.

The first sign of high humidity in an apartment is condensation on the windows. At the same time, all things and furniture in the room are exposed to dampness. Then a specific musty smell appears, and fungus begins to develop in the corners and on interior items. Mold is an unsafe neighbor for humans. It causes serious deviations in well-being and causes a number of ailments.

The consequences of high humidity can be allergies or even asthma, and a decrease in the functions of the immune system. Diathesis sometimes occurs in children. Headaches and diseases of the cardiovascular system are also a consequence of an unsuitable microclimate. Bronchitis and otitis media also develop in similar conditions. Cancer cells also develop faster in high humidity conditions.

Cooking food on the stove

Another surefire way to increase humidity in an apartment is to cook food on the stove rather than in the oven. If you need to heat something up, choose the stove, oven or microwave. The water used during cooking evaporates into the air rather than remaining in a confined space. In addition, you can put water in a container and put it on low heat, after adding citrus peels or cinnamon to the water, filling the space with aroma.

Effects of dry air

From the above it follows that everyone should understand how to find out the air humidity in an apartment. A low value of this indicator is also dangerous. This situation occurs especially often during the hot season.

First of all, all dust, wool and other particles begin to freely rise and move with air masses. They do not settle on interior items and freely enter the human body.

Moisture from the skin begins to evaporate rapidly. This causes the body to quickly cool down. Also, the mucous membranes of the body begin to dry out. The protection of organs from harmful microorganisms is reduced. Fatigue and drowsiness appear.

Dry air has a particularly negative effect on children's bodies. Such an indoor microclimate leads to kidney problems and also contributes to the development of dysbacteriosis. Moreover, even an adult organism is susceptible to such effects.

Traditional ways to measure indoor humidity

The importance of humidity in the home has long been known. They learned to identify deviations from the norm even when measuring instruments did not exist. People looked after indoor plants. If the flowers dry out despite frequent watering, this indicates dry air in the room. Increased water content led to rotting.

The condition of the soil in a flower pot will quickly indicate the level of humidity

Hygrometer

A hygrometer is the most reliable device for measuring indoor humidity. Its error should not be more than 1%. Multifunctional devices are on sale that also display room temperature, pressure, etc.

However, many owners are interested in the question of how to determine the air humidity in an apartment without a hygrometer. After all, this device is not always at hand. Buying a hygrometer is still worth it over time. But other methods can be used to assess indoor air humidity. This will make it possible to quickly take action to eliminate serious deviations.

We use devices

The easiest way to measure air humidity is with a device. It's called a hygrometer. According to the principle of action it happens:

by weight;
hair;
film;
electrolytic;
ceramic;
condensation;
electronic;
psychrometric.

In domestic conditions, psychrometric, hair, and electronic hygrometers are used. To obtain reliable results, know how they measure air humidity.

The most reliable

Determining air humidity using a psychrometer (from Greek - cold) is not difficult. The operation of the device is based on the fact that the presence of moisture lowers the temperature. The panel is equipped with 2 thermometers and a psychrometric table. The first thermometer is dry, the second is wet. To measure, you need to find the difference in temperature readings. The table shows the air temperature measured by a dry thermometer vertically and the difference in readings horizontally. The intersection of these two lines shows the relative air humidity as a percentage.

Measuring humidity with a thermometer

One way to measure indoor humidity without a hygrometer is to use a thermometer. This is a simple procedure. How to determine the air humidity in an apartment using a thermometer should be considered in more detail.

There is a certain procedure. You will need a regular mercury thermometer. With its help, you must first measure the ambient temperature. It is better to write down the readings so as not to forget.

Next, wrap the thermometer nose with damp gauze or cotton wool. After 10 minutes, the device readings should also be recorded. The second value is subtracted from the first indicator. Next, using Assmann's psychometric table, you need to find the level of humidity in the room.

How to determine air humidity in an apartment

Let's find out how you can measure the percentage moisture level. For this purpose, both devices specially designed for this purpose and improvised folk remedies are suitable:

The most convenient and accurate for determining humidity are hygrometers. These devices are divided into electronic, which are automatically heated, and psychometric, which use a property of liquid such as evaporation.
Psychometers are also created for these purposes; they are manometric and electrical.
An interesting option is a hair hygrometer, the operating principle of which is based on the ability of human hair to absorb water vapor. But for this, the hair shaft must first be degreased.
There are other types of devices, but electronics are considered the most convenient. For home use, it is best to use a portable, mobile model that is easy to move from one room to another. If you purchase a hygrometer for your home, it makes sense to choose a multifunctional modification that can additionally measure temperature, atmospheric pressure, and show time in any geographical zone.

You should pay attention to equipment equipped with an indication system, which allows you to quickly identify climate deviations from the norm - thus, you can quickly take appropriate measures.

You can check the air condition using a regular thermometer, but then you will need to use a special psychometric Assmann table:

first, wrap the mercury head of the thermometer with a damp cloth or soaked cotton wool;
after 6-10 minutes they look and write down the result;
subtract the second from the first temperature number;
in the table you need to find the written numbers, they will be in a vertical and horizontal line, and at their intersection - the result in percentage.

If you don’t have a highly specialized device at hand, you can always use common folk methods for measuring - for example, an ordinary glass.

How to find out humidity using a glass

A good moisture determinant is an ordinary glass beaker or other vessel. This, of course, is not the most accurate way to determine this characteristic, but it will do in the absence of other options. To take measurements, you need to fill a container with cold water and place it on the refrigerator shelf until it cools down (to 4-5 degrees). After this, place the glass in the room away from the radiator and any heating equipment.

By monitoring the changes that occur, you can judge the percentage of water vapor content:

we can confidently say that the apartment has average humidity if water does not flow on the glass surface within 10 minutes and, at the same time, does not dry out;
if during this time condensation formed on the walls of the vessel in the form of large drops and they began to drain, this indicates a high level of moisture;
The air will be considered too dry if the glass first fogs up and then dries completely.

Spruce cone method

Another way is to use natural raw materials, for example, spruce cones. By observing its condition, you can judge the level of humidity:

too dry air will cause the pine cone to open its scales;
if there is excess moisture, the scales will begin to close.

Glass of water

Another simple method is the glass of water method. This approach is not very accurate, but it will help determine significant deviations in the microclimate of the room. How to determine the air humidity in an apartment using a glass of water is discussed below.

There will always be the necessary items for research in the house. The glass glass must be filled with cold water. The contents should have a temperature of 3-5 °C. The glass must be placed in the room. There should be no heating devices nearby.

If the walls of the glass fog up, but after 10 minutes. dried out, the humidity level in the room is very low. If, after this period of time, drops of the fogged glass flow from its surface, the indicator is very high. If the humidity is within acceptable limits, condensation does not collect in drops and does not flow off the glass.

Measuring humidity

You can determine the humidity in an apartment using several methods. The easiest way is to go buy a measuring device called a hygrometer. Install it in your home and after a while you can already know the humidity level. If you use improvised items, it is best to take a container, fill it with water and put it in the refrigerator. After the water has cooled, place the glass in the center of the room and observe. If fogging disappears from your container within five minutes, this means that the air is dry; Fogging has intensified, streams of water are rolling down the glass - high humidity. In other cases, moderate humidity can be observed. Ventilating rooms by opening windows reduces air humidity. Increasing air humidity can be achieved in several ways. You can use improvised objects, for example, a bowl of water. You can take several of them and place them in all rooms. You can use wet towels, an aquarium and a certain number of flowers.

Solution

Having considered how to determine the air humidity in an apartment without instruments, you should learn methods of dealing with microclimate non-compliance with standards. When the indicator value is low, special humidifiers are used. They are presented in a wide range on sale. You can also place a damp towel or container of water on the battery. You should also pay attention to growing a sufficient number of indoor plants.

If the humidity is high, you can purchase special devices. They use various methods to remove excess water from the air. Experts also advise regular ventilation. This must be done even in rainy weather. Some rooms may require installation of a hood.

Having familiarized yourself with the methods for determining air humidity in an apartment, you can quickly and accurately assess the state of the microclimate in the room. This will allow you to take appropriate measures in a timely manner and return the indicator to within the standards. The health and well-being of people living in a house or apartment depends on this. Therefore, special attention should be paid to moisture measurement issues.

Instruments for measuring air humidity and the specifics of their application

There are many instruments for measuring moisture in the atmosphere. Even a pine cone can be called this word. The only difference between them is what operating principle they use to determine. They can also be divided into electrical or mechanical.

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Of those that can be purchased in the store, two attract attention:

hygrometer (there are many types);
psychrometer.

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The main indicators when choosing a device for measuring humidity are the accuracy of the device and ease of use.

Hygrometer

Literally from Greek - a measure of humidity. The devices can measure both relative humidity (used in everyday life) and absolute humidity. There are precise devices that measure dew point. To obtain the last two values, take a weighing hygrometer. These indications are often needed for laboratory tests and are not used at home.

The more moisture on the surface of the hair, the more the arrow deviates

The simplest hygrometer is a hair and film sample. The principle of its operation is based on the fact that fat-free synthetic hair changes its tension when moisture hits it. The ends of the hair are rigidly fixed, one of them to the arrow on the scale of the device. Instead of synthetics, organic film can be used. The devices measure moisture well in cold rooms (up to 0°C).

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The condensation meter has the maximum range of action (from 0 to 100%). The principle of its operation is that moisture settles on a flat, mirror-like and cooled surface under the influence of a beam of light. A thermometer under the surface takes readings, converting them to relative humidity. The device is large in size, making it difficult to use in an apartment.

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The ceramic moisture meter uses electrical resistance from the mass. The substances contained in ceramics are responsible for this. Kaolin and silicon have metal particles that change resistance when exposed to moisture. The device is compact and has gained wide popularity in home use.

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Modern electric hygrometers measure for their readings:

electrical conductivity in ambient air;
dew point by optoelectronic method;
resistance of salts and polymers;
capacitor capacity.

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Microcircuits are used for operation, which minimizes errors in accuracy and significantly speeds up the display of readings.

It should be noted that it is now possible to measure humidity using a smartphone. A special application is installed on the phone. The program determines the humidity in the room with good accuracy.

There is another type of hygrometer, which, due to its high measurement accuracy and versatility, received its own name.

Psychrometer

To check air humidity, it uses one of the properties of liquid - evaporation. The temperature difference is shown by two thermometers. One of them is called dry. The second is wrapped in a damp cloth, one end of which is immersed in water.

The advantage of the device is that it guarantees accurate measurement of humidity in an apartment with deviations of 2–3%

As the liquid evaporates, it cools the wet bulb bulb. Therefore, the less moisture in the room, the lower the readings of this meter. By comparing the readings of both thermometers, the absolute or relative humidity in the room is derived using the formula. And for simplicity, they use data from a ready-made table. At the intersection of the found temperatures, the desired humidity indicator is found.

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There are three types of psychrometers:

The remote uses thermistors and thermocouples. They can be electrical or manometric.
The stationary one consists of two thermometers placed in a meteorological booth, one of which is wrapped in cambric.
Aspiration uses a special fan that blows air over thermometers enclosed in a protective housing.

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The disadvantage is the impossibility of measuring at several points and the need for constant wetting, preferably with distilled water.

What signs in an apartment indicate high or low humidity?

Various little things will help determine the humidity in the apartment. You just need to pay attention.

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Condensation on the windows will be the first to indicate increased water content in the air. Everything in the house will become damp, and the furniture will begin to smell like wood. Then the sense of smell will begin to distinguish notes of rotting and decomposition, and a specific musty smell will appear.

Under such conditions, mold and mildew will quickly begin to develop, infecting household members with various diseases.

If children have diathesis, this may be the reason for the high moisture content in the air. Attacks of asthma, cough and headache can confirm this. If you don't take action, you can get more serious illnesses. Such as otitis media, bronchitis and decreased immune defense.

Cancer cells multiply faster in high humidity.

The state of the human body changes even with a lack of moisture. People get tired faster, become drowsy, and sweat excessively. This leads to drying out of all the mucous membranes of the body, which can have serious consequences.

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If dust hanging in the air is clearly visible in the room, then the humidity level has dropped significantly. The air is dry and particles (under the weight of water) do not settle on objects, but are easily drawn into the lungs. Exacerbation of allergic reactions confirms this.

The importance of humidity in human life has been undeniably proven. Therefore, it would be wise to constantly monitor its norm. To do this, you can use both purchased measuring instruments and use the experience of your ancestors. Paying attention to everyday details will help you understand that deviations have occurred. This will allow you to quickly correct the situation and bring everything back to normal.

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For more information, watch the video:

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