What instruments can measure air humidity in an apartment?

The cause of relapses of allergic and respiratory diseases can be the indoor microclimate: temperature, absolute and relative humidity. Normal values of these parameters create favorable conditions for a person to live in an apartment or private house. But how is air humidity measured? The answer is simple: a hygrometer or psychrometer.

Advice

Before purchasing a device, you should learn about its advantages and disadvantages.

One of the undoubted advantages of the device for determining the moisture content in the air is its ease of operation.

Optimal values

Humidity in an apartment is the degree of vapor saturation in the air. It is measured as a percentage of the actual amount of moisture to the maximum possible value at the same temperature. Its elevated parameters are easy to determine: mold appears in the corners of the room, a person’s chronic diseases become worse, and immunity decreases. When indoor humidity is low, wooden furniture quickly deteriorates, and family members experience unpleasant sensations of dry mucous membranes of the nose and eyes. If there is no moisture in the surrounding space, then the dust does not settle on surfaces for a long time, but remains in the air and penetrates the bronchi and lungs.

The target location of the room determines the optimal humidity parameters. The norm is expressed as a percentage:

living room – 50-60%;
bedroom – 45-50%;
children's - 50-60%;
office – 40-45%;
kitchen and bathroom – up to 60%.

The values obtained during the measurement process are influenced by many factors - time of year, power of heating radiators, region of residence.

Experts operate with two types of humidity:

relative;
absolute.

The last value shows how much moisture is in a cubic meter (how the air in the room is measured). In everyday life, the absolute indicator is practically not used.

Advice

Humidity parameters can be determined using indoor plants. If the leaves curl and turn yellow, and harmful insects often settle on them, then the air in the room is very dry. When brown spots appear on the flowers and the roots begin to rot, this means that there is excess water content in the surrounding area.

Relative air humidity is measured using instruments that are convenient to use by a person without special skills in working with complex devices. This parameter is quite sufficient to determine the moisture content in the surrounding space.

Types of devices

At home, air humidity is measured in various ways, but the most objective values are obtained by using special instruments: a hygrometer and a psychrometer.

Hygrometers

Air humidity is measured using a hygrometer, the principle of which is based on recording variables when the concentration of water molecules in the surrounding space increases or decreases. Under such conditions, the physical parameters (density, mass, length) of the structure of the material used in the measurement process and actively absorbing moisture change. The results obtained will characterize the degree of saturation of the surrounding space with water vapor.Before measuring air humidity using a hygrometer, keep in mind that the values will be approximate.

In specialized stores, hygrometers are presented in a wide range. They are:

hair;
by weight;
condensation;
electrolytic;
ceramic.

For domestic use of the device, special precision is not required. It is easy to determine relative humidity with a hygrometer, but there are also operational characteristics of the device.

Before measuring air humidity, you need to consider the features of using a hygrometer:

You must always ensure that the dampening material is wet and clean;
Do not place the device near air conditioners and radiators.

The principle of operation of a hygrometer is based on comparing the readings of a thermometer in contact with wet material and a thermometer recording values in a real environment. The results are determined on a conventional graduated scale. The difference in parameters is checked against the data of the psychometric table, regardless of which device the values were obtained from.

Psychrometers

To measure air humidity using a psychrometer, you need to understand the principle of its operation. When liquid evaporates, the temperature of the surrounding space decreases. The more intense the evaporation, the cooler the air becomes, which is determined by the device. This process is influenced by a complex of factors:

water vapor concentration;
speed of air flow in the room.

Taking into account the temperature difference between the wet material and the air, the rate of evaporation can be determined. If the device is located near a window or fan, the obtained values will not be accurate due to the circulation of flows.

Relative air humidity is measured using the following types of psychrometers:

stationary;
remote;
aspiration.

The latter are considered the most accurate and reliable devices. It is very easy to measure air humidity using an Assmann psychrometer - the device is equipped with a protective housing. Therefore, the obtained values are not affected by air flow speed.

Handy methods

One of the informative methods by which you can determine the humidity in an apartment is observing a burning candle. In a room with a normal microclimate, its flame is strong and even. When there is excessive moisture content in the surrounding space, the candle flame fluctuates from side to side, and scarlet inclusions appear on its edge. Do not forget that air humidity is measured in this way with the windows and doors closed.

You can determine the water vapor content using a regular glass of water. After placing it in the refrigerator, you should wait about an hour. During this time, the temperature of the liquid will drop to 3-4°C. Relative air humidity is determined after removing the glass and observing the evaporation processes taking place:

the walls of the vessel remain fogged - the moisture content is within normal limits;
dry walls - low air humidity;
condensation flows down - there is a lot of water vapor in the surrounding space.

Advice

If your laundry dries quickly in your room, you should consider purchasing a humidifier. And dampening of fabric items indicates an excess amount of moisture in the room.

It is up to the owner of the premises to decide which device to use.People who care about their health and strive to maintain all microclimate parameters within normal limits equip their apartment with a real home weather station. Manufacturers have launched the production of devices equipped with a barometer, hygrometer and thermometer. Of course, such a device cannot be cheap. But all costs quickly pay off - the owners of the premises save on medicines for family members, they do not have the need to replace wallpaper and upholstered furniture damaged by fungus.