Monitoring humidity in your house is of utmost importance not only for your health but also for your comfort. If the humidity in your home falls, your furniture, fabric, and other items in the home can become damaged. If it is too high, this can lead to mold growth, foul odors, and wood rot.
Therefore, it is essential to monitor the humidity in your house to ensure that it is at an optimal level. To do this, you need a hygrometer, a device designed to measure the humidity in confined spaces. You can purchase one online or at your local store. But be cautious and avoid cheap hygrometers because they don’t measure humidity levels accurately.
Alternatively, you can use the following methods if you are not ready to buy a hygrometer.
Use Ice Cubes
This is a simple and easy way to monitor the humidity of your home. Put a couple of ice cubes in a glass of water and wait for a few minutes. If you notice moisture on the outside of the glass, it means the humidity levels in your home are too high. But if you don’t see moisture on the glass, it means that the humidity levels are too low.
To get accurate results, don’t place the glass in the kitchen, particularly when cooking. Place it in your living room or bedroom when there is no one because the movement can affect the results.
Use the Dry Bulb Temperature and Wet Bulb Temperature Method
For this method, you need two standard glass thermometers. Wrap one of them with a wetted cotton ball and use a rubber band to keep it in place. Make sure that the cotton ball is wetted with room temperature water and that it is wrapped on the bulb of the thermometer. This will be your wet bulb.
As for the second thermometer, leave it as it is and then take both thermometers and place them wherever you want in your house, but put them side by side. Leave them there for a couple of minutes and then check the temperature of each thermometer and jot down the results.
Once you have the results, subtract the results of the wet bulb thermometer from the dry bulb thermometer. The result you’ll get is called the depression value. Using a relative humidity chart, compare these results. The chart will give you an idea of the humidity levels in your home. You don’t have to buy the chart; you can find one easily online.
Consider Buying a Hygrometer
The easiest and most effective way to monitor humidity in your home is by using a hygrometer or humidity sensor. They are available at varying prices, and they come in different styles and sizes.
You can choose to buy a simple hygrometer that measures temperature and humidity. Many of them are reasonably priced, so you can afford to buy more than one to put in different rooms in your home.
But if you are willing to spend some extra cash, get one that measures more than humidity. Some expensive models measure toxins, dew points, carbon dioxide, and more. Some even have inbuilt alarms to alert you when there is a change in humidity.
The advantage of using a hygrometer is that you’ll get accurate results. However, not all hygrometers give accurate results, particularly the extremely cheap ones. So stay away from humidity sensors that have a price tag that is too good to be true.
How to balance the humidity in your home
If the humidity in your home is too high or too low, this will lead to problems. High humidity can cause sleep problems, mold and mildew growth, bacterial growth, and your mechanical units may even start to malfunction.
Low humidity can cause dry skin and can lead to health issues like asthma and bronchitis. It can also cause damage to your furniture and other items made of wood.
That said, here is what you can do to balance the humidity in your home.
How to lower the humidity levels
- Use a dehumidifier
- Switch on your exhaust fans
- Invest in houseplants. Plants absorb humidity
- Maintain proper care of your air conditioning system, particular the filters
- Avoid hanging wet clothes inside your house as this will increase the moisture in the air
- Avoid using a dryer to dry wet clothes
- Use good kitchen and bathroom ventilation when using these areas
How to increase humidity levels
- Use a humidifier to increase moisture in the air
- Buy some houseplants. Plants release moisture in the air
- Hang wet clothes inside your home
Conclusion
It is important that optimal humidity levels are maintained in confined spaces. If you have kids, you definitely don’t want them to get sick because of the poor air quality in your home.
Take the necessary measures to monitor the humidity levels in your home. Consider investing in a dehumidifier, humidifier, and more importantly, a hygrometer. These devices are available at reasonable prices; just make sure to buy a reputable brand to ensure that you are getting value for your money.
