Using a hygrometer is the easiest way to measure the humidity in your home. The device measures humidity and temperature and is easy to use as a simple thermometer.
Using the Barometer & Altimeter App
Barometer and Altimeter is a free Android app that reports the temperature and humidity using your Android's built-in sensors. If your Android does not have built-in sensors, the app uses your GPS to find the temperature and humidity based on a nearby weather station.
To do that, launch the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. Click on Climate towards the top left. This will reveal the current temperature and humidity levels. Alternatively, you can ask Siri about their values.
When the indoor humidity level is below 30 percent, the air is too dry, which can harm both a home's structural integrity and the homeowners' health. Conversely, when the level is above 60 percent, the air is too wet, which is also harmful to both the home and the homeowners.
The ideal place for the hygrometer is a general living area like your lounge or bedroom. Putting it in your kitchen or bathroom will show large rises and falls in humidity and temperature, for example when you are cooking or using the bath or shower. These won't give an accurate picture of the moisture in your home.
Using a hygrometer is the easiest way to measure the humidity in your home. The device measures humidity and temperature and is easy to use as a simple thermometer.
All you need to do is take a glass of water and place four or five ice cubes in it. Take that glass of water and set it on a table in the room where you want to check the humidity level. Take five to ten minutes to let the magic work! Once the time has passed, check the glass.
Research from the Building Science Corporation found that humidity of 70% or higher adjacent to a surface can cause serious damage to the property. The Health and Safety Executive recommends that relative humidity indoors should be maintained at 40-70%, while other experts recommend that the range should be 30-60%.
Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants. Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows.
A home should have a relative humidity of 30% to 60%. Above 60% and you have what's considered “high” humidity. Besides being less comfortable, high humidity causes a host of other problems in your home, including: Growth of fungus and mold in various parts of the home.
A humidity sensor is a device that detects and measures water vapor. TE Connectivity (TE) manufactures a complete range of calibrated and amplified RH sensor products to measure relative humidity.
A hygrometer is a device used to measure humidity. Hygrometers come in both analog and digital versions, but modern, digital hygrometers are more accurate, so they are the most commonly used today.
A hygrometer is an essential instrument in meteorological science. It has numerous commercial uses, but the primary purpose of the device is to measure the amount of water vapor (humidity) in the air.
Can you dehumidify too much? There is a chance of dehumidifying your home too much with a dehumidifier, especially if you are leaving your dehumidifier running for several hours on a timer unattended. Over-dehumidifying your home can lead to an increased chance of respiratory illnesses and dry and cracked skin.
While damp cannot be reduced by opening windows, it can help to reduce the humidity levels in your property to make sure that condensation is not a common occurrence.
The biggest reason for high humidity in your home is moisture intrusion from outside. This could be through leaky windows, leaky floors, wet crawlspaces, leaky HVAC ductwork, or very small leaks in all of these areas that form a large amount of leakage when combined.
If the humidity level outside is much above 65%, you are usually much better off keeping your windows closed at night and using your AC instead. The reason is that opening your windows allows all of that humid air to get inside the house and soak into your furnishings.
Every home is different, but a level between 30 and 40 per cent humidity is typically ideal for keeping your home warm and comfortable in the winter, without leaving condensation on the windows. In the summer, that level can be higher, between 50 and 60 per cent.
High humidity can increase the amount of mucus in your nose and throat, causing congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and post-nasal drip.
If there are no cold-condensing surfaces and the relative humidity (RH) is maintained below 60 percent indoors, there will not be enough water in those materials for mold to grow. However, if the RH stays above 70 percent indoors for extended periods of time, mold will almost certainly grow.
Best Humidity for Sleeping
The best relative humidity for sleeping and other indoor activities has been debated. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the best indoor relative humidity falls between 30% and 50%, and it should never exceed 60%. Other studies suggest 40% to 60% is a better range.
Most expert sources agree that anything between 30-60% humidity is acceptable for a home environment. Anything lower will create problems, just as anything higher will create problems. Depending on where you live and your humidity concerns, your ideal level may be on the upper or lower end of that range.
Most people find that a relative humidity between 30 to 60 percent is the most comfortable, with indoor humidity ideally between 30 to 50 percent.