What air humidity should be in an apartment, how to measure it, ways to increase or decrease it to normal + reviews

Relative humidity is measured in a room - a value indicating the moisture saturation in the atmosphere. To find out the humidity in the house, you need to calculate the percentage of the maximum capacity and the actual amount of moisture. In everyday life, all complex calculations are done in a matter of seconds by special devices.

For interior design, you can use a composite board, as it does not deteriorate in any microclimate. This material consists of wood and polymers; thanks to this composition, this board is widely used in the interior: for terraces, the area around the pool, and interior decoration.

What are the dangers of dry and humid microclimates?

Residents of individual apartments most often think about the state of the air during the heating season. It is during the cold season, with the windows closed and heating devices running, that discomfort associated with dry air appears. However, excess moisture also has a bad effect on the well-being of the inhabitants of the house, provoking increased allergies, the development of bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory diseases. The table describes the dangers of dry air and high humidity.

Table - The influence of excess and lack of moisture in the air on human health

Deviation from the norm	Physical manifestation
Flaw	- Peeling, skin irritation; - brittle nails and hair; - inflammation, redness of the eyes; - dizziness, headache; - development of allergy to dust; - weakened immunity, - increased susceptibility to infections
Oversupply	— Creation of conditions for the development of fungus; - feeling of dampness; - the occurrence of frequent migraine attacks; - decreased performance; - appearance of lethargy, apathy

Low humidity has an adverse effect on plants in the house - leaves turn yellow due to dryness and fall off. Wooden products, parquet, and musical instruments become very dry and deformed. Varnish coatings lose their attractiveness.

What air humidity should be in an apartment according to GOST

Humidity indicators are regulated by state standards. Each functional room has its own norm at different times of the year. According to GOST, the following values are established for residential apartments in the cold and warm seasons:

30-60% - for winter, the maximum permissible value is 65%;
30-45% - in summer, maximum humidity level - 70%.

The standards must be observed by utility services when servicing an apartment building: it is the temperature and humidity that determine the beginning and end of the heating season. However, thanks to the use of household appliances, heating devices, and caring for indoor plants, each resident creates his own microclimate in a separate apartment.

Living space

The optimal air humidity in an apartment depends on the season, area of the room, temperature, availability of things, equipment. For example, indicators of 50% at a temperature of 25°C will not be considered the norm - such conditions are akin to the tropics. A favorable combination of air parameters for different rooms is presented in the table.

Table - Temperature and humidity ratio in different rooms

Room	Average temperature, °C	Average humidity,%
Hallway	19	45
Bathroom	22	45
Toilet	19	45
Living room (common room)	20	45
Bedroom	18	50
Library	20	35
Kitchen	20	45
Children's	21	55

Doctors recommend, regardless of the time of year and area of the room, to constantly maintain the norm at 45%. The lower humidity threshold is 30%, the upper one is 60%. It is better to keep the indicators within these values in order to prevent critical drying or waterlogging of the air with all the adverse consequences.

Children's

This room deserves special attention, because it is necessary to create favorable conditions for the newborn, eliminating all possible risks. The baby’s immune system cannot yet resist harmful microorganisms, and the body loses moisture very quickly.

The atmosphere in the nursery should be soft and warm. The nasopharynx should not be allowed to dry out. A “dry” nose is less resistant to infections and is more susceptible to colds. Dry atmosphere is harmful to delicate skin and can trigger the formation of atopic dermatitis.

Elevated temperatures with abundant moisture in the atmosphere are also undesirable for a child. If the baby does not sleep well and is capricious, one of the possible reasons is lack of air. It is necessary to ventilate the room in both cold and warm periods, maintaining the same temperature in any season. Favorable air humidity in the nursery is 50-60% at an average temperature of 22°C.

During colds, in order to avoid a runny nose, it is allowed to increase the humidity level in the children's room to 70%. The temperature should remain at 20-24°C.

Kitchen and bathroom

The microclimate in damp rooms requires constant “drying”. In large families, the kitchen is constantly cooking something on the stove, water is being used, and the bathroom often does not have time to ventilate before the next use. Therefore, it is important to install a powerful hood and proper ventilation in the kitchen and bathroom.

It is ideal if the bathroom has a window through which you can let in fresh air after water procedures. If this is not possible, leave the door open to release the accumulated steam. Poor exhaust hood and lack of ventilation often have undesirable consequences in the form of fungi and mold on the walls.

Houseware

An imbalance in humidity causes poor health in people, animals, and plants. Books, furniture, and linen deteriorate due to the lack or excess of moisture. For some items you need to increase the air humidity in the room, for others you need to lower it. The optimal humidity for different exhibits and things is presented in the table.

Table - Humidity standards for different household items

Items	Humidity level,%
Wooden furniture	40-60
Books and documents	30-60
Houseplants (non-tropical species)	40-70
Lingerie, clothes	40-50
Electronics, household appliances	45-60

Taking into account the fact that each room should have its own microclimate, objects and things should know their place. For example, it is better to free the bedroom from plants - they increase the moisture content in the air, but are afraid of drafts. Books have no place in the kitchen, and it is better to dry clothes not in the bathroom, but in a room with a large air flow.

How to measure humidity

Relative humidity in the room is measured using special devices - hygrometers. They have different designs and operating principles:

Electronic. Usually combined with thermometers to simultaneously measure room temperature. In them, a thin layer of electrolyte is applied to the inner plate, through which voltage passes. The results are displayed on the indicator panel.
Mechanical. Cheaper and easier-to-use instruments, however, can produce measurement errors of up to 8%. They operate without a power source and are available as tabletop or wall-mounted. They do not have a digital display, but are equipped with a dial and arrow.

Electronic hygrometers have good accuracy and are affordable.
There are many ways to determine the saturation of air with moisture, not all of them are popular, but there are:

Weighted or absolute. It is a device that determines relative humidity by absorbing it. Using special tubes with a chemical composition, he takes measurements. Do not use in domestic conditions.
Hair. This type of hygrometer is used only in laboratories, and only because its operating principle is based on the study of human hair.
Film. Also belongs to the category of laboratory instruments. The main mechanism is a special film, which, depending on the level of humidity, stretches or, conversely, contracts. It is most effective to use it in the winter season.
Electronic. This type of device is most often purchased for household humidity measurements. It is quite simple to use, since the mechanism immediately displays the final measurement result on the touch screen.
Psychometric. The most accurate type of moisture meter. Often it is purchased for work in production and laboratory premises. Also, many “civilian” users choose psychometric hygrometers because of their comparatively low cost and extreme accuracy.

To determine the standard air humidity in an apartment, an inexpensive mechanical hygrometer is suitable. For domestic use, certification by the metrological service is not required.

It is important to pay attention to the temperature range of use - the maximum value is 80–120 degrees. When used in a sauna or bathhouse, you must choose the extreme option.

Determining humidity without instruments

You can independently find out quite accurately the air humidity in the room without having any instruments. There are two options for this.

When measuring using the first method, you need to measure the air temperature in the room with a thermometer and record the readings. Then take a small piece of cloth or bandage, wet it and wrap the tip of the thermometer and leave it for about 5 minutes. Next, having calculated the difference in readings (subtract the smaller from the larger), you need to use a psychrometric table.

Psychometric table for determining relative air humidity

In the second case, you need to pour a glass of water and cool it in the refrigerator to +3...+5°C. After this, move the glass to a room away from heating devices and leave for 10 minutes. We look at the glass if:

The glass is dry. The humidity in the room is insufficient.
There is condensation on the walls. The humidity is fine.
Large condensation and drips. The humidity is too high.

Increased condensation on a glass with drips indicates increased humidity

How to find out the percentage: devices and “old-fashioned” methods

Knowing what air humidity is considered normal in an apartment, all that remains is to take the readings and compare them with the standard. Special devices and folk remedies will help you find out the level of humidity.

Hygrometer

The main device for measuring air humidity. The easiest one to use is electronic. Numbers, icons and emoticons clearly show the temperature and amount of moisture at a given time. The device can be placed on a table or moved to measure data in different parts of the apartment. Equipped with a sensitive sensor. Features of the electronic thermometer:

runs on batteries;
measures data accurate to tenths;
responds instantly to changes in the environment;
does not require configuration;
has additional functions in some models - calendar, clock, weather forecast;
costs from 700 to 2000 rubles (data as of November 2021).

Thermometer and Assmann table

Description. Using a room thermometer is an easy solution if you don't have a hygrometer at home. To take readings, in addition to a thermometer, you will need water, a cotton pad, a notepad, a pen and a table with data. The essence of the measurements is to identify the difference in the readings of the wet and dry thermometer.

Actions

Record the room thermometer readings.
Wet a cotton pad and wrap it around the glass head containing mercury.
Wait five minutes.
Record your readings.
Subtract the second value from the first value.
Find the data in Assmann's psychrometric table: the top row is the temperature difference, the column on the left is the data of the first measurement.
Mark the number at the intersection of the data - this is relative humidity.

Cold water

Description. In this way it will not be possible to find out the exact value. Measurements are carried out “by eye” and take quite a lot of time. Completely dry glass indicates a dry atmosphere. If condensation persists, the humidity is average. Rapidly flowing drops of water are a sign of excess moisture.

Actions

Place a half glass of cold water in the refrigerator.
Leave to cool for three hours (the temperature will drop by about 5°C).
Take it out and watch the walls of the glass for five minutes.

fir cone

Description. Coniferous trees are susceptible to moisture in the environment. The growth of seeds and, accordingly, the behavior of the cones depend on temperature and water.

Actions

Place the fir cone away from the heating.
Observe the scales for several hours.
If there is an excess of moisture, the cone will close; if there is too little, it will open from drying out.

Knowing how air humidity in an apartment is measured, it is easy to adjust its level to create comfortable conditions. But what if you don’t have the device at hand? Pay attention to your own feelings, observe objects. Linen that takes a long time to dry in the room is not a sign of dryness, and peeling skin signals the need to moisturize the atmosphere.

How to regulate air humidity?

At any time of the year, normal air humidity in the apartment should be no less than 40% and no higher than 65%.

Ways to reduce humidity:

frequent ventilation of premises;
installation of exhaust fans;
use of air conditioners and heaters;
serviceable pipes and plumbing;
refusal to dry clothes in the room;

How to increase the humidity in a room:

the presence of an aquarium or decorative fountain;
minimal use of heater and air conditioner;
hanging wet towels on radiators;
periodically spraying water from a spray bottle;
using a humidifier;
regular wet cleaning;
growing a large number of indoor flowers.

Air humidity in a home is an important parameter that affects both the well-being of residents and interior items. Normally, this figure ranges from 40 to 60%. It is especially important to monitor the humidity in rooms where children and people with respiratory diseases spend most of their time. To regulate the moisture concentration in the air, it is convenient to use household humidifiers and dehumidifiers.

How to normalize indicators

Critical levels of 10-15% or 65-70% give rise to action to increase or decrease the humidity in the apartment. Automatic devices or improvised means will help to adjust the microclimate.

Promote

Humidifying the air in a room is quite simple - it is enough to provide an influx of steam, that is, moist air. There are seven ways to increase the amount of moisture in the atmosphere of an apartment.

Electric humidifiers. The first thing you should do if the air in your apartment is dry is to buy a humidifier. Equipment stores offer steam, ultrasonic and traditional air softening devices. Each device has its pros and cons. Steam models work on the principle of a kettle: water boils and comes out, humidifying the air. The disadvantage is the large amount of electricity consumed. Ultrasonic, in addition to its main function, kills bacteria, but only distilled water or special cartridges are needed to work. Inexpensive models with a fan circulate air through the water tank, but make a lot of noise.
A damp towel. You can easily cope with dryness without a humidifier by placing a wet towel on a hot radiator. The inconvenience is changing towels regularly: moisture evaporates very quickly. The problem will be solved by cans or basins, bandages folded in half. One end of the fabric is lowered into a container of water, the other is placed on the heating device. As moisture rises through the fabric, it will evaporate, humidifying the dry air.
Dishes with water. Small open vessels are placed on shelves, cabinets, under radiators. Water evaporates slowly, but effectively humidifies the atmosphere. Add liquid approximately once a day.
Aquarium. A container with colorful fish will decorate the room and help soften the atmosphere. The water in the aquarium is constantly renewed and slowly evaporates. You just need to feed the fish on time.
Houseplants. Green pets control the atmosphere in the house, quickly reacting to drought, dampness and drafts, and also participate in creating the microclimate themselves. During the day, plants release oxygen, and at night they release carbon dioxide and moisture. Spraying the leaves will help quickly moisten the atmosphere.
Fountain. You can combine business with pleasure with the help of a decorative fountain. Water circulation will give peace and saturate the air with moisture.
Accumulated steam. It is recommended to dry clothes in the room and leave the bathroom door open so that excess moisture is distributed throughout the apartment.

Appliances and electronics operating in the same room - TV, computer, iron - greatly dry out the air. Therefore, you should think about the premises first.

Downgrade

Eliminating the cause of condensation will help get rid of humidity in your home. If dampness comes from the basement, sewer system, or appears due to faulty pipes, repairs should be made and the problem reported to utility services. Seven ways will help you get rid of excess moisture in an apartment or room.

Dehumidifier. There are two types - stationary and mobile. Humid air settles in the operating device in the form of condensation, accumulating in the tank. When full, the device turns off automatically. Can work in cold, damp areas.
Absorber. It is a device with a replaceable tablet that adsorbs air moisture. One tablet is designed for 20 square meters. m.
Air conditioner. Absorbs excess moisture like a dehumidifier. It can work at different times of the year, maintaining a favorable microclimate.
Oil radiator. The device increases the temperature and “dries” the air. The radiator should be turned off periodically so as not to exceed the dryness level.
Ventilation. Necessary at any time of the year, in frosts and off-season. During frosty weather, it is recommended to open the window for five minutes. This will help refresh the air while keeping the room warm. In the bedroom, it is better to keep the window slightly open at all times, closing it for a while when the temperature drops sharply.
Sun rays. The sun dries damp linen, pillows, chairs, and warms up the entire room. On sunny days, especially after prolonged rains, you should pull back the curtains and “let in” the sun through the windows and balcony door.
Candles. Even one lit candle effectively absorbs moisture, drying the air. It should be remembered that oxygen is also burned along with moisture, so it is necessary to ensure air flow.

Moisture is actively absorbed by soft toys, carpets, and furniture. However, this is not the best way to deal with humidity: dampness accumulates in products and provokes the development of mold. Toys, mattresses, furniture and pillows must be dried periodically in the sun.

Maintaining the level of air humidity in the apartment will ensure healthy well-being for all family members, pets and plants. To regulate the microclimate, you should properly operate heating devices, use humidifiers, and ventilate the apartment more often.

Types of humidity

The air around us contains water vapor invisible to the eye. There may be more of them in hot weather and fewer in severe frosts. Humidity shows the content of these water vapors, their specific amount (absolute) or the percentage of molecules from the maximum possible saturation (relative).

If we measure the mass of water in one cubic meter of air, we get an absolute value, denoted by the letter ƒ and measured in g/m³. The norm of humidity in an apartment is calculated according to a different principle: it is necessary to divide the actual volume by the maximum possible at a given temperature, this indicator is denoted by the letter φ and measured as a percentage.

Suppose we determine that a cubic meter of air surrounding us contains 13 g of water, then f = 13 g/m³. To calculate relative humidity, we need to know the temperature (t), since water vapor saturation increases with increasing heat. At t=+23°C fmax=20.5 g/m³ (this data can be taken from the table below), then φ will be 63% (we divided the real volume by the maximum). Don't like formulas, but want to know if the humidity level in your apartment is normal? Use special devices.