What is the humidity level in the apartment? Most people can easily answer what the temperature should be in a living space, but the question of humidity will confuse them. And only a few will be able to name the correct numbers. Meanwhile, humidity is one of the main indicators of the microclimate level in the house.
The norm of humidity in the apartment
The humidity in the room is measured by a special device - a hygrometer. They vary in design (digital, hairline, wireless) and measurement range, but each is very easy to use. In any case, no more difficult than with a conventional thermometer.
Depends on the type of room. For example, in bakeries, in fermentation rooms, in poultry houses, in cold warehouses for food storage, it is 70-80%. In greenhouses for growing tulips, it can reach 95%, and this is considered the norm. But for rooms with computers, telephone nodes and office equipment, the indicators should not exceed 50%.
The rate of humidity in the apartment also depends on the type of room. On average, the numbers fluctuate between 40-60%. According to the living rooms and in the interior corridor, the optimum humidity during the cold season should be 30-45%. Permissible rates for these types of premises - up to 60%.
In the warm season, the optimum humidity in the apartment is 30-60%. Permissible - up to 65%. However, in the regions from the air (above 75% on the street), the permissible values are increased to 75%.
In the kitchen, toilet, bathroom, lobby, on and in the pantry, this indicator is not standardized.
Various indicators and the need to use special devices - all this may seem too complicated for the average person. Therefore, in order to find out whether the humidity in the apartment is high or low, you can experiment with a glass. We take a glass or a stack (any glass vessel), pour water into it, cool it to 3-4 ° C in the refrigerator. Then you need to put the vessel in the room and observe:
- the walls of the vessel fogged up, and then dried up in 5 minutes - the humidity is lowered, the air is dry;
- after 5 minutes the walls are wet - optimal performance;
- after 5 minutes, streams run along the walls of the vessel - high humidity.
This is how you can easily find out the microclimate in the room, but for the purity of the experiment, the glass must be placed away from heating devices.
What is harmful high humidity
High humidity is foggy windows, linen drying for several days, clothes with an unpleasant moldy smell, fungi and mold. Only these factors make the house unsuitable for living. It is also worth adding that such a microclimate does not have a very good effect on human health: fungal spores during
contact with food can cause poisoning and allergies, heat exchange processes are disturbed, and the risk of infection increases. A person living in a house with high humidity gets sick more often and for longer.
How low humidity affects the human body
Low humidity also causes a number of problems. The intensity of evaporation from everything that contains water increases: from human skin, from plants. The latter dry out, and the skin loses its elasticity and ages. The nasal mucosa dries up, which means that there is a risk of a runny nose and acute respiratory infections. Respiratory organs suffer, especially in asthmatics and allergy sufferers.
The norm of humidity in an apartment is not an abstract concept. These are real numbers that allow you to understand how safe the indoor climate is. And if the air humidity is greatly reduced or increased, it is necessary to ensure that it corresponds to normal values.
Ways to reduce humidity
There are two main methods for dehumidifying the air.
- Find and eliminate the cause of high humidity. This may be a temporary increase in performance due to cooking, showering or drying things, lack of sunlight, lack of normal ventilation, sealed PVC windows, etc. For each reason, you can choose a way to eliminate it: make good ventilation, ventilate rooms more often , build up batteries, etc.
- Forced dehumidification with special dehumidifiers, moisture-absorbing chemicals and air conditioners.
Ideally, only the first method should be used, but if this cannot be done or is associated with serious financial costs, then the second can be used.
Humidity Increase Methods
Most often, dry air in the room is formed in the winter, when the heating devices are intensively working, and the rooms are criminally rarely ventilated. However, this problem can also be overcome. The norm of humidity in the apartment with dry air is achieved through the following measures:
- The presence of an aquarium in the room or
- The presence of a large number of plants.
- Installation of a household humidifier.
- Reducing the frequency of using any household appliances, especially heating ones.
- Frequent ventilation.
The apartment is a guarantee of your health and ensuring the desired level of comfort in the house. And don't skimp on your health. Therefore, try to maintain normal humidity levels, even if by force.
By creating the right microclimate in an apartment or house, you can avoid allergic and colds for all family members. Particularly important are the indoor air humidity indicators, which must comply with certain norms and rules (SNIP) developed by the state standard (GOST). The humidity of the air outside the window of our housing depends on climatic conditions, but indoors, you can artificially achieve the desired humidity levels.
Content
- existing norms.
- Determination of humidity.
- Wet and dry air.
- Humidity regulation.
Existing regulations
The existing norms regulating the useful humidity of the air in the room are regulated by GOST 30494-96. According to this GOST, the optimal air humidity, which favors the normal state of a person, should be 40 - 60%. That is, in other words, 40 - 60% moisture should be in the air of the room.
Note that these standards are given at an air temperature in the room equal to + 18‒22 ºС.
Determination of humidity
Before proceeding with the determination of humidity, it is necessary to distinguish between its two types: absolute humidity and relative humidity.
Absolute humidity shows the moisture content in grams in one cubic meter of air. This is the humidity that is contained in the air at a certain room temperature.
However, as the temperature rises, the air can absorb more moisture - this is its potential. The ratio of the actual moisture content in the air to the maximum possible is called relative humidity, measured as a percentage.
Let's take an example. At normal room temperature and pressure, one cube of air contains 8.0 g of moisture, that is, in this case, the absolute humidity is 8.0 g / m³. But potentially one cube of air can hold 25.0 grams of moisture. That is, the relative humidity at these digital indicators will be equal to: 8.0: 25.0 100 = 32%. In practice, if you hang clothes to dry at an absolute humidity of 8.0 g/m³, they will dry out, as the air has a potential of 32%.
In domestic conditions, air humidity is determined using an instrument called hygrometer. For other purposes, for example, for laboratory research, it is used psychrometer, the description of which will be omitted, since this is not the topic of the article. As for hygrometers, in everyday life they are represented by the following types:
- weight.
- Hairline.
- Film.
By using weight A hygrometer measures the absolute humidity in a room. Structurally, it consists of two tubes resembling the Latin letter U, filled with a hygroscopic substance that can absorb moisture. A certain amount of air passes through the tube, the humidity of which is determined.
To determine relative humidity, a hair instrument is purchased, which determines the potential of air to absorb moisture from 30 to 100%.
The basis of the device in this embodiment is fat-free hair, which is stretched over a metal plate. With a change in humidity, the hair changes its length and transfer this change to an arrow moving along a graduated scale.
Similarly hair instrument works film hygrometer, where the function of the hair is performed by a sensitive film, which changes its length when the humidity changes. Hair and film hygrometers are especially effective in winter for determining relative humidity.
Wet and dry air
If the indoor air humidity indicators go beyond the normative limits, this can affect human health. Too dry air adversely affects the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Especially, this applies to the condition of the nasal mucosa, which, when dry, forms crusts on the inner walls of the nose. In dry air, dust, microparticles of debris, various harmful microorganisms move freely, causing an allergic reaction.
But even worse is too humid air, in which fungi and mold can multiply, the appearance of an unpleasant musty smell in the apartment, streams on plastic windows. In people living for a long time in a humid room, cases of bronchial asthma and tuberculosis were observed.
Humidity control
In practice, the issue of too dry or humid air is solved by carrying out certain measures aimed at bringing the situation back to normal.
The easiest way to increase humidity and keep it under control is to purchase a household humidifier. But it is not always possible to purchase a device, so there are simple ways to increase the humidity in the room:
- Watering flowers.
- Drying in the apartment or in the house of stretched things.
- In winter, heating radiators are covered with damp blankets.
- You can build a decorative fountain indoors.
- Get aquarium fish.
- Just put a bucket or basin of water in the corners of the room.
All these methods are good, but, unfortunately, uncontrolled and unregulated, using them, you can achieve excess moisture in the air. Therefore, purchase a humidifier and the problem will be solved easier.
But what if there is too much humidity? There are a few tips for this as well:
- Improve room ventilation.
- Remove fresh flowers from the premises.
- Frequently clean the condensate from the windows.
- Replace thick curtains that prevent air circulation with simpler ones.
- Ventilate the room more often.
- If possible, install a climate controlled system.
No matter how well your polycarbonate greenhouse is built, you should worry about creating an optimal microclimate. How to regulate the temperature in the greenhouse according to the scheme using a thermostat, and maintain the required air humidity, we will find out in more detail.
A temperature controller for a home greenhouse with a sensor is of great importance, as is a humidifier. To harvest a generous harvest, you must provide your plants with optimal conditions for both air temperature and soil composition. Do not forget: these indicators should vary based on the types of greens and vegetables that you planted in your own greenhouse. If temperature fluctuations are often observed in the greenhouse, green crops freeze or, conversely, overheat, and then do not expect high results.
The fact is that when the temperature in the greenhouse is low in winter, greenhouse greens receive less nutrients. That is, the rhizome becomes unable to absorb them. As a result, phosphorus starvation occurs in plants. At an excessively high temperature, a different situation is observed: vegetables rush to growth, increase the vegetative mass, but their fruits do not set. In addition, with a fairly prolonged overheating, they can die.
If thermoregulation is still carried out in a greenhouse, the root system of your plants will develop to the fullest. Moreover, the fruits are formed correctly and a little earlier than expected. It is quite difficult to select the optimal temperature regime. Much depends not so much on the characteristics of your greenhouse, but on the nature of the development of a particular crop. Regulate the temperature in the greenhouse correctly, and you will be satisfied with the yield of your greenery.
Control options
Thermoregulation is an important point for the owner of a home greenhouse. However, it is not enough just to determine the optimal indicators that should be followed in a greenhouse. It is also necessary to choose a quality device that can cope with a key task. What thermostats are offered to modern domestic gardeners, it is worth studying in more detail.
Electronic
Electronic devices are often used to regulate the air temperature in greenhouses. They are advantageous in that they are easily adjustable, therefore they are considered quite easy to use. Nevertheless, they also have a significant drawback: due to frequent power surges, such devices quickly become unusable.
Touch
The touch controller is also often used by modern greenhouse owners. With it, you yourself will set the time to turn on the heating system. This model is suitable for gardeners who are forced to leave the greenhouse structure unattended for some time. Choose a device that allows you to set a specific temperature for a week ahead and longer.
Mechanical
What is remarkable about a mechanical device is its functionality. It is used not only for heating greenhouses, but also for timely air cooling. Thus, it becomes much easier to maintain optimal temperature conditions in greenhouses. This device is mounted directly in the greenhouse.
How to determine the right temperature
No matter how competently you try to humidify greenhouses, as well as their ventilation, you also need to learn how to correctly determine which temperature indicators should be maintained indoors. On average, the temperature in a greenhouse during the daytime should be about +14 ... +16 ° C, and at night it should drop by 4-6 ° C. For the active growth of vegetables and herbs, it is important to maintain heat in the greenhouse, but it is undesirable to exceed +40 ° C. Otherwise, the plants may burn.
Summer period
Of course, the temperature in the greenhouse should be moderately high in summer, because at this time the greens are actively increasing the vegetative mass. Nevertheless, you should not exceed +25 ° C, otherwise the root will stop consuming the nutrients that it needs so much throughout the year.
winter period
In winter, the forced regulation of humidity and temperature is also of great importance. Do not forget that there should be an insignificant difference between day and night heat indicators in the greenhouse (within 4-6 ° C). In this case, the plants will be able to develop fully.
Humidity and room ventilation
A humidifier for a greenhouse is another point that every gardener should take care of, in fact, as well as greenhouse ventilation. Even if you were able to equip your greenhouse with a quality heating and lighting system, this is still not enough when it comes to the full growth and development of your plants. A fan for a home greenhouse is also useful, because fresh air flows are vital for your greenery.
Ventilation in a polycarbonate greenhouse should be arranged with your own hands at the stage of construction of the structure.
You can perform it naturally, without acquiring special facilities. To do this, you will need to put doors in the greenhouse, make vents, windows or film curtains that can be removed from time to time. Another best choice is a simple homemade fan, the use of which will save you money.
Remember: if you properly take care of equipping the greenhouse with a ventilation system, you will only improve your yields. Make your greenhouse warm, well lit and do not forget about the need for regular inflows of fresh air and its humidification. In this case, the winter greenhouse can be safely called practical, functional and modern.
In this video, the expert will share his opinion about the temperature in the greenhouse.
Air humidity is an important characteristic of the environment, on which our health, well-being and performance depend. The respiratory system, heart, blood vessels and immune processes help us to endure severe fluctuations in temperature and humidity. But the limits of comfort for the human body are very limited.
Complete rest and recovery is possible only within the narrow framework of a favorable atmosphere, which means that the air in our homes plays a major role in the comfort and health of all family members. How to make the optimal humidity in the room?
The humidity level in the room
Normal work and good rest require air humidity from 40 to 60%, and for children of preschool air it is desirable to keep the indicator closer to the upper limit, and for the elderly - lower.
Accurate data can be obtained with an instrument for measuring air humidity, which is often bundled with a thermometer and barometer.
In order to find out for sure the question for yourself, you need to measure the humidity in different places of the room and apartment, high under the ceiling and on the floor, in the morning, afternoon and evening, after normal, as well as long-term ventilation.
Perhaps you will find that one of the rooms, as you felt, is more damp. You can find out that the air entering from the street during airing is too hot and dry (if the window faces a avenue hot in the sun) or, conversely, overgrown trees drive “forest” dampness into the house.
If prolonged ventilation undesirably changes the atmosphere in the room, try to update it by opening the doors to an adjacent room or by creating a draft for 2-3 minutes.
If your hygrometer after measurement showed a humidity of more than 70 percent, install a moisture absorber in the room. If suddenly the humidity rises to 80–85%, it is better to repair the room, check the joints, think about replacing the window and external wall insulation.
With an indicator of 40 percent or less, especially during the heating season, you will have to use a humidifier or fight dryness with folk remedies.
Such useful experiments will help to conduct an electronic device. But what if you have nowhere to take it, and the climate in the house is a concern? Read hints and be observant.
Signs of excessive dryness or humidity
Dry and too warm air in the apartment comes from central heating batteries, poor ventilation, constant operation of room heaters and long-term switched on electrical appliances with a heating body (TV, computer, refrigerator.
Take a closer look at the condition of the room and the plants in it: electrified sticky dust or its flying suspension, dried tips of indoor flower leaves, dried parquet floorboards and cracked details of wooden furniture will surely tell you about the problem.
Dampness in the room is even more noticeable: lagging pieces of wallpaper on the walls, dark spots on whitewash, mold in the corners of living rooms, kitchen, bathroom, toilet, musty smell of clothes in the wardrobe, damp bed linen and pillows, blankets, mattresses.
But more importantly, is the impact of moisture levels on the health of households. Take an objective look at how you feel and ask the family if any of the items listed below are bothering them.
Humidity in the apartment is less than 35% causes:
High humidity (more than 70%) has the following negative consequences:
- joint pain, especially in the older generation;
- subfebrile body temperature (36.9–37.2);
- fatigue, muscle pain;
- poor concentration;
- crunching in the ears, feeling of clogged sinuses and forehead;
- skin and hair problems (fatty, inflammation, dandruff);
- frequent colds, allergic rhinitis;
- it's hard to breathe in such a house;
- for asthmatics, living in dampness can be deadly;
- interruptions in the work of the heart are possible - arrhythmia, accelerated pulse.
Doctors attach particular importance to the normal humidity in the room where the child lives. In addition to the general discomfort that children usually do not realize, and therefore cannot complain, too dry, overheated or damp stagnant air creates ideal conditions for the development of chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract.
In such a house, it is difficult for a child to recover even from a common cold, not to mention infectious diseases.
How to increase the humidity in the apartment
Having found out the nature of the problem by signs or using the device, begin to act. Decide whether you need special household appliances to correct your home climate or you will fight on your own, the old fashioned way.
You can increase the humidity in the room in one of the following ways:
- hang wet towels on hot batteries;
- put a container of water under the fan;
- spray water from a spray bottle;
- start an aquarium
- install a medium-sized fountain.
If you are not satisfied with any of the methods because of its troublesomeness or low efficiency, install a regulator that will work on electricity and automatically evaporate the right amount of moisture.
Choosing a humidity controller
It is possible to thoroughly get rid of dampness only through a major overhaul, which may involve the laying of insulating materials for the floor, ceiling (on the upper floors), joints, and replacement of windows.
Why is it necessary to regulate the humidity in the apartment?
Dry air dries out the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract and eyes. As a result, fatigue increases, immunity decreases, and skin condition worsens. High humidity leads to asthma, rhinitis and allergic reactions.
Important: children are especially sensitive to the level of humidity, so in the nursery you need to pay special attention to the quality of the air.
The level of humidity also negatively affects the condition of the furniture in the apartment and the room itself. So, strong moisture causes the appearance of fungus, mold, spoils food.
What should be the humidity of the air?
A comfortable indicator is 35-60% (on average - 40-45%). To determine the current performance, it is necessary to use a device for measuring air humidity (hygrometer).
Important: in order to recover quickly, you need to maintain indoor humidity at 70%. And the temperature should be 18 degrees.
How to regulate the humidity level?
If deviations from the norm of moisture in the air are observed, several proven methods must be applied. Still not sure how to increase the humidity in the apartment? Get a dedicated humidifier. When choosing it, you need to remember: the higher the ceiling and the larger the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, the more powerful the device should be.
You also need to arrange living plants in the rooms, which are a natural helper in this matter. In addition, they purify the air and partially replace the device for measuring humidity: if the leaves dry, then the air is dry. In addition, you can get an aquarium. To maintain the indicators within the normal range, it is necessary to ventilate the apartment several times a day. In winter and summer, you need to open windows twice a day for 5-8 minutes.
To reduce the level of humidity, it is necessary to ventilate the room after cleaning, cooking or taking a bath / shower. And it is better not to curtain the windows of the rooms and let the sunlight lower the level of humidity.
