Humidity is usually measured with a hygrometer and asrelative humidityexpressed - a percentage value that takes temperature into account. But what if you don't have a hygrometer? Can you still measure humidity? You don't necessarily need a measuring device to determine the humidity in the room. Here we will show you three simple methods that you can try out yourself at home. For this you can, for example, use some simple home remedies or your smartphone.
Determine humidity with home remedies – the ice cube method
This method is more of an indicator of the humidity in the room. It is not possible to measure the relative humidity in percent, but you will find out whether your home is too humid or too dry.
All you need is a glass of water and some ice cubes. Place the glass of water on the table in the room where you want to check the humidity and add 4-5 ice cubes. Take five to ten minutes to let the magic work.
Once the time has passed, check the glass. If condensation forms on the outside of the glass, the room has arelatively high humidityon. However, if the humidity is too low, condensation will not form on the glass.
If you notice a lot of condensation on the glass, it means there is too much moisture in the air condensing on a cold surface. In this case, you should perform a more detailed test to get exact values. Alternatively, you can also purchase a hygrometer if you are concerned about humidity.
Measuring humidity with children – the cone method
The scales of seed-bearing pine cones move in response to changes in relative humidity. When the air is dry, the scales open and release the seeds of the cone. When it is moist, the scales close. We will now explain how you can build your own moisture meter out of cones with the children. Please note that precise measurements are not possible with this method either. This is what you need for this exciting project:
- A pine cone
- A toothpick or wooden skewer
- cardboard
- Superglue
First, glue the pine cone to a piece of cardboard so that it stands as straight as possible.
Then stick the toothpick to an opening in the tenon that is relatively in the middle.
Draw a scale on another piece of cardboard by writing the word “wet” at the top and the word “dry” at the bottom of the scale.
Glue the cardboard with the scale behind the cone so that the pointer points to “moist” when the shed is closed and to “dry” when the shed is open.
To try the cone hygrometer, spray the pine cone with water and watch the movement of the pointer to determine the humidity in the room.
Can you measure humidity with your cell phone?
Did you know that you can measure humidity using an iPhone or an Android smartphone? Nowadays our cell phones have many additional features and can even turn into miniature weather stations.
You will find several apps for measuring humidity in your smartphone's app store. However, most of them use GPS data and indicate the humidity at your location. For more accurate measurements, you may need to download apps that use third-party moisture meters. Some of them also give tips on when it is best to ventilate and when there is a risk of mold growth.
Important: In order for the hygrometer apps to work properly, your phone must have some additional sensors. These are usually built into most new models, but you may be able to check with the manufacturer to see if your phone has the necessary requirements.
Here are some apps you can try:
- for Android: Thermometer Plus, Hygrometer, Humidity, Sensors: Temp and Humidity
- für iPhone: Hygrometer – Check your humidity, Thermo-Hygrometer, BluSensor AIR – Hygrometer
Why is it important to control humidity at home?
There are a few reasons why you should measure and control the humidity in the home:
- She canon the comfort in your homeeffects: Too high humidity can cause or trigger allergies. Likewise, too low humidity can dry out your skin and nasal cavities and lead to illness.
- It can damage your house: Too much humiditypromotes mold formationand can damage ceilings, wooden surfaces and even walls.
- It can lead to food spoilage: High humidity promotes the growth of mold, which can lead to food spoilage.
Conclusion
Controlling the humidity in your home can increase your comfort. It can also protect you from illness, not to mention preventing food spoilage or damage to the home. Although these simple methods of measuring humidity can give an idea of whether the air in your home is humid or dry, precise measurements require more complicated tests, such as using mercury thermometers or purchasing a hygrometer.
