We have all been there, where the surrounding air seems too dry or moist, and the only thing that comes to your mind is the humidity levels.
Most may agree that to measure the humidity levels of a room; one must own a hygrometer. In contrast, I have homemade methods that can help you measure humidity levels without a hygrometer.
How do you test humidity without a hygrometer? You can measure humidity levels in your home using the Wet and Dry Bulb Temperature Test method, Ice Cube Method, or the Homemade Hair Hygrometer.
The humidity detection methods mentioned above are well illustrated in the article below.
With this article, I have discussed other methods that you could use to measure humidity levels other than a hygrometer. Other topics discussed are Signs that Show Humidity Level in Your Home is High, the recommended humidity level in a home, and How to Reduce Humidity Levels in Your Home, among other topics. The article ends with answers to frequently asked questions about testing humidity.
What is a Hygrometer?
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A hygrometer is a humidity measuring device. The device measures the humidity levels of a room by detecting the amount of water in the atmosphere. The most common hygrometer types are the electrical hygrometer and resistive electrical hygrometer. Both have a unique way of measuring humidity.
For instance, a resistive electrical hygrometer measures humidity by passing electrical currents into ceramic materials like glass, cement, clay, or bricks. While electrical hygrometer uses electronic sensors to measure humidity centered on capacitance or resistance
How to Test Humidity Without a Hygrometer
There are three methods I use when trying to measure humidity levels. The methods are illustrated below
Wet And Dry Bulb Temperature Test Method
A wet bulb thermometer is just a normal kitchen thermometer, only that the bottom has been wrapped with moist cotton wool. In contrast, the dry bulb thermometer is a kitchen thermometer, only that it has no wet cotton wool wrapped around its bulb.
Requirements
- Two standard thermometers
- Piece cotton wool
- Fan
- Room temperature water
- Rubber bands
- A relative humidity table
Procedure of Measuring Humidity Using Wet and Dry Bulb Method
- Ensure the mercury in both thermometers is down into the thermometer bulb. If that is not the cake, shake them entirely until the mercury is back into the bulb.
- Take one thermometer and fix the cotton wool on the bulb’s end. Use a rubber band to ensure the cotton wall does not fall off.
- Spray some water on the cotton wool strapped on one of the thermometers; however, ensure the cotton wool is not dripping wet.
- Set the two thermometers in a room facing a running fan for 5 minutes.
- Check the temperatures and subtract the wet bulb temperature from the dry bulb temperature.
- Compare your findings to the relative humidity table or chart to find the exact humidity level of the room.
Ice Cube Method
The ice cube method will not give you any readings; however, the process is a clear indication of whether your room’s humidity levels are high or not.
Requirement
- A glass of water
- Five ice cubes
- Table
Procedure of Measuring Humidity Using Ice Cube Method
- Place the glass containing water on a table in the center of the room. Ensure the water in the glass is at room temperature.
- Add the ice cubes to the water.
- Allow the ice cubed water to stay at room temperature for 10 minutes before checking on it.
- After the time is up, check the condensation outside the glass.
- Suppose there is high condensation on the outside surface of the glass, then the room is high in humidity. However, if the condensation is too low, then the humidity level in the room is low.
Hair Hygrometer Method
Did you know that your hair expands in direct contact with moisture and slightly contracts when in contact with dry air? This is the main reason you can use your hair strand to measure the humidity level of a room.
Requirement
- Piece of paper
- Pencil
- Scissors
- Cardboard
- Pin
- A hair strand
- Blow dryer
- Water
Procedure of Measuring Humidity Using Hair Hygrometer Method
- Draw an arrow on a piece of paper and use scissors to cut the arrow out.
- Use a pin to make a hole at the end arrow, and ensure the whole is big enough to allow the arrow to rotate at ease.
- Stick the pin holding the arrow on the cardboard.
- Wrap your hair strand’s one end on the arrow while the other end of the strand is pinned higher above the arrow on a straight line.
- Blow the hair strand with a blow dryer for ten minutes. The hair will contract and pull the arrow upper.
- Use a pencil or marker pen and mark where the arrow points as a 0% humidity mark.
- Spray some water on the hair strand, the hair will expand, and the arrow will drop.
- Mark where the arrow is pointing as the 100% humidity mark.
- Allow the measuring instrument to sit for an hour before checking where the arrow points to determine the room’s humidity level.
Use Your Smartphone Method
Did you know you can replace a hygrometer with your android smartphone or an iPhone? Modern smartphones come with more than the calling and texting features. You can use them to get more information about the climatic conditions you are in. this is possible with the help of various applications that you can download from your device’s apps store.
You are likely to get accurate results if you are using s model that has inbuilt temperature and humidity sensors. Download apps like Govee temperature monitor, which is compatible with iOS handsets, install and run the application to get the humidity levels of your area of interest.
For android devices, you can use the Barometer & Altimeter app, which is available from the Google Play Store, to read your area’s humidity level.
Using Ice Method 2
This method is more accurate in giving information about how much humidity is in your house. To use this approach, you need to have a simple thermometer, water, a metal trash can and ice cubes. A water can is used because it is good at keeping both light and heat away.
The main objective of using this approach is to find out the dew point temperature. Dew point temperature is when water saturates the air, and water vapor starts to condense. Here is what to follow;
Fill the can with water to about two-thirds and gradually start adding ice cubes to fill it. Slowly stir the mixture using a thermometer as you filling the can. As the ice is melting, continue adding more cubes to a point you will notice condensation on the outside surface of the can.
Take the temperature reading on the stirring thermometer when you start seeing condensation; the reading will indicate the dew point. A higher reading value denotes more water vapor. That is to say, a high humid room will have high-temperature readings, while low-temperature readings mean the room is too dry (low humid).
Signs that Show Humidity Level in Your Home is High
There are moments when you do not need a hygrometer or an experiment to know that a room is high in humidity. This is because obvious signs make it easy for you to tell. High humidity only means there is much moisture in the air. Such signs include.
1. Condensation on Windows
When you regularly find high condensation on the insides of your windows each morning, your home suffers from high humidity. Average humidity should not allow excess condensation on your windows daily; only little condensation should be formed on the edges of your window.
2. Visibility of Moulds
If you notice the growth of molds on the walls, corners, and ceiling, there is a high possibility that your home has high levels of humidity.
3. When you are Constantly Getting Sick
High humidity will cause you to start having trouble sleeping and breathing. The air you are inhaling is probably infested with fungus and nasty bacteria.
Signs of low humidity
Your home can also suffer from low humidity levels. If you find it difficult to determine if your home lacks humidity, consider looking out for the following signs.
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Are your lips chapped?
Chapped or cracked lips are a result of inhaling too dry air for too long, causing you to be dehydrated.
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Is your nose bloody?
Dry air also causes your nose to dry up, and since the inside of the nose is made up of soft tissues, the tissues begin to crack, causing you to nose bleed.
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Is your skin itchy?
A house with little humidity will cause your skin to lose a lot of water through sweating. The more you lose fluids, your skin and eyes become dry and itchy.
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Is your throat itchy?
Your through becomes too dry and itchy, causing you to have flu-like symptoms.
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Is your furniture cracking?
Low humidity does not just affect your health. It also affects your furniture and the entire house. Wooden tables become too dry to the point of cracking while the paint of the walls begins to peel off.
What is the recommended humidity level in a home?
The appropriate humidity level in any home should be 30-50%. A lower level than the mentioned one only means you should find a way to increase humidity levels in your house.
For instance, you could buy a humidifier whose size is equivalent to your home. Suppose your humidifier level is way above the normally mentioned levels; consider reducing humidity levels in your home before the environment becomes too toxic for you.
How to Reduce Humidity Levels in Your Home
When the humidity level is too low, you can always buy a humidifier to make things easier. But, what exactly happens when they are too high, and you would like to reduce them. The following are tips for reducing humidity levels. You can also check ways of reducing humidity in your house without a dehumidifier.
1. Use an Air Conditioner
An air conditioner is designed to introduce cooler air into the house and remove more humid air.
2. Avoid Hot Showers
Hot showers will introduce more humidity to the air in the house. Taking a cooler shower will reduce the humidity levels in the house.
3. Do Not Dry Laundry Inside the House
Make a habit of drying laundry outside the house. Wet laundry will introduce more moisture into the house, increasing the humidity levels.
4. Buy a Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is designed to get rid of excess humidity in the air. A dehumidifier is the fastest method to get rid of high humidity in your home.
5. Remove your House Plants From the House
House plants also remove some moisture from the atmosphere. They also contribute to the high concentration of humidity in the house.
6. Open your Windows
Make a habit of opening windows to let in the fresh air and let out air that is high in humidity.
People Also Ask
1. How do you check the humidity in your home?
The common way of checking your home’s humidity is by using a hygrometer. However, you can still use other methods like the Wet and Dry Bulb Temperature Test, Hair Hygrometer, and Ice Cube.
2. What are the two ways to measure humidity?
The two ways to measure humidity levels are by the use of a hygrometer and the use of the Wet and Dry Bulb Temperature Test Method,
3. How can I measure humidity without a dehumidifier?
Without a dehumidifier, you can still measure the humidity level using ice cubes and a glass of water. Fill a glass with water, then add five cubes of ice. Let the water sit in an open place in a room for 5 minutes. Suppose the air is high with humidity, and the glass will have condensation on the outer surface. If the glass has little condensation, it only means there are low humidity levels in the air.
4. Can the iPhone tell humidity?
Yes, an iPhone can measure humidity as long as it is connected to an external thermometer that will work for hand in hand with an installed associated iOS app.
5. Is there an iPhone app to measure humidity?
Yes, you can use Check the humidity on the App Store.
6. How do you make a hygrometer?
Draw an arrow on a piece of paper and cut the arrow out. Make a hole at the end arrow, and ensure the whole is big enough to allow the arrow to rotate at ease. Stick the pin holding the arrow on the cardboard. Wrap your hair strand’s one end on the arrow while the other end of the strand is pinned higher above the arrow on a straight line. Blow the hair strand with a blow dryer for ten minutes.
Mark where the arrow points as a 0% humidity mark. Spray some water on the hair strand. Mark where the arrow is pointing as the 100% humidity mark. Allow the measuring instrument to sit for an hour before checking where the arrow points to determine the room’s humidity level
7. How do you tell if your house is too dry?
You notice your house is too dry when you begin to have cracked lips, the wooden furniture begins to crack, the pants on the walls begin to peel off, you begin nose bleeding often, and your throat is always too dry.
8. Is 70 humidity in a house too high?
Yes, 70 humidity is too high and can lead to respiratory issues. The appropriate humidity level should be between 30-50.
9. How do I fix the high humidity in my house?
You can fix high humidity levels in your house by using a dehumidifier, taking cooler showers, opening your windows, making use of your air conditioner, taking your house plants outside, and drying your laundry outside.
Final Thoughts
It is correct to say there is more than one way to measure your home’s humidity levels. You do not have to worry if you have no access to a hygrometer as long as you have some water, a glass, a strand of hair, some ice cubes, and reasonable knowledge of other methods to measure humidity levels.