A Guide to Measuring the Humidity in Your Home

Humidifiers are a great device to have in your home and are essential for helping to fight off allergy symptoms, dry skin, and keeping germs at bay to name a few. On the other hand, you can overuse a humidifier to the point it’s dangerous for your family. Having a humidifier running in your home too often can actually make your allergy symptoms worse and cause mold to grow and spread throughout your home risking the structure altogether.

A hygrometer is a tool used to measure the humidity in your home. It measures the amount of water that is present in the air in your home. Don’t have a hygrometer and not planning to spend the money on one? No problem. We have included a guide on how to measure the humidity in your home without a fancy, expensive device.

Bulb Temperature Test

You can make a homemade version of a hygrometer by using a wet and dry bulb temperature test. You’ll need two mercury thermometers, a fan, and a damp cloth or cotton ball. Once you shake all the mercury to the bulbs of both thermometers, you need to attach the damp item to the end of one of them making this your wet thermometer. The thermometers need to be placed in the room you are testing the humidity in and a fan needs to be blowing directly in their direction.

After about five minutes, write down the temperatures from both thermometers. Subtract the wet bulb temperature from the dry-bulb temperature. You will need to use a chart or graph to help you figure out the amount of humidity from your calculations.

Ice Cube Method

An easier method might be the ice cube method. You won’t get any numerical data from this method, but you will be able to determine if the room is too wet or too dry. For this method, all you need is a glass of water and five ice cubes. Place the glass of water on a surface, preferably a table, in the room you’re wanting to check the humidity in and leave it for five to ten minutes.

If there is condensation on the outside of the glass, this means this room has a high level of humidity. On the other hand, if there is not a high level of condensation on the side of the glass, the room does not have a high level of humidity. This is definitely not the most scientific method, but it still works and gives you a relatively accurate answer.

Homemade Hair Hygrometer

This method is the most involved and also does not produce any numerical data. However, it does use human biology! Hair naturally expands when there is humidity in the air so of course, it’s a good way to test for humidity.

Draw an arrow on a piece of paper and cut it out. Poke a pin size hole in the bottom of the arrow and attach it to a piece of cardboard. Take a piece of hair and wrap it around the arrow and the other end around a thumbtack that is pinned above the arrow. Long hair works best.

Use a blow dryer on the hair for a minute. The hair will retract and pull the arrow up. This signifies 0% humidity. Next, spray the hair with water. This represents 100% humidity. The arrow will also drop. These are your markers. You’ll now leave the device for half an hour to judge the percentage of humidity in the arrow based on the position of the arrow.

Choose the Option that’s Best for You and your Family

In a nutshell, a humidifier is a great appliance to add to your home to maintain the safety of everyone who lives there. You can also get creative and use one of the aforementioned methods instead. You could keep your family safe while creating some fun family moments.