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6 reasons why you would benefit from getting a hygrometer

Last Updated: 06.10.24

 

Whether you want to ensure that your home has adequate humidity levels, want to predict the weather before going outside, or have a garden or greenhouse to tend to, getting one of the quality hygrometers can help you get accurate readings every time. Here are a few things you might wish to know about these marvelous devices, as well as a few reasons why you’d benefit from getting one.

Relative humidity explained

Hygrometers have evolved greatly since the first device was invented by Leonardo da Vinci back in 1480. Whether they measure humidity by temperature, mechanical and electrical charge, or other parameters, modern hygrometers can help you get accurate readings.

But what do these readings actually tell you? If your vision is blurry, just get a magnifying glass and see how the hygrometer measures the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Since the maximum amount of water vapor or saturation in the air depends on the temperature, a reading will actually give you the relative humidity depending on the current temperature, expressed in percentages, but if you are only interested in a thermometer you can find additional hints on how to choose a good one.

 

Predict the weather

A common use for a hygrometer is to observe weather patterns and get an indication of what’s to come. Combined with temperature, barometric pressure, and wind measurements, humidity might tell you a lot about the upcoming weather.

For example, a low barometric pressure associated with a low temperature and high humidity level could tell you that rainfall is most likely to occur soon. This can be extremely helpful since you can plan trips, outdoor walks, and other activities accordingly.

Knowing the humidity levels in the air isn’t just helpful in terms of predicting rain, but it can also give you important clues which can help you make the right decisions. High temperatures and high humidity levels usually contribute to greater discomfort and feeling ‘hotter’ since your body’s ability to cool itself by sweating is decreased in this type of weather.

With a hygrometer, you can choose the clothes you’re supposed to wear so that you are always prepared and safe.

 

Increase comfort in your home

Relative humidity readings aren’t just great for outdoor observations, but indoor use as well. You probably spend a lot more time inside your home than you do outside anyway, so why not get a hygrometer to let you know what you need to adjust to get a comfortable atmosphere?

With a reliable hygrometer, you can check the moisture content in the air so that you know whether you need to turn on the heating system or ventilation. Humidity directly affects comfort, and it is recommended that you try to keep values between 25 and 55 relative humidity, or better yet, between 40 and 50 percent.

You can use humidifiers and dehumidifiers accordingly so that you always feel great inside your home no matter what the weather outside is.

Minimize health problems

Inadequate humidity levels can pose potential health risks so you surely want to keep it at proper values. If the moisture in your home is too high, you risk having mold and bacteria multiplying. Some species are extremely dangerous, especially when you have kids or small pets.

You can avoid these problems by maintaining lower humidity levels so that you don’t create a perfect environment where nasty pathogens can thrive. However, you don’t want to be on the opposite spectrum since dry air is another problematic factor when it comes to your home. A dry air can cause itchy skin, problems with sinuses, coughing, as well as other symptoms.

Dry air would almost certainly mean more allergens would be circulated in the air, especially since you’d need to keep the ventilation turned on a higher level. With a hygrometer, you can keep your home in the Goldilocks zone and ensure that the humidity is neither too high nor too low, but just perfect for your family’s well being and comfort.

 

Prevent damage to expensive property

When it comes to humidity, you also need to avoid extremes if you want to keep furniture, musical instruments, and other property safe and in a good condition. Too much moisture in the air and you risk having your home invaded by mold, mildew, and algae.

Warm and moist air is the perfect recipe for disaster, especially when mold can grow just about anywhere, be it in the shower or entire bathroom, in the kitchen and on food, or even beneath a stack of important papers. You want to get your home well ventilated to eliminate all that extra moisture and then perhaps use a dehumidifier to keep it that way.

A humidity instrument can help you keep the moisture in check. This also goes when the humidity level is too low, as that could result in damage to your musical instruments or furniture as the wood can crack and deform. You can actually save quite a bit of money on costly repairs or replacements by getting an inexpensive device such as a hygrometer.

Take care of exotic pets

While normal pets would probably feel pretty good when you feel good, this isn’t the case with many exotic animals. If you’re trying to keep tarantulas, centipedes, lizards, insects, or even some mammal species, you should do well to research what sort of environment they need in order to avoid having them sick or losing them to disease.

In many cases where you use a more or less sealed environment, you can use a smaller hygrometer and try to adjust the humidity levels locally so you don’t fill the entire house with moisture just so that your little gecko friend can feel comfortable.

 

Allow your plants to thrive

Whether you have a normal garden or a greenhouse, then it is important to check the humidity levels on a constant basis to ensure a proper plant growth. Especially if you run a greenhouse, you need to get a reliable hygrometer since you want to maintain specific parameters for your plants to thrive.

This is because air which doesn’t contain moisture can hinder development or possibly even cause some plants to dry. Too much moisture and you’re probably going to have to deal with root rot, fungi, and a host of other problems you’d best avoid by keeping humidity levels at adequate levels in the first place.

 

 

Ioana Moldovan

Ioana’s professional experience in the optics field has helped her understand the value of passing her knowledge forward. Her curious personality helps her gather useful information for her readers and her goal is to make technical information fun and accessible to everyone.

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