Optimum humidity in the house in winter. Increased air humidity

Tsugunov Anton Valerievich

Reading time: 5 minutes

It is no secret that each apartment has a special microclimate. This concept includes temperature conditions, illumination, humidity and many other parameters. All of them have a direct impact on the quality of life of people. If any indicators are too high or, conversely, lowered, it may suffer as your own health, and the decoration of the apartment. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor your housing and avoid such situations. Let's find out how the level of humidity in the apartment affects our lives and why it is so important that it be within the normal range.

How does high and low humidity affect a person?

Both high and low humidity most directly affect the life and health of the inhabitants of the apartment.

high humidity

Consider the situation when the humidity in the apartment is increased.

• If the air is too humid, the temperature is perceived differently by the body. The process of heat transfer is disturbed, at high temperatures the body overheats, at low temperatures it becomes supercooled.
• This phenomenon, combined with high room temperature, is especially dangerous for people suffering from hypertension and cardiovascular diseases: it leads to dehydration and chemical imbalance, blood clots, high blood pressure and exacerbation chronic diseases heart and blood vessels.
• High humidity adversely affects the physical and mental activity of even a completely healthy person, since fatigue in such conditions occurs much faster.
• If a person is in a room or apartment with high humidity, he is more susceptible to infectious diseases and colds. A long stay in such conditions can contribute to the development of more serious diseases: rheumatism, tuberculosis, etc.
• The increased moisture content in the air is dangerous for allergy sufferers. Wet environments are very conducive to the emergence of powerful allergens that can lead to really adverse effects on the body, not to mention that they spoil appearance and decoration of the apartment.

In addition to fungus and mold, high humidity contributes to the development of various pathogenic microorganisms and insects. Furniture deteriorates from it, an unpleasant musty smell appears.

Reduced humidity in the apartment has the following consequences:

• Too dry air dehydrates the body, dries out the mucous membranes. Dryness of the nasal mucosa is the cause of frequent colds.
• The skin becomes dry, inelastic, metabolism is disturbed.
• People feel constant nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, which lead to sleep disturbance, anxiety and irritability.
• Dry air in the apartment contributes to the spread of dust, in which various microorganisms, as well as dust mites, can multiply.
• The leaves of indoor plants dry and fall off.
• Wooden furniture, parquet dry out, become covered with cracks. The same applies to musical instruments made of wood: they are constantly upset, gradually become unusable.

What is the optimum air humidity?

Both excess and lack of moisture in the air is a danger to the health and condition of the apartment. What should ideally be the humidity in a residential area?

• To make it comfortable for a person to be in a room, the humidity of the air should be from 30 to 60%.
• Comfortable air humidity in the apartment in cold period is about 30–45%.

In the warm season, this level is not at all difficult to maintain. However, in winter, when batteries and other heating devices are running, this can be very difficult. At this time of the year, the percentage of water content in the air sometimes drops to 20%, and sometimes even to 15%, which is completely unacceptable.

Normal humidity in the apartment is of great importance not only for people, but also for various items. For example, for indoor flowers, furniture and books optimal indicator– 40–60%, for items household appliances – 45–60 %.

How to measure the level of humidity in the apartment?

There are several ways to help determine the level of humidity in a room.

Glass of water

This is a less reliable, but often used method at home. If you do not want to purchase a special device, then you can measure the level of air humidity using a container of water.

Pour into a glass of water and put it in the refrigerator for several hours. During this time, the water temperature should drop to 3-5 ° C. Then put the glass in the room away from heating appliances. At first, the walls of the container will be foggy, but you need to observe what happens to them after 5 minutes.

• If they dry out, then the air in the room is dry.
• If the glass remains foggy, the humidity in the room is at an optimal level.
• The streams flowing down the walls of the glass will help you find out about the high humidity in the room.

This method does not require special equipment, but it will not allow you to find out exact value water content in the air.

What to do if the humidity is too high?

So, we have learned to determine the degree of humidity in the premises. Suppose you get a result indicating that it is too high in your room. What will help in this case?

• Air Dryer. This device will allow as soon as possible get rid of humidity in the apartment. The dehumidifier can be portable or stationary.
• Moisture absorber. It usually takes the form of a tablet made from a special absorbent.
• Hood. Unventilated rooms where moisture constantly accumulates are best equipped with exhaust devices: a ventilation duct,. With a poorly functioning hood in the apartment, it is recommended to install a forced ventilation system.
• Air conditioning. Helps eliminate excess moisture and maintain it optimal level in room.
• Frequent ventilation. The influx of fresh air also helps to reduce the water content in the air.

How to increase humidity if the apartment is too dry?

If the air in your apartment is too dry, the situation can be corrected in the following ways.

Humidifier

The easiest way to increase the humidity is to put a humidifier in the room. This device is capable of influencing the air in rooms up to 150 square meters in size. m. The principle of its operation is simple - it is necessary to pour water into a container specially designed for this, which the device will evaporate, saturating dry air with water vapor. There are three types of humidifiers:

• Traditional (cold type). They have a simple design with moisturizing cartridges and a fan that drives air through them. Such a device can restore normal air humidity (up to 60%), its disadvantages include noise.

• Steam. They operate on the principle of an electric kettle: they boil water and bring it out in the form of steam. Pros: high performance, no Supplies, the ability to work with ordinary tap water. Cons: Enough high level noise and power, steam that can burn you (up to 60 degrees).

• Ultrasonic. Considered the most modern, their work is based on the oscillation of a membrane that turns water into cold steam. They work almost silently, allow you to adjust the level of humidity. Some models heat water, killing germs and bacteria. The disadvantage is the exactingness in care, the use of cartridges that need to be replaced regularly, or distilled water.

Humidity in the apartment is very important indicator, on the value of which the well-being of residents will depend. Any deviation from the norm, whether it be an increase or decrease, is very noticeable by a person and can lead to a large number of troubles, for example, deterioration in health, discomfort and more. In order to avoid this, it is simply necessary to know the norm of the amount of moisture in the air in a particular room and in different time of the year.

What is air humidity

What is meant by the phrase "air humidity"? In this case, we mean the content of water vapor in the air, because it is constantly present there, regardless of the season and temperature. However, its amount may fluctuate up or down. And it depends on a lot of factors. For example, in winter, heating pipes dry out the air a lot. And if there is a leak somewhere in the house for a sufficiently long time, then this can significantly increase the level of humidity in the rooms.
To see clearly that there is moisture in the air, you can conduct a small and very simple experiment. Get a plastic or glass bottle and fill it with water. Place the container in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. After the liquid has cooled, put the bottle on the table and watch what happens next. It will be covered with water droplets, or rather, condensation will form on it.

The consequences of low and high humidity in the apartment

The thing is that if the air in the room contains too much moisture, then this can lead to the appearance and rapid development of fungi, mold, pathogenic microorganisms, as well as various insects. Such a deviation from the norm causes rapid damage to pieces of furniture, and especially antique ones. Yes, and a person does not feel comfortable in such a room. And you can understand that the humidity is increased by looking at the windows in the cold season. A large amount of condensation will accumulate on the glasses.
But if the humidity is less than the prescribed value, then this also does not have the most favorable effect on the vital activity of the human body. The thing is that excessively dry air contains a huge amount of dust and pathogenic microorganisms, and they will be the cause of the development of some fairly serious diseases, in particular, ARVI, upper respiratory tract disease, various forms allergies and so on. And also from a lack of moisture in the air, hair and even human skin can suffer. For example, the hair will become dry, brittle and lose its shine, and the skin will begin to peel off and become very sensitive.

How can you measure indoor humidity

For a long time, people have come up with a large number of ways that can help to understand what kind of humidity is in a particular room. So, the most reliable way to set this value is to measure it with a hygrometer - specially designed for this device. It is very easy to use, and the amount of moisture in the air that it will show will be accurate.
But there are cases when it is simply impossible to use a hygrometer, and it is necessary to know the humidity in the room. Then you can use the methods invented a long time ago.

1. way. You will need a glass glass, preferably with smooth transparent walls, ordinary water and a refrigerator. Fill a glass with liquid and place it in the refrigerator to chill for about an hour. After that, pull out the container and place it away from heating appliances. Watch him for five minutes. If moisture droplets appeared on the outer walls and quickly evaporated, then the humidity is low. The condensate remained and began to flow down, this indicates an excess of moisture. Normally, condensate should remain on the walls of the vessel for five minutes.
2. way. Take a cone and put it away from the sun and heaters. If it begins to close, there is little moisture in the air; if it opens, there is a lot.

The norm of air humidity in the children's room

It is especially important how much moisture is contained in the air of the room in which the child lives, and especially if it is a baby. Most people seriously think about such indicators as air humidity only after they have a small child.
The norm is considered 50-60 percent. Pediatricians advise maintaining the moisture level for babies within these limits. The thing is that due to the presence of a large amount of dust in the dry air, the child may begin to snot. And he can develop much more serious diseases. You can often observe a situation where it seems to be always warm in the children's room, there are no drafts, and the baby constantly has snot, which greatly complicates his life, since not only breathing is difficult, but also the process of eating or drinking.
However, an excess of moisture in the air is not in the best way affect the child's well-being. Due to the presence in the air of a large number of spores of moldy fungi and due to a violation of heat transfer. That is why it is very important in this room to maintain the level of humidity in the norm. The best way out is to purchase a humidifier or make it yourself. And if necessary, you should buy a desiccant.

The level of air humidity in living rooms

In rooms such as the bedroom, kitchen, living room, it is also very important to maintain the humidity within the normal range, which is 40-60%. If in living rooms If there is normal humidity in the air, then this will most favorably affect the health and life of a person. As well as furniture, household appliances, a computer, a TV will last much longer in this case than, for example, with high humidity air in the room. By the way, for many pets it is also very important that this indicator is within the normal range, and a deviation from it does not have the best effect on their well-being.
However, often it is in the kitchen that there is increased humidity.

The norm of humidity and temperature in the room

This is due to the fact that a lot of moisture evaporates during cooking. As well as washing dishes, frequent wet cleaning the same cause an increase in humidity. However, there is a way out of this situation. The most effective will be the installation of a hood and frequent ventilation. kitchen area. It is also recommended to ensure that there are no water leaks anywhere.

What humidity should be in the bathroom

The level of moisture content in the bathroom is also very important. Indeed, in this room it is often excessively high. And as mentioned above, excessively high air humidity can lead to the formation of mold on the walls. And also in warm and humid environment different insects just feel great, for example, such as wood lice, centipedes and even mosquitoes.
The rate of moisture content in the air in this room will be slightly higher than in other rooms. 45-70% - this is exactly what the humidity in the bathroom should be. To achieve this, it is necessary to think over the ventilation system or install hoods during the repair. It is also just great if the bathroom has small window with a window for ventilation. But if there is none, then you should often open the door to this room and ensure that floors and walls are always dry. And also in a timely manner to eliminate leaks, if any.
If you properly care for the bathroom, then it will even be possible to stick wallpaper on the walls, and generally forget about mold and wood lice. If all else fails and the humidity is still above normal, then purchase a desiccant. It will definitely help you get rid of this problem.

The norm of indoor air humidity in winter

In winter, as a rule, most often indoor air humidity is slightly below average, about 40-45%, which is the norm. This is due to the fact that in winter the rooms are ventilated much less frequently, and the popular ones today plastic windows are the cause of the violation natural ventilation. Radiators and additional heaters dry out the air very quickly.
Due to the above reasons, the moisture content in the air can become catastrophically low. However, to prevent this, a number of measures must be taken. The most reliable will be to purchase a humidifier in the store, but this pleasure is not cheap. You will come to the rescue: regular airing, drying clothes in the room, growing special houseplants. You can also arrange containers with a wide neck in the rooms, which should be filled with a simple clean water, but it will need to be replaced regularly once every 2 days. If you need to raise the moisture level very quickly, you can hang it on hot battery heating wet thick towel. The main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise instead of a lack of moisture in the air, you will have an overabundance of it.

What should be the humidity in the apartment in summer

As a rule, during the hot summer months, the moisture content in the air in the rooms increases. The norm is considered to be 40–65%, but often this figure is much higher in many residential premises. And this can have a very bad effect on a person’s well-being, because due to the high concentration of moisture in the air, heat transfer is disturbed. Imagine this picture: it's hot outside, all the windows are closed, something is being cooked on the stove, things are drying. A person is exhausted from stuffiness, and even a cool shower can only slightly alleviate suffering.
In order to avoid an increase in the amount of moisture in the air in the room, you just need to regularly ventilate the rooms, and it is best to keep the window open throughout the day. Also, the situation can be corrected by installing hoods in the kitchen and in the bathroom. Also, if possible, post wet clothes outside or balcony.

Ideal indoor humidity

Of course, very few people can boast of ideal indicators of humidity in an apartment. However, this is always worth striving for, especially if small children, elderly or sick people who have weakened immunity live in the apartment. In this case, the acquisition of a hygrometer and constant maintenance required amount moisture in the air is simply necessary.
Such an indicator as air humidity is very important and therefore should not be ignored. And by providing a normal concentration of moisture, you thereby make people living in this room more than comfortable, increase the life of furniture and household appliances. And your beloved pets will feel just wonderful. So the forces applied to raise or, conversely, reduce the concentration of moisture in the air will not be wasted.

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SNiP and GOST

Temperature standards for public and administrative buildings

OPTIMUM AND PERMISSIBLE STANDARDS OF TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN THE SERVICE AREA OF PUBLIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS (GOST 30494-2011, SANPIN 2.1.2.2645-10)

Period of the year: Cold*:

Period of the year: Warm*:

* The warm period of the year is considered the period, the average daily temperature of which is above 8 °C. Source: GOST 30494-2011.

The cold period of the year is the period, the average daily temperature of which is below 8 °C. Source: GOST 30494-2011.

This standard adopts the following classification of public and administrative premises:

• premises of the 1st category: premises in which people in a lying or sitting position are in a state of rest and rest;
• premises of the 2nd category: premises in which people are engaged in mental work, study;
• premises of category 3a: premises with a mass stay of people, in which people are mainly in a sitting position without street clothes;
• premises of the 3b category: premises with a mass stay of people, in which people are mainly in a sitting position in street clothes;
• premises 3 in category: premises with mass stay of people, in which people are mainly in a standing position without street clothes;
• premises of the 4th category: premises for practicing mobile sports;
• premises of the 5th category: premises where people are half-dressed (changing rooms, treatment rooms, doctors' offices, etc.);
• premises of the 6th category: premises with temporary stay of people (lobbies, dressing rooms, corridors, stairs, bathrooms, smoking rooms, pantries).

Humidity in the room depends primarily on human health, and secondly on the normal growth and development of plants. If there is not enough moisture, the furniture may deteriorate. If the humidity in the room is constantly elevated, this will lead to the appearance of mold and fungus. If the air in the apartment is dry, dust and dust mites may appear, to which many children are allergic.

Ways to measure humidity in an apartment

What should be the humidity? There are standards for air humidity in each room according to GOST.

There is a special device for measuring the humidity in the apartment, it is called a hygrometer. The display shows the coefficient of humidity and room temperature. In the summer, the humidity can not be raised artificially, but in the winter it must be done. In summer, the humidity in the room is usually normal.

Moisture determination methods:

• Humidity is determined using the device and the table of standards. It is necessary to identify the correlation of norms.
• You need to collect water in a container and put it in the refrigerator. The container must be transparent. After 3 hours, it must be pulled out and left in a room, but away from heating systems. Observation should last 5-10 minutes. If the walls of the container are foggy, and then immediately dry, then the air in the room is dry. If the glass remains foggy, then the humidity is medium. If streams flowed through the glass - high.
• What is the humidity in the room, you can determine with the help of a spruce branch.

  Humidity in the apartment: normal

  Its length should be 25-30 cm. The branch is attached to the board and the position of the loose part of the spruce is marked with a pen. If the room is humid, the branch will drop. If not, then the air is normal. It is necessary to observe the position of the coniferous branch every day and note the changes. The more the branch descends, the higher the humidity.

• You need to take a spruce cone and put it away from the battery and look at its scales. If they begin to shrink, then the humidity is high, if fluffy, then dry air prevails in the room. If it remains unchanged, then the humidity level is normal.

When it is necessary to increase the humidity in the apartment:

1. In winter.
2. When a child has a dry cough.
3. If it becomes difficult to breathe.
4. When a child has an exacerbation of allergies.

Ways to increase humidity

• Traditional humidifier - it has a built-in fan that forces air through a bowl of liquid. But air humidity is not more than 60%, and the apartment will be noisy.
• Steam - there are special humidifiers in which water boils, and the steam comes out, thereby increasing humidity. With it, you can achieve normal room humidity.
• Ultrasonic – This humidifier also turns liquid into vapor using a unique membrane. Also, many models destroy the microbes present in the air, from which it will become cleaner.

How long does it take to humidify an apartment with humidifiers? This will take approximately 2-3 hours.

Folk methods to increase indoor humidity

The air in the room will become humid if a wet cloth is placed on the heaters. It will begin to warm up, and the water from it will evaporate. How many times a day do you wet it? This should be done 3-5 times a day.

You can put cups of water on the windowsills under the batteries, the water will evaporate from the high temperature.

To increase the humidity of the air, it is necessary to dry the laundry indoors.

Houseplants help keep moisture levels normal.

You can set up an aquarium.

Leave after showering or bathing open door, humid air will enter other rooms.

How to lower the humidity in the apartment?

With an air dryer. Works due to temperature difference. Excess moisture turns into condensation. When choosing a device, you should pay attention to its performance. They can absorb moisture up to 300 liters per day. Such devices are installed in combined bathrooms and kitchens, if they do not have a normal hood.

As often as possible, ventilate all rooms in the apartment, this will maintain the standards of air humidity. Fresh air is very beneficial for health, especially in times of illness. In a ventilated room, bacteria spread more slowly.

In bathrooms, monitor the serviceability of hoods and ventilation.

Use oil coolers. They dry the air very well.

Air conditioning will help keep the level normal in the room. It can both increase and decrease the humidity in the apartment.

Sunlight coming in through windows will help reduce humidity.

The humidity of the apartment must always be normal, for a normal existence. The health of loved ones and pets depends on this. What will be the humidity of the apartment, in order to live comfortably, its owner must determine, but still it is worth adhering to the norms. Comfortable humidity will help not only the speedy recovery of children, but also a quick fall asleep, this is true for people with sleep disorders.

Room temperature and humidity parameters:

During the cold season in living rooms, the optimum temperature is 20-22 degrees, and the optimum humidity is 30-45%. Similar figures are given in SNiP 2.04.05-91 * "Heating, ventilation and air conditioning", Appendix 5 as a mandatory, cold (winter) and transitional (spring and autumn) period - the optimum humidity is 30-45%. The same figures are given in SanPiN 2.1.2.1002-00 "Sanitary and epidemiological requirements for residential buildings and premises."

Condensation does not say anything about the quality of the window and is allowed by the Gosstroy of Russia: “International standards (ISO, EN standards) also allow temporary condensation on the inner glass of an insulating glass unit.” (Letter of the Gosstroy of Russia dated March 21, 2002 No. 9-28/200)

According to the norms of SNiP 2.04.05-91 "Heating, ventilation and air conditioning" for residential premises, the nominal flow rate of outdoor air should be 3 m3/hour per 1 m2 of residential area. (For example: According to GOST 30674-99 "Window blocks made of PVC profiles" maximum air permeability of 1 m2 of a window should not exceed 3 m3/hour. The area of ​​a double-leaf window, for a room of 15m2, is approximately 1.8 m2. That is, the supply of fresh air quality window, does not exceed 5.5 m3. Which is about 7 times lower than necessary ...).

Good question: Do I need to humidify the air in the room?

In other words, for a normal microclimate in the room, it is necessary either to ventilate the room, or to install additional systems ventilation.

Normal humidity in residential premises is defined in SanPiN 2.1.2.1002-00. "Requirements for residential buildings and premises". Normal humidity in a room where there is no forced ventilation system is maintained through regular ventilation.

In accordance with SNiP II-3-79 * "Construction climatology", the following room conditions are distinguished by the degree of humidity: dry (less than 40%), normal (40 ÷ 50%), humid (50 ÷ 60%) or wet (over 60 %). According to GOST 30494-96 “Residential and public buildings. Indoor microclimate parameters”, air humidity of more than 60% is not allowed in residential premises (the optimum humidity value is not more than 45%).

The new norms SNiP 23-02-03 "Thermal protection of buildings" determined the design parameters of the relative humidity of the premises to determine the dew point and the temperature requirements for inner surface windows:

5.9 ... Relative humidity of indoor air to determine the dew point temperature in places of heat-conducting inclusions in enclosing structures, in corners and window slopes, as well as anti-aircraft lamps, should be taken:

- for the premises of residential buildings, hospitals, dispensaries, outpatient clinics, maternity hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly and disabled, general education children's schools, kindergartens, nurseries, nursery gardens (combines) and orphanages - 55%, for kitchen premises - 60%, for bathrooms - 65%, for warm basements and undergrounds with communications - 75%;

- for warm attics residential buildings - 55%;

- for premises public buildings(except for the above) - 50%.

5.10…Inner surface temperature structural elements glazing of windows of buildings (except for industrial ones) should not be lower than plus 3 ° C, and opaque elements of windows should not be lower than the dew point temperature at the design temperature of the outside air in the cold season, for industrial buildings— not below zero °C.

This article provides data from SNiPs, GOSTs (quite “soft” compared to European standards) so that you can take the necessary actions to create a comfortable microclimate (in terms of standards) in your home.

The norm of air humidity in the apartment

Air humidity is a very important indicator that affects the microclimate of the house and the well-being of a person. What is the normal humidity level? How to determine it and what are the standards in different rooms? Read below!

The humidity indicator indicates the content of water vapor or the degree of saturation of the surrounding air with them. As a rule, relative humidity is used in everyday life, which is determined by many devices (household hygrometer or MagicAir base station, which is part of the breathers).

Standards according to GOST in residential premises

GOST 30494-96 regulates the following humidity standards, based on the season: 30-45% in the cold months, 30-60% - should be in the warm season. The limit in winter in an apartment according to GOST should be no more than 60% and no more than 65% in the summer.

GOST indicators are standard values, but physiologists recommend listening to them and maintaining air humidity in the apartment in the range of 40-60% at any time of the year.

The lower figure is 30% and this is already dry air, uncomfortable for a person, causing dry eyes, overwork, fatigue, and a decrease in immunity. With dry air in the room, the leaves of indoor flowers begin to dry quickly, the likelihood of developing an allergy in a person is high.

Norm for the children's room

The microclimate in the nursery is very important for the health, activity of the child and maintaining a comfortable humidity is one of its indicators.

Dry air in the children's room is strongly not recommended! And that's why. On adults, it acts more slowly, children are more difficult to tolerate dryness, their body begins to actively lose moisture. The nasopharynx dries up and, as a result, the body “picks up” various infections faster. The child feels itching in the eyes, he has peeling of the skin, he is lethargic and inactive.

The temperature in the children's room is desirable all year round maintain at a level of 23-24 degrees, since strong fluctuations are harmful to children. You should not overheat the room, because at the norm of air humidity in the apartment of 60% and a temperature of 25-26 degrees, a feeling of the tropics will be created. And children tolerate heat worse than coolness. Yes, and for a middle-aged man it is hard and tiring.

Norm for the workplace

Much depends on the industry in which the person works. So, in pharmacies, pharmaceutical industries, the air will be drier than in greenhouses, in the kitchen of a restaurant. High humidity is not usually maintained in offices, as it greatly affects the operation of office equipment and the safety of documents. 40-60% - it is this normal air humidity for a person that should be maintained at home and in the office.

What to do if the humidity is above or below normal

You can use a humidifier to increase the humidity level. This is an easy way to create a comfortable microclimate at home or in the office.

How to lower air humidity?

We make the normal humidity in the apartment

First, ventilate the room more often! Regularly supplied fresh air can improve the microclimate and have a beneficial effect on a person. If you live near highways or industrial enterprises, then you can organize ventilation even with the windows closed. To do this, you need to install a breather in the room - supply ventilation, which will adjust the level of humidity and will ventilate even with the windows closed. You can choose the breather that suits you on our website mastervozduha.ru.

One of the reasons for high air humidity can be leaks in the pipes, which are important to fix. If it is humid in the kitchen, then installing a good hood over the stove will help reduce this figure.

Maintaining optimal air humidity in the apartment, you can reduce the number of diseases in children and adults, increase their activity, efficiency, concentration and attention.

AT recent times there is a lot of talk about air humidity in the apartment, norm which ranges from 30% to 60%. Perhaps this is a publicity stunt for humidifier vendors. However, this indicator really affects well-being. Personally, I thought about this after watching Dr. Komarovsky's program on children's immunity.

However, keeping it on these indicators is not so easy. In winter - the air is dried up due to centralized heating, in summer the humidity is often increased. How to measure the humidity in the apartment and bring it back to normal?

To begin with, let's find out why excess or insufficient humidity is harmful to humans. Why bring it back to normal?

Our well-being directly depends on the level of humidity. Excessively dry air dries out our mucous membranes (eyes, respiratory tract, nasopharynx) and can lead to a decrease in immunity, fatigue, deterioration of the skin. Yes, and just to discomfort. Excess moisture is quite capable of causing diseases such as asthma, allergies, rhinitis.

Children are especially sensitive to changes in humidity. That is why the level of humidity in the children's room must be treated most carefully.

And the room itself “suffers” from a lack or excess of moisture in the air. So, in dry air, parquet, furniture, and other wooden surfaces lose their appearance very quickly. Cracks may appear, objects "shrink".

Excessive humidity is even more detrimental to your apartment, because it can cause fungus, mold on the walls and especially in the corners where air movement is minimal. Quickly deteriorate under the influence of moisture and food products.

Humidity in the apartment: how to achieve the norm

So, the standard rate of air humidity in an apartment, as we already wrote, is 30-60%, while the average level - 45% - is the most optimal. The level of humidity depends on the concentration of moisture outside the room. In winter, this difference is significant due to the operation of heating. To measure humidity, they use the good old hygrometer (I personally still have from my grandparents - 3 in 1: thermometer, hygrometer and barometer).

How to increase the humidity in the apartment

• The easiest way to bring the humidity in your home back to normal is to use a household humidifier.

Don't discount the height of the ceiling in your room when buying a humidifier. For example, we have a very high ceiling in the nursery (it is in the nursery that we use a humidifier), so the humidifier can barely cope with maintaining the humidity level. Should have bought a more powerful one.

• Increase the number of indoor plants. Firstly, they themselves have a positive effect on the humidity in the apartment (albeit slightly), and secondly, they will become a kind of hygrometer: if the leaves wrinkle and dry out, this is a sign of a lack of moisture in your apartment.

• If you are not a fan of indoor flowers, start an aquarium. Just don't forget to top up the evaporating water regularly.
• Everyone knows that it is necessary to ventilate the room not only in summer, but also in winter. There is nothing better than fresh air. However, at the same time, oddly enough, the humidity in the apartment decreases, since cold air has low humidity. Therefore, when airing the apartment in winter, do not neglect the tips for humidifying the air in the apartment.

So that at the same time the house does not cool down, it is better not to leave the window open for a long time, but on the contrary - open the window wide open for 5-7 minutes. During this time, the air will have time to update, and heat loss will be minimized.

Do not forget that working household appliances (TV, computer, iron, etc.) dehumidify the air in the room. To bring the humidity back to normal, try to ventilate these rooms more often or put a humidifier in them.

You can buy an air humidifier in a home appliance store, but personally it seems to me that it is easier to do it in an online store. Firstly, it is often much cheaper, and secondly, the choice of humidifiers here is simply huge, unlike the assortment of a regular store (2-4 models). Well, for example, on the website of a popular online hypermarket, there is a page with ultrasonic air humidifiers. Moreover, here each model is represented by several stores and there is an opportunity to compare prices and choose the most profitable one for yourself.

We bought this for our baby. Satisfied :) (My impression of him is in the article "")

How to reduce the humidity in the apartment

• After cooking, washing, bathing or showering, steam builds up. Therefore, these rooms must be ventilated immediately.
• Drying clothes in the house is undesirable. It is better to do this outdoors or in a free room, closing the door to it and opening the window.
• To bring the air humidity in the apartment back to normal, in the summer do not curtain the windows in damp rooms, let the sun dry them out.
• By analogy with a humidifier, there are special moisture absorbers that contain an absorbent substance that absorbs excess moisture from the air, like a sponge.

And one more important point: working in the summer, not only lowers the air temperature in the room, but also dries the air. Although it is easy to breathe in an air-conditioned room, this does not mean that the humidity is within the normal range. Therefore, it is advisable to use a humidifier in an air-conditioned room.

« Humidity in the apartment: the norm "especially for the site Eco-life

The moisture concentration in the premises should be constantly monitored, taking measures to normalize it in case of deviation from the recommended values. The norm of air humidity in the apartment must be strictly observed to maintain health and ensure a comfortable life. What is this norm and why is it important to observe it?

A person cannot determine with the help of the senses optimal values humidity in the room. Inconsistency with the norm manifests itself in the physiological state gradually, over time.

The main signs of a constant low concentration of moisture in the air of the apartment are the following:

• dry skin;
• fragility of nails;
• loss of hair elasticity;
• drying of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasopharynx;
• weakness, rapid fatigue;
• disorders in the work of the heart and blood vessels arising from an increase in blood viscosity;
• allergic reactions from the respiratory system.

Most quickly, symptoms of trouble can occur in a child due to insufficient development of adaptive capabilities. Allergy sufferers are especially sensitive to the moisture content in the air.

Excessive moisture content is also fraught with unpleasant consequences, which are primarily caused by the intensive reproduction of microbes, fungi, and the appearance of mold. As a result, the residents of the apartment often begin to get sick, the room is acutely damp, unpleasant odors appear.

It makes sense not to wait for the first symptoms of high humidity or dry air, but to measure it regularly, just as we always monitor the air temperature indoors and outdoors.

Basic concepts

To determine whether the humidity in the apartment is normal, you can use special devices. There are two main indicators that determine the amount of water vapor in the air:

• absolute;
• relative.

The absolute value indicates the mass of water in one cubic meter of air, measured in g / m3.

The relative indicator provides information on the ratio of the available moisture concentration in the air to the maximum possible value at a given temperature. It is measured in percentage.

Note! It is the values ​​of relative humidity that are indicated in the regulatory tables. They are guided by, taking readings from instruments or determining folk methods.

The higher the relative humidity value, the higher the concentration of water vapor in the air. In this case, temperature is of particular importance. To transfer high humidity at 20 ° is easier than at 40 °.

Instruments used to determine humidity:

• several types of hygrometers;
• psychrometers;
• combined devices.

For home use, compact devices are offered, equipped with the most simple, easy-to-understand scale. The instructions provide information on the rules of use, normal indicators for the air in the house are given.

What affects the microclimate in the room

The conditions for a comfortable stay of a person in a room are determined by several factors. We do not feel very well in rooms without sunlight, with poor sound insulation, not ventilated for a long time, containing a lot of dust.

The quality of building materials used for finishing works, environmental friendliness of furniture, the absence of background fumes from upholstery fabrics, floor coverings, interior items. Do not overload the rooms with household and computer equipment, audio and video equipment.

It must be remembered that all parameters are closely related. It is necessary to monitor not only humidity, but also temperature, air ventilation, and lighting. Accumulation of dust, dirt should not be allowed, because even if the humidity standards in a polluted room are observed, bacteria and dust mites will multiply more intensively.

Note! The normative parameters of the microclimate in residential premises are regulated by GOST 30494-2011.

The temperature in the room is usually quantified. perfect temperature conditions corresponds to the range from 20 to 22 ℃. Sanitary requirements allow a decrease in the indicator in the cold season to 18 ℃. It's interesting that Maximum temperature air in the apartment, allowed in summer, is 28 ℃. Warmer air takes us out of our comfort zone.

The standards stipulate the permissible temperature difference, which between walls and air cannot exceed 3 ℃, and between the floor and air - 2 ℃.

Interestingly, the same great importance in sanitary standards is given to the speed of air movement. In the living room in summer and spring, it cannot exceed 0.3 m / s, in cold weather - 0.2 m / s. Therefore, sanitary doctors do not recommend arranging drafts in apartments.

Humidity standards in rooms

Permissible humidity indicators in the premises are limited by the quantitative values ​​\u200b\u200bspecified in SanPiN. During checks, measurements are carried out in accordance with the methods of GOST. Valid values for housing located in different climatic zones, differ, the required norms are not the same at different times of the year.

Summer and winter

Sanitary standards regulate the maximum relative value humidity, permissible in living rooms, which in summer is 65%, and in the cold season - 60%.

Physiologists pay attention to the need to control the minimum indicators, which at any time of the year should not be less than 40%. It is believed that ideal parameters for living rooms should have average values ​​​​between 40% and 60%.

In winter, when heating the room, whether private house or apartment, humidity can drop sharply due to dry air. This must be monitored, if necessary, including a humidifier, opening a window for ventilation or installing baths with water.

In separate rooms

Sanitary standards stipulate relative humidity in any living rooms, including bedrooms, without specifying them special purpose. However, pediatricians voice their opinion regarding the microclimate in the child's room.

In some diseases, dry heat is useful, but it is usually applied not to the room, but to separate parts body. In this case, it is better to consult a doctor. Properly selected temperature and humidity parameters will contribute to a quick recovery.

The temperature in the child's room should not be higher than 25 ℃, optimally 22 degrees. It is recommended to ventilate the room several times a day. Newborns are especially vulnerable to violation of normative parameters. Low humidity makes them especially sensitive to microbes, and high humidity causes overheating and diaper rash.

For kitchens, bathrooms, combined bathrooms, toilets and pantries, relative humidity values ​​​​are not standardized by sanitary standards. Do not allow them to be constantly waterlogged, as this will lead to the development of mold and bacteria. Therefore, hoods are installed in bathrooms and kitchens, and the temperature is monitored in pantries.

Relative humidity measurement

No one doubts the need to periodically determine the relative moisture content in the air of an apartment. The easiest way to do this is to buy a special device for home use. It is easy to use and has instructions with explanations. Regardless of the principle of operation, with its help you can easily and quickly obtain the value of interest, compare it with the standard.

If there is no device, and the humidity indicator needs to be determined, you can use folk methods. They give a fairly complete picture of the microclimate in the apartment.

The easiest method is to hang wet laundry in the room. If it dries in 1.5 hours, then the air in the room is too dry.

It is useful to observe indoor plants. With low humidity, the soil in pots quickly dries out, and the tips of the leaves begin to turn yellow.

An interesting tip is about how to determine the moisture content using an open flame of a candle or a lighter. It is believed that if the flame burns vertically, then the humidity is normal, and the fluctuations of the fire from side to side allegedly indicate a lack of moisture in the room. The idea from the point of view of the laws of physics is very doubtful. Flame fluctuation can be caused by several factors, of which moisture concentration comes last.

Experiments with water and cone

A simple method using water in a cup or glass is reliable. The container with liquid must be placed in the freezer, kept for several hours until the water temperature reaches 5 ℃. If you put the cup in the freezer for a few minutes and the water freezes, it's okay, you can experiment with ice.

Then the cup must be placed on the table in the room and observed. Condensation will appear very quickly on the walls. The observations are then interpreted as follows:

• with quick drying - the humidity is reduced;
• within 5 minutes there was no change in the condensate - the humidity is normal;
• drops flow down the walls of the cup - the humidity is increased.

An interesting way to determine moisture concentration requires the presence of fir cones. It should be put in a room away from heating equipment, watch it for a few minutes. Surrounded by dry air, the cone will open, wet air will shrink tightly.

After clarification of the humidity level, it may be necessary to adjust.

Ways to boost

In an apartment with dry air, you often need to do wet cleaning, you can leave wet towels on batteries, start an aquarium if the household has no contraindications.

The easiest way is to place water containers near the wall at least for the night. It is advisable to turn on air conditioners and heaters in such apartments as rarely as possible. Can be planted houseplants requiring frequent watering and regularly monitor them, irrigate the foliage.

When you are ready to invest a small amount of money in ensuring a normal microclimate in the apartment, it is easiest to buy special humidifiers. They are inexpensive, and the effectiveness is not in doubt.

Ways to downgrade

You can reduce the moisture concentration in the apartment by frequent airing, installing an automatic microclimate control system, checking the efficiency of ventilation, installing additional fume hoods in the kitchen and bathroom. Of course, you should make repairs in the apartment in a timely manner, monitor the tightness of the pipelines, and do not dry the washed laundry in the premises.

Ultimately, any deviations in the microclimate are easily eliminated. The main thing to remember is the need to control humidity indicators, other important factors that ensure a prosperous housing atmosphere.

The microclimate in an apartment or house is an important component healthy lifestyle life. Too low or high humidity and temperature indicators negatively affect the health and well-being of households, and therefore it is important to monitor them and correct them in time.

Humidity rate

Humidity is a parameter that can be absolute or relative. Absolute humidity is the weight of moisture in one cubic meter of air.

Absolute humidity is measured in g/m3.

However, when determining the microclimate, not absolute, but relative humidity is used. This parameter depends on the largest water-to-air content at the current temperature. To determine it, you need to divide the weight of real water vapor in the air by the maximum possible and multiply by one hundred percent.

For example, if the air temperature is 24 ° C, then one cubic meter of it can hold up to 21.8 g of water. If in the same cubic meter of air there is 13 g of water, then the relative humidity is 60%.

Humidity norm according to GOST

Interstate standards determine the most comfortable indoor humidity for a person by the document GOST 30494–96. According to these settings, the optimal humidity in a residential building during the cold season is 30–45%, the maximum allowable is 60%. In summer, the most comfortable conditions are provided by relative humidity from 30 to 60%, but an indicator above 65% is considered unacceptable. These parameters are set for residential (bedroom, living room) and walk-through rooms (corridor).

GOST specifies that the optimal values ​​of relative humidity are not standardized for the following premises:

• kitchen;
• bathroom, toilet or combined bathroom;
• pantry.

Children's body needs a particularly gentle and delicate environment. Children suffer more from a lack or excess of humidity, and therefore it is extremely important to regulate the microclimate in the children's room. The optimal humidity for a nursery is 50–60%. At lower humidity, even if it meets the GOST standards, the child's mucous membranes and nasopharynx begin to dry out. Such a norm should be maintained at any time of the year - both in winter and in summer.
Humidity in the children's room should be higher than in the "adult" living space

Pediatricians recommend maintaining 60% humidity in a healthy child's room and increasing it to 70% if he has a cold. This measure will improve the baby's well-being, reduce perspiration and itching, relieve unpleasant symptoms of the disease and speed up recovery. However, when increasing humidity, do not forget to monitor the air temperature - it should not be higher than 22 ° C. Otherwise, the child's room will have an unbearably stuffy "tropical" microclimate.

Deviations from the norm

If the indoor humidity is below 30%, the residents of the house may experience the following problems:

1. Peeling of the skin. In people with the most sensitive and delicate skin, dry air quickly causes peeling and itching. Moisturizing creams and masks will only help temporarily if the bedroom or living room is set to low humidity.
   
   If your skin is flaky, the most likely cause is too low humidity.
2. Constant dryness in the throat, perspiration. When the air we breathe is too dry, our mucous membranes are deprived of the moisture they need. Because of this, we constantly want to clear our throat, there is an unpleasant feeling of itching in the throat. If after a glass of water this feeling does not go away, then it is necessary to increase the relative humidity in the room.
   
   Dry air often causes such an unpleasant sensation as a sore throat.
3. Decreased immunity, susceptibility to infections. This consequence follows from the previous paragraph - due to insufficient moisture, the mucous membrane becomes vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and therefore a person who constantly lives in a room with low humidity easily becomes a victim of all kinds of seasonal viral diseases.
   A person who is constantly in a room with dry air is at risk for seasonal diseases such as influenza.

High humidity (more than 70%) leads to the following unpleasant consequences:

1. Mold, fungus and other pests are actively growing in the house, which not only spoil the aesthetic appearance of the room, but are also the causative agents of allergic reactions. The spread of the fungus in the apartment where he lives is especially dangerous. Small child- this can provoke the appearance of chronic respiratory diseases.
   Mold in the house - a dangerous pest for breathing
2. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, such as rheumatism. If a person living in such a room undergoes a course of treatment, then after a short relief, the disease will return again - if the humidity in the room is not reduced.
   Chronic joint pain can be caused by too much humidity
3. Repair damage. High humidity has an extremely negative effect on the quality of your interior. Swollen parquet or laminate, peeling wallpaper, unsightly appearance wooden furniture- all these are the consequences of high moisture content in the air.
   If the room has high humidity for a long time, the wallpaper may peel off at the edges.

Optimum temperature

The optimum temperature in residential premises, as well as humidity, is established by the interstate standard GOST R 51617–2000. According to this document, in the bedroom, living room and corridor, the temperature should fluctuate between 20°C and 22°C. The upper threshold for the living room is 24°C. In the bathroom, GOST sets the standard at 25 ° C, in the toilet - 18 ° C, as in utility rooms(pantry, drying room). The kitchen is set to 19-21°C.

In the hot season, the temperature in the apartment should rise by 1-2 ° C, no more. Maximum allowable temperature in the room in the summer - 25 ° C.

The microclimate in the children's room is somewhat different from ordinary living quarters, because the child, being active and mobile, needs a cooler environment. Moreover, the temperature in the nursery is highly dependent on the age of the child. So, the baby needs warmer air - 23–24 ° С. Children from three years feel more comfortable in the cool - 18–19 ° С. Further, as the child grows older, the temperature is brought to the “adult” value of 20–22 ° C.
Correctly set temperature in the children's room - a guarantee of well-being and sound sleep of the child

Excessively high temperature in the nursery forces the child's body to regulate its heat exchange using the sweat glands. As a result, the baby becomes sweaty, diaper rash, redness may form. Moreover, losing a significant part of the moisture along with sweat, the child begins to suffer from dehydration - this leads to pain, problems with digestion of food, as well as diseases of the oral cavity caused by insufficient saliva production.

The air in the bedroom should not be too warm - no more than 21 ° C, ideally - 19 ° C. Surely you have noticed that it is almost impossible to fall asleep in a hot room. Because of this, many people ventilate their bedroom before bed - by temporarily lowering the temperature, they help themselves fall asleep more calmly. Unfortunately, from the point of view of adjusting the microclimate, this measure is not entirely correct.
Cool air in the bedroom helps you sleep better

Coolness in the bedroom should be maintained not only at the moment of falling asleep, but also during the entire duration of sleep, so simply airing the room is not enough. Of course, it never hurts to freshen the air before going to bed, but if the temperature in the bedroom rises again to 22–24 ° C in the dead of night, sleep will be restless, and in the morning a person wakes up completely broken.

Another reason to support more low temperature in the bedroom is a good look. In a cool environment, our body is better at releasing melatonin during sleep. This substance helps fight aging, smoothes age wrinkles and improves the color and tone of the skin of the face.
Cool air in the bedroom helps maintain youthful skin

The microclimate of the kitchen is highly dependent on the appliances installed in it and the intensity of their use. The optimum temperature in this room is 19°C, but it is often not necessary to regularly maintain this temperature.
The temperature in the kitchen can vary greatly depending on the use of various household appliances.

The main device that affects the temperature in the kitchen is the stove. Gas burner highlights more heat into the air, and therefore in the kitchen equipped with it, it is worth lowering the temperature by 1 degree - the lack of heat is compensated by cooking on fire. The active use of the oven also significantly warms the room.

If households almost never use a stove or oven, preferring an electric double boiler or slow cooker, on the contrary, it is worth raising the temperature to 20 ° C - such devices emit little heat and do not warm the air in the room.
The multicooker, beloved by many housewives, has low heat dissipation

The temperature in the bathroom should be at least 23°C, optimally - 25°C. Such high rate due to two simple reasons. Firstly, high humidity at low temperatures creates a feeling of dank cold and unpleasant dampness, and secondly, wet skin feels the temperature is even lower than it actually is.
The bathroom should be maintained more high temperature than in living rooms.

To prevent mold from developing due to the combination of heat and humidity, be sure to ventilate the bathroom after taking a shower or other water activities. Leave the door open for at least half an hour - this prevention is usually enough to prevent the development of fungus on the walls.

Deviations from the norm

Reducing the air temperature in the apartment below the specified norms entails negative consequences:

1. Risk of colds. Hypothermia of the body very often causes such unpleasant symptoms as chills, runny nose, sore throat.
2. Decrease in humidity. Cold air has less moisture than warm air.
3. Constant tension in the body. If our body is not warm enough, it tends to spend energy and warm up. This, accordingly, reduces immunity and energy - constantly spending energy on warming, we leave ourselves little energy for active movements.

If the room is warmer than specified in the norms, this leads to the following consequences:

1. Peeling of the skin. In young children, it can also manifest itself in the form of dermatitis. Due to the presence of microcracks, pathogenic bacteria that cause inflammation easily penetrate the skin.
2. Drying of the mucosa. Warm air, even well-moistened, does not provide our mucous membranes with sufficient moisture. If you regularly breathe such air, you can dry out the nasopharynx, which will result in a sore throat, vulnerability to pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
3. Digestive problems. Warm air also affects the condition of the mucous gastrointestinal tract. Without secreting enough mucus, our body cannot maintain proper digestion. Because of this, abdominal pain may appear, and in young children, colic.
4. Risk of hypothermia. Oddly enough, the elevated temperature in the apartment can cause hypothermia. In a hot environment, our sweat glands begin to work actively, trying to cool us down. If at this time we go out, for example, to the street, where it is not so warm, then we can easily become overcooled and catch a cold.

What affects the microclimate

Humidity and temperature in a room depend on many factors other than dedicated devices (heaters, fans, air conditioners, and humidifiers). The temperature is significantly affected by the following points:

1. Climate and weather outside the window. Of course, in the cold season, the temperature in the home, despite all the measures taken, is on average 2-3 degrees lower than in summer. This seasonal difference is especially pronounced in sunny, hot cities - for example, Krasnodar.
2. The population of the apartment. The human body produces a lot of heat - the air we exhale is much warmer than what we inhale. The more people live on the square, the higher the temperature in the apartment rises. Accordingly, in order to maintain optimal temperature less heating with appliances required.
3. Use of electrical appliances. Most household appliances heat up during use and, of course, heat the air in the room. If you actively use appliances (especially older models), then the temperature in the apartment can rise by a couple of degrees.
4. natural lighting. The sun illuminating the room significantly raises the air temperature (especially in summer period). If the windows of the room face south, the temperature in it depends on the time of year and day - it is necessary to adjust the heating in time.
5. Home textiles. The abundance of carpets, curtains, curtains, pillows, blankets and other textiles slows down air circulation and leads to an increase in the temperature in the room.

Humidity in the room is formed by the following factors:

1. Ventilation and ventilation. Good ventilation removes excess moisture accumulated in the room.
2. Season. In winter, the outdoor air that we let in together with ventilation is much drier than summer air.
3. Houseplants. Green pets that require regular moisture and care make us increase the humidity of the air - spraying, regular watering maintain a high level of humidity.
4. Air conditioners and batteries. Such devices for adjusting the temperature greatly dry the air. This becomes especially noticeable during the heating season - the already dry winter air is finally dried by a hot battery.
5. Insulation of walls and windows. A sealed room has poor ventilation, which leads to the accumulation of damp condensation and an increase in humidity.

How to measure humidity and temperature

In order to measure the parameters of the microclimate, there are the most various devices: from ordinary mercury thermometers to specially designed household stations with many smart features. However, in order to determine whether the conditions in your home are comfortable for a person, you can also turn to improvised means.

Table: measurement of microclimate parameters

Photo gallery: devices for measuring the microclimate

The well-known thermometer is necessary and indispensable assistant in climate control
Thermohygrometer - a device that combines the measurement of temperature and humidity; now you can find both an analog and a digital device with various additional functions Psychrometer - a difficult device to use, and therefore rarely found in everyday life A burning candle is an unreliable way to determine the humidity of the air, but in the absence of special devices it can indicate an excessive amount of steam in the air A misted glass allows you to determine with some accuracy whether the humidity level in the room is optimal

Table: climate control

By regulating the temperature and humidity in your home, you can significantly improve your well-being. Inexpensive devices will help control the microclimate in the premises, and improvised means allow you to change it without cost.