To ensure a comfortable life requires not only a cozy atmosphere in the apartment or house. A favorable microclimate is also necessary. And for this it is necessary to maintain optimal temperature and know how to increase humidity. This is described in the article.
Norms
For many structures with a long stay of a person, the rules of a favorable microclimate apply. About increased humidity and temperature is said in GOST 30494-2011. Permissible and optimal air parameters are established on it. The optimum temperature in apartments and public areas is also determined. These restrictions must be considered during the design and construction of buildings.
Valid are indoor temperature and humidity indicators that can cause temporary discomfort, but do not cause acute and chronic ailments. Thanks to the optimal range of air, a normal heat transfer and a stable water balance of a person are created.
Season
Humidity is determined by temperature, therefore, for cold and warm time, their own standards are established. In winter, the outside temperature should not be higher than +8 degrees. Cooling leads to a decrease in the concentration of moisture in the air inside the housing. The norm at this time is considered to be relative humidity of 30-45%, and the permissible indicator should not be higher than 60%. But very high humidity is also undesirable.
In the warm period, when the air temperature is above +8 degrees, humidity rises. The permissible norm in the summer is 65%. And the optimal range is 60-30%. Although the standards are set, doctors do not recommend allowing humidity drops below 45%. This is due to the negative impact of dry microclimate on the mucous membranes of the nose, larynx, and human eyes. With a decrease in humidity, a violation of the water balance is observed, the skin dries, the lungs cannot self-clean, which leads to coughing fits and chronic ailments.
Level measurement
It is not so easy to observe the norm of relative humidity in an apartment, especially in winter. Many people have a large number of household appliances, heating devices, TV displays and computers, which leads to dry air.
Checking the level is carried out using a hygrometer or improvised means. Using household electronic hygrometers, relative humidity is accurately determined. Another device sets the temperature and records information for viewing at a convenient time. Thanks to the constant monitoring of the parameters, it will be possible to create comfortable conditions for life.
Set the humidity using a psychometric table. First you need to measure the temperature with a mercury thermometer. Then the mercury flask is wrapped with wet material and the measurement is repeated after 10 minutes with a “wet” thermometer. The temperature difference and the level of the "dry" thermometer are considered the initial data for establishing moisture.
An approximate level of humidity can be found in a glass vessel with water. It is placed in the refrigerator in advance for several hours so that the temperature is lowered to 5 degrees. Then the container is put on an even place far from the heating devices. If the condensate on the glass does not disappear in 5-10 minutes, then this means that the room has dry air. If the drops did not evaporate, but also increased in size, then the humidity is average. When condensate drains, the humidity is high.
Signs of low level
In conditions of high humidity, a favorable microclimate is created. The low level can be determined by:
- dry wood furniture;
- cracks between parquet strips;
- rapidly drying ground in flowerpots with plants;
- increased static electricity;
- the smell of dust from curtains and curtains;
- difficulty ironing clothes and bedding;
- dry skin and brittle hair.
Extremely dry air can lead to serious ailments. At first, a person feels thirst and a little discomfort. Then the appearance of rapid fatigue, burning in the eyes, drowsiness, and poor appetite is likely. Gradually, there is a violation of the water balance of the body and the protective functions of the mucous membranes, the immune system decreases sharply.
Allergies to dust can lead to chronic diseases of the bronchi and lungs. Doctors recommend regular water procedures, quenching thirst with clean still water, moisturizing the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes, which will eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of low humidity.
Wet sheets
How to increase humidity quickly? This can be done by hanging wet and woven textiles hanging around the house. These can be sheets, towels and other bulk products.
This method has been used for a long time and still does not lose relevance. During the heating season, it is advisable to hang fabrics on radiators, and in the summer - in the aisles and places where the fabric will not interfere.
Spray gun. Water tank
This method also allows you to increase humidity. It is only necessary to spray clean water in all rooms in the air and onto the curtains through a frequent nozzle, which creates a cloud of small splashes.
Dryness often appears in winter due to the fact that hot radiators displace moisture. High humidity in the apartment can be provided thanks to bowls with water, which must be placed on the batteries. You can place porous containers between sections in a radiator. Water evaporates, saturating the air.
Aquarium
To increase humidity for a long time, other methods are used. Usually they are chosen when the microclimate dryness is constant. For this, an aquarium is used.
In this case, you can not start fish. Decorative frogs, snails, turtles, jellyfish look great in the backlit water. You can not start living creatures, but simply decorate the tank with smooth stones and aquarium plants.
Houseplants
The increased humidity in the room is ensured by the use of indoor flowers. It is advisable to choose plants with large soft leaves, for example, monstera. Usually they are from tropical rainforests, so they are used to absorb a lot of moisture and give it away. It is only necessary to provide quality care for the flowers (regular watering, wiping the leaves from dust and spraying).
Indoor fountain
A room fountain, which acts as a humidifier , can increase humidity. Water overflows in it, which provides faster evaporation than in an aquarium, the more it looks beautiful and creates a cozy atmosphere. It is important to use only clean water and change it often. And the fountain must be washed so that microorganisms do not start there.
Ventilation
Airing in wet weather helps a lot. You just need not to overdo it: if the rain hits the window, then do not open it immediately. You should wait a bit, and after the rain subsides, open the window.
Suitable heating appliances. Household Humidifiers
There are heating devices that dry the air less. To do this, use heaters that do not burn oxygen and operate in a gentle mode. Great fit:
- Infrared With them, not air, but objects are heated, so the negative impact on the microclimate is minimal.
- Convector having a closed heating element. TEN does not burn oxygen, and natural convection does not raise dust.
- Oil. They are not able to heat up to critical temperatures.
- Ceramic. Devices interact little with water vapor.
Do not install fireplaces and fan heaters with open heating elements. It will be difficult to maintain sufficient humidity.
In modern household appliance stores there are household humidifiers powered by electricity. Devices support a healthy microclimate. Devices are divided into steam, traditional and ultrasonic.
Types of Humidifiers
If someone in the family is allergic, it is best to purchase a special moisturizer. Before buying, you should familiarize yourself with the features of each type. When choosing, you need to take into account the area of the room that you want to moisten.
Traditional humidifiers operate on the principle of natural evaporation. The design includes a water tank, fan and filter. The advantages of the device include a minimum of energy consumption. At optimal humidity, the device ends the evaporation.
Steam devices operate by releasing hot steam into the air. Devices quickly moisturize, you can use tap water with them. There is no need to replace filters. Shutdown is performed automatically when the liquid boils away.
Ultrasonic devices operate using high-frequency oscillations of a special membrane that breaks water into cold steam. Such humidifiers are compact, able to regulate humidity, and have a low cost.
Consumers are offered embedded systems that include several devices that purify and moisturize the air according to the specified parameters. Humidifiers are found in some modern air conditioners. Although the use of moisturizers is useful for the well-being of a person, it is necessary to observe the measure. If the indicator is above 70%, then in a warm room a favorable environment for bacteria and mold is provided.