The humidity level is one of the most important indicators of the microclimate. Dry indoor air can cause unwell and even health problems. How to increase the humidity in the apartment if you don't want to spend money on expensive equipment? There are ways - you can both make a humidifier with your own hands, and use improvised means.
Do you get tired quickly? Allergy haunts? Do you get sick often? Dry air may be to blame. Low humidity - especially in winter period- becomes a problem in many homes and leads to negative consequences.
You don't have to buy expensive devices to humidify a room. However, do not think that a basin of water in the middle of the room will solve the problem with low humidity once and for all: alternative ways not as effective as, therefore, they can only be considered a temporary measure.
Why do you need to humidify the air in the apartment
It is imperative to monitor the humidity level. But why is dry air in an apartment harmful?
Why do you need a humidifier in an apartment - at least a homemade one?
- Dry air causes a sore throat, cough, dries up the mucous membranes of the nose and eyes; eye problems are especially true for lens wearers.
- Air with low humidity and high dust content is especially dangerous for children, asthmatics and allergy sufferers. In addition, the risk of allergies increases in healthy people.
- With a lack of moisture, fatigue often increases, drowsiness, sometimes even occurs.
- Hair and nails become more brittle and faded, and the skin becomes dry.
- In dry warm air, bacteria and viruses tend to multiply faster, which means that the risk of disease increases.
- Dry air negatively affects not only humans. From lack of moisture, they stop growing or dry out houseplants, deteriorate faster wooden furniture, windows, doors, musical instruments, etc.
The list is impressive. However, the consequences are too many, so it is better to observe the golden mean.
To make the apartment comfortable, it is necessary to maintain a humidity level of 40-60%. About, for example, in the nursery or office, you can also read on our blog.
indoors in several ways. If you do not have special devices at hand, you can use folk ways. The exact figure this, of course, cannot be defined, but if the room needs humidification, you will know for sure about it.
- Pour water into a bottle.
- Put it in the refrigerator for a few hours.
- Remove the container and leave it in the room for five minutes. The walls of the bottle will quickly become covered with condensation.
- If after five minutes the drops on the bottle are almost dry, then the air in the room is very dry. When excessively high humidity the drops will turn into a small puddle. If the drops slowly slide down it, then the humidity is normal.
A spruce cone will also help measure the moisture level. A fully opened bump indicates low humidity; if the scales of the cone are only slightly open or tightly pressed against each other, then there are no problems with moisture.
To find out the exact moisture content in the air, you need hygrometer. The main thing is to put it away from batteries and other heating appliances: this is how you get the most accurate information.
If you want to find out not only the level of air humidity, but also other indicators of the microclimate (for example, the temperature and the content of carbon dioxide in the air), then you should pay attention to the smart microclimate system. It allows not only to monitor the characteristics of the air in the house, but also to automatically control the climatic equipment.
The most common advice for humidifying the air in an apartment is to put wet towels on the radiator. But the towels will often have to be moistened, which is not very convenient. More elegant and creative solution there will be special humidifiers for the heating battery.
These humidifiers are a container into which water is poured. The vessel is hung on a radiator, and the water in it gradually evaporates, filling the room with moisture. Most humidifiers different forms and sizes are made from ceramics, plastic, steel and other materials.
According to reviews, the most popular option is a ceramic humidifier. True, its evaporation area is small, so it is better to hang two or three devices on the radiators. Ceramic humidifiers are inexpensive, their mounts are, as a rule, reliable, and the variety of shapes, colors and decorative paintings will make it easy to choose a copy that matches your interior.
Hard tap water can spoil appearance the walls of the container. Therefore, before pouring water, it is worth filtering it out.
1. A humidifier for a battery can be made with your own hands:
- The main thing is to choose a product from a material that does not melt at high temperatures. Ceramic vases or bottles, dishes made of heat-resistant plastic, etc. will do. You can make a home humidifier in and out of plastic bottle, but then the aesthetic side will have to be forgotten.
- It is necessary to make a hole in the container and pull a reliable fastener into it. Strong wire is fine.
- End view homemade humidifier depends entirely on you! You can paint it with paints, make an applique, cover it with a beautiful fabric.
- To fill the room not only with moisture, but also with a pleasant smell, you can add a couple of drops to the water essential oil with your favorite scent.
2. The easiest way to humidify the air at home is take a spray bottle and spray indoor water or place a water tank in front of the fan. You can also put a pot or a half-open kettle with boiling water in the room. But you should not abuse this method: hot steam has a bad effect on the durability of wallpaper and furniture.
3. The next method is similar to the previous one, only it turns into a humidifier kitchen stove. Place a pot or other container of water on the stove and simmer over low heat. Add cinnamon sticks, lavender, orange or apple peels to create a pleasant scent in your home. Remember to make sure that the water does not boil away.
4. The bathroom is known to be the source of the highest humidity in the house. Leave the bathroom door open after taking a shower. Is an easy way to add a little extra moisture to the air.
5. Not sure how to deal with low humidity? Wash your entire wardrobe! You without extra effort fill the air with moisture if you dry clothes on or near a radiator. So you will kill two birds with one stone: both things will dry faster and the humidity will rise.
In general, a hydrogel is decorative ground, which is used in floriculture, but it is also suitable for humidifying the air. Instead of placing basins and pots all over the house, you can put a hydrogel in the form of colored balls in a beautiful glass dish. Under the influence of moisture, they increase in size several times and gradually release moisture to the air in the room.
Do not forget to add water to the container with balls from time to time so that the evaporation process does not stop.
The microclimate in your home may improve slightly if you design a small home garden. , the question is controversial, but some specimens can help in moistening: plants need a little water from the ground, 99% of moisture evaporates through leaves, flowers and stems.
You should choose moisture-loving plants that need regular watering or spraying, such as ficuses, ferns (for example, nephrolepis is a type of fern), hibiscus, dracaena, etc. And do not turn the mini-garden into a jungle - a few plants that complement the interior will be enough.
Any container with water can become a humidifier, since water tends to evaporate gradually. The aquarium is the same container with water. You need to choose an open aquarium without a lid - closed models are not very suitable for our task. The only drawback is that the aquarium and the fish in it need to be constantly looked after.
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Coziness and comfortable environment are determined not only by solid furniture and stylish design, but also a favorable microclimate. The humidity indicator is of great importance to humans. Dry air is a great health hazard and should therefore be dealt with. We will talk about how to humidify the air in a room without, in our article.
Fresh and humidified air is a prerequisite for furnishing children's rooms
All kinds heating equipment affects the appearance of dry air, which dries the surface of the skin and does not allow full breathing. Lack of moisture can cause certain health problems. The condition and safety of surrounding objects also depends on humidity. After all, antiques and musical instruments do not tolerate both low and high humidity.
What is the danger of moisture deficiency:
- in a dry environment, pathogenic microorganisms are formed;
- dry atmosphere dries mucous membranes;
- bad for skin and hair. With a lack of moisture, even nails can exfoliate;
- static electricity accumulates and at the same time dirt particles float in the air, which is harmful to the respiratory tract;
- allergens appear.
An arid climate can trigger symptoms such as weakness, dry skin, headaches, and dry nasal cavity.
With high-quality air humidification in the apartment, most of the problems disappear. The dust begins to settle, which makes it easier to clean. It is easier to breathe within a few minutes after manipulating with forced hydration. Normal humidity is considered to be 50-60%. You can find out the moisture content using a hygrometer. It is worth trying the Assman table. To do this, measure the temperature with a wet and dry bulb, and then check the data against the table. You can try to determine if you need it in an apartment without special equipment. Pour cold water into a cup. You can fill only 1/12 of the volume and send it to the refrigerator for half an hour. Then place the pot in the room. Depending on the further behavior of the water, the following results can be obtained:
What should be the optimal humidity in the apartment?
In case of insufficient humidity, forced humidification should be performed, which will have a positive effect on the well-being of the household.
Should you buy a humidifier?
You are probably wondering what to do if the air in the apartment is dry. In such a situation, you can buy a special humidifier. It is a mechanism that distributes tiny particles of water in space, which moisturizes it. Such a device is compact and easy to use. There are also some downsides. For example, elevated level electricity, high price and the noise produced.
Household humidifiers are easy to use. They need to periodically add water and that's it. This is enough to maintain a normal microclimate. You can choose from the following types of equipment:
- ultrasonic humidifier works with ultrasound. It sprays fine particles of moisture in the air;
- a conventional spray bottle is similar to a spray bottle. With its help, water is sprayed in trickles;
- the steam appliance distributes cold steam in the surrounding space;
- hot spray device - hot.
When choosing the right equipment, you need to decide on the price, with certain characteristics of the model and with the needs of households.
How to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier: methods and tips
A humidifier is a maintenance-intensive design and is not cheap. Therefore, most likely, you will need advice on how to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier. The following methods are worth trying:
- dishes filled with water;
- fountains for decoration or aquariums;
- a wet cloth on a heater;
- the use of indoor plants;
- wet cleaning, which is carried out 2-3 times a week.
Do not forget to ventilate all rooms. This should be done several times a day.
Water use
Most easy method- put dishes with water throughout the room. It is important that the container is large in width. After all, the more voluminous the area of evaporation, the better the water particles are distributed in the air. A greater effect will be obtained when using dishes than mugs and glasses. Do not forget to change the contents of the dishes. After all, this is an excellent environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
If it is not possible to arrange dishes with water, then an aquarium will be an excellent solution. Placing underwater plants in it will improve the humidification environment in the room. Before purchasing such an item, do not forget that it requires constant care.
The aquarium can be replaced with a small fountain. In addition to the moisturizing function, such an attribute will also perform a decorative one. Fountains come in different configurations and designs. Inside the device is a motor that circulates the water.
Helpful information! Put pots of flowers near the fountain, and you will not only create an organic composition, but also provide the sprouts with moisture and the room with oxygen.
Drying wet items
When deciding how to humidify the air in an apartment without a humidifier, it is worth trying an option that, when normal humidity not recommended as it promotes the appearance of mold. But if the room is very dry, then you can hang out the washed clothes.
Alternatively, you can dampen a cloth and lay it on top of the battery. The matter will heat up, and the liquid will evaporate and enter the air.You can invent a simple bandage humidifier. To do this, water is poured into the container, and a wet bandage is placed on the battery with one end, and into a jar of water with the other. In this case, the part on the batteries will dry, and the other end of the bandage will absorb water from the container.
Helpful information! Remember not to put wet items on electric heaters.
How will plants help?
When choosing methods of how to humidify the air in a room without a humidifier, it is worth considering such an option as plants that form oxygen and supply moisture to the air. This helps ionize the air and protects it from harmful bacteria.You will especially benefit from growing an orchid, fern, hibiscus, ficus or linden tree at home.
Correct use of air
Another uncomplicated way Is regular ventilation. The outside air is well saturated with moisture. It is enough to ventilate for 15-25 minutes several times a day and the quality of the microclimate will noticeably improve. This helps to improve breathing and well-being. The effect of airing will be improved by wet cleaning or spraying water from a spray bottle in the air.
The problem of dry air in the apartment is very urgent, since hot battery or a continuously operating air conditioner, reduce the air humidity from 40 to 60%. Dry air can be a serious problem if you have small children in your home. Breathing in low humidity is much harder, sleeping poorly, and bacteria and infections spread faster. That is why the question of how to increase the air humidity in an apartment is being raised more and more often by people. Of course, you can humidify the air in the room in a simple way- airing. However, in the cold season, airing the premises causes problems. In addition, at this point it is necessary to turn off the batteries and the air conditioner for greater effect. To increase the humidity of the air, it is necessary to carry out as often as possible in the apartment wet cleaning... This is especially true of rooms where children sleep.
Moisturizing with a humidifier
The best way to deal with this problem is to use humidifiers. The principle of operation of the humidifier is not complicated. A stream of air passes over the water, capturing the smallest droplets of water, and the fan carries the resulting mixture throughout the room. Humidifiers operating on this principle are the most energy efficient and generate very little noise during operation. In modern devices, a hydrostat (air humidity level meter) is installed. Therefore, having tuned the device to a satisfying result, it will constantly support it.
A good solution would be to install a filter in place of the air intake. This will save the premises from unnecessary dust and germs. They are also good for aromatherapy, can be used for inhalation, and are completely safe for children.
However, humidifiers are not very powerful, so they cannot raise the humidity above 60%.... In the case of absolutely dry air, they will not be able to get to this level. The cost of such a device will cost from 5 to 16 thousand rubles.
There are more advanced ones ultrasonic humidifiers... The principle of operation is the same, only mixing takes place in a separate chamber by breaking and stirring the molecules. Such devices are noticeably more efficient than analog ones and will allow you to maintain any level of humidity. True, they can be used exclusively with distilled water, since any other will leave white bloom, and hinder the operation of the device.
The simplest are steam humidifiers. They work like a normal boiling kettle. Water constantly boils in it and there is a sensor that turns off the device when the water supply has evaporated. It has many disadvantages. For example, if you leave the device unattended for a long time, it can arrange a full-fledged steam room in the room, since it does not have automatic control of the humidity level. What's more, hot steam is dangerous for children and animals, and moisture can damage wallpaper and furniture.
There are also air washers that are successfully used in the fight against dry air. The principle of their operation is based on a humidifier, only water droplets enter the air through the plates. A special fan blows polluted air through the water droplets, humidifying it and collecting dust, which subsequently enters the water tank. They have an autonomous hydrostat with the ability to set the operating mode. The maximum attainable humidity of the apparatus is 60%. Universal devices that not only humidify but also purify the air are quite expensive.
Use humidifiers in conjunction with air conditioners. Since only such a system creates for a person favorable conditions accommodation. You need to be especially careful in relation to humidifiers with ionizers. On the one hand, they attract dust, but on the other, after a polarity change, such an attraction will be ineffective. It is in such cases that the air conditioner will be an excellent addition.
Self-humidification of rooms
How to increase air humidity without appliances? If your budget does not allow for a standalone device, it is worth resorting to simple and affordable ways to humidify the air in rooms. For example, put a container of water (basin, vase, jar) under the battery. You can even add oils to the water for added health benefits. The main thing is not to forget, as often as possible, to change the water.
An excellent way to solve not only the problem of dry air in the room, but also to bring liveliness to the interior of the apartment, can be a simple aquarium and gardening of rooms, such plants as cyperus can evaporate up to 3 liters of water per day. True, they require care, careful watering and, accordingly, time. If the space in the room and the design features of the apartment allows, you can install indoor fountain... However, it can greatly humidify the room due to small splashes of water, so its dimensions should be commensurate with the size of the room.
Air humidity directly depends on its temperature. The lower the temperature, the less you can raise the maximum humidity and vice versa. That is, if at 15 degrees the humidity is 60%, then at 25 degrees the same air composition will be humidified by 35%. This means that the higher the temperature, the more you will have to deal with humidification.
Simple household situations can also help you humidify your air. Drying clothes after washing in an apartment will provide sufficient humidity in the rooms, especially if dried on batteries.
Summary
Depending on your requirements and the size of the room, it is important to choose the right way in which you will humidify. Whereas for small rooms it will be possible to use compact humidifiers or humidify the air naturally, then large rooms will require a more professional approach. Modern air conditioning equipment can provide not only a given temperature regime, but also to filter and humidify the air. The built-in intelligent system can even respond to changes in the weather, air pollution, and work at certain intervals.
The problem of dry air in a room is familiar to many. It is especially relevant in winter. What is the danger of excessively dry air and how to humidify it to a normal state?
Atmospheric air always contains a certain amount of water vapor. Their percentage is called air humidity. Humidity is high after a summer rain. At low temperatures, the humidity is less, the frosty air is dry. In the apartment, the air humidity is even lower than outside, due to the operation of heating devices.
What is normal humidity?
Humidity of 40-60% is considered normal for humans. Within the limits of this norm, most people feel comfortable, although this does not mean that at other parameters the air is unsuitable for breathing. Inhabitants of dry deserts and humid tropical forests confirm this. The air humidity to which a person is accustomed can be considered normal, and it differs only by 10-15% from the generally accepted one.
You can measure the humidity level with a hygrometer. Some observations will also help determine if the air humidity is normal.
Signs of high humidity in the apartment:
- it is hard to breathe, like in a bathhouse or in a greenhouse;
- foggy windows;
- dampness and in unventilated rooms.
Signs of too dry air in the apartment:
- the mucous membranes dry out - the lips are cracked, itchy throat, stuffy nose;
- slight coughing;
- dry skin of the face and hands, peeling, burrs and cracks on the hands;
- hair and synthetic clothes are strongly electrified;
- in indoor plants, the tips of the leaves dry out.
The climate in your area can help you determine with certainty if the humidity in your apartment is normal. If in winter frosty periods alternate with thaws, when the temperature rises above 0 degrees, snow melts or it rains, it is enough to simply observe. Regularly open windows and vents for ventilation and you will notice that during rains and thaws all your unpleasant phenomena with dry skin and coughing go away on their own.
Why is dry air in an apartment dangerous?
Low humidity in the house, in other words - too dry air, cannot be considered dangerous. Rather, it is an unpleasant phenomenon that can lead to illness under other circumstances.
The mucous membranes of a person secrete a moist secret, which serves as a protective barrier to the penetration of pathogenic bacteria, seasonal infections - ARVI and influenza. When the nasopharynx and oral cavity dry out, this barrier becomes thinner or damaged and does not protect the body sufficiently. Constant irritation of the upper respiratory tract leads to the development and exacerbation of various diseases - pharyngitis, bronchitis, asthma. This problem is especially relevant if there are small children in the family. They suffer most from dry air.
Dry skin on the face and hands requires the constant use of cosmetic moisturizers. In people prone to certain skin diseases or allergies to care products, winter is always considered a period of exacerbation. And the reason for this is dry indoor air.
How to deal with increased dry air?
How to increase the humidity in the room? The answer is simple - to evaporate a certain amount of water in the room and saturate the air with vapors. But how to do it most efficiently?
The easiest and most unpretentious way is to hang wet cloth on the battery or pour water into a wide vessel and place in a warm place for evaporation. Humidity will rise, but this is an ineffective way. The advantage of this option is its safety - you can hang a wet rag on the battery and forget about it, it is especially convenient to do this at night.
Boiling kettle able to humidify the air much faster. Fast and effective remedy but it works a short time and requires constant supervision. Not suitable for bedrooms and may be hazardous to children.
Wet cleaning humidifies the air well, but for a short time. It is often recommended to do it in kindergarten premises. At home, she will also not be superfluous.
Houseplants, especially with large leaves, humidify the air well. They evaporate water with their entire surface, and the more it is, the more moisture is released into the atmosphere. One or two large moisture-loving plants able to normalize the air in the room. Monsters, diphenbachia, indoor lemons, Cyperus, Hibiscus, Scindapsus are considered the best. The advantages of this method are constant evaporation, easy maintenance. By adding spraying to the leaves to regular watering, you can easily solve the problem of low humidity. Disadvantages: you need to take care of indoor flowers constantly, if you go on vacation, there is a problem of watering, large plants space and good illumination are required.
Aquarium easily solves the problem of normalizing air humidity. Cons - requires care and special knowledge.
Most reliable way- buy humidifier... Presented on the market wide selection these devices are different variants for the price and mode of action. All of them are efficient enough to cope with their task and do not require constant supervision. Cons - some material costs.
conclusions... If the problem of too dry air in the apartment is relevant for you, if children constantly sneeze and cough, if you feel tightness of the skin on your face and hands, then look for an inexpensive humidifier in the store and try to use it for a while, at least in the children's room. In the event that you cannot buy a humidifier for any reason, hang wet towels on the battery and do wet cleaning more often.
In conditions of insufficient air humidity, drowsiness and fatigue occur, working capacity decreases, and the syndrome of "dry" eyes develops. To create a comfortable indoor climate, you can use different ways air humidification
In conditions of insufficient air humidity there is drowsiness and fatigue, decreased performance, the syndrome of "dry" eyes develops. To create a comfortable microclimate in the room, you can use different methods of air humidification.
Recall that optimum humidity in the premises:
for living quarters, furniture, paintings, musical instruments, books - 40-60%;
for computers and other office equipment - 45-60%;
for indoor plants, winter gardens - 55–75%.
1. AIR THE ROOM REGULARLY
Open windows at least three times a day for at least 10-15 minutes. The wider the windows are opened, the faster the room will be ventilated.
This is the simplest and affordable way humidification of the air. But not the most efficient one. For example, the hot summer air is rather dry, so in dry weather ventilation alone will not provide adequate air humidification. But in winter time and heating season When the batteries dry out the air a lot, this humidification method works very well. 
2. PLACE VESSELS WITH WATER INDOOR
Place containers with water on the windowsills. The evaporating water ensures that the air in the room is well humidified. Do not forget to add water to the vessels in time.
Important: This is a fairly effective way to increase the humidity in the room, but not very hygienic. Since microorganisms and bacteria soon begin to multiply in containers with water, so do not forget to rinse them often.
3. DULT IN THE APARTMENT PLANTS HUMIDIFYING THE AIR
All indoor plants have a beneficial effect on the indoor microclimate. Air humidification in the apartment occurs due to the evaporation of water through the leaves of plants. This not only increases the humidity of the air, but also ionizes it. And some plants are capable of releasing, in addition to moisture, special organic substances that effectively purify and disinfect the air.
Advice: Especially a lot of moisture is able to give following plants: nephrolepis (house fern), fatsia, cyperus, sparmannia (indoor linden), ficus, dracaena, hibiscus. At the same time, nephrolepis additionally destroys airborne harmful substances(formaldehyde, xylene, toluene).
4. PURCHASE A SPECIAL AIR HUMIDIFICATION DEVICE
The above methods of air humidification are quite effective. However, they do not compare in efficiency with special devices that allow maintaining a given humidity level in a room.
Air humidifiers are of the following types: steam (equipped with an ionizing silver rod), traditional humidifiers (drive dry air through a wet sponge), ultrasonic humidifiers (purify water and spray it with a vibrating membrane).
If you decide to buy a humidifier for your home, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the available types of appliances. We will analyze the pros and cons of each type and show you how to choose the right humidifier for your air. To do right choice, it is worth being guided by some criteria for choosing a humidifier.
Humidifier type
The simplest type of such appliance is a traditional humidifier (or cold steam humidifier). Such a device humidifies the air in the apartment, evaporating particles cold water... Using such a humidifier is quite simple: you need to pour water into a special tank, after which the fan drives this water through special filters.
+ The main advantage of such models is that they independently adapt to their surrounding conditions and can adjust the rate of evaporation of water depending on the level of humidity in a particular room.
- In such devices, only distilled water should be used, otherwise the filter quickly clogs up and breaks down.
In steam models, the saturation of air with moisture occurs due to evaporation hot water, the steam has a temperature of 50-60 degrees. Here, the evaporating element is no longer a filter, but a pair of electrodes, which are immersed in water, thereby heating and evaporating it.
+ Such a device absolutely meets all safety requirements: when the water from the tank completely boils away, the humidifier automatically turns off itself.
- The temperature of the steam also entails limitations: such humidifiers are not recommended for those who have small children.
Today, the most popular among consumers and modern modification humidifier is an ultrasonic model. If you opt for such a model, then you yourself will be able to control the level of humidity in the room as much as possible. In such devices, the plate vibrates with an ultrasonic frequency, and when water hits this plate, it breaks down into tiny particles and is evenly sprayed in the room.
+ It is very efficient, quite compact, and even consumes very little electricity.
- Demineralization of water is required, otherwise the furniture becomes covered with a white coating after the settled small droplets of water with salts dissolved in it dry. It is necessary either to use distilled water, or to use decarbonizing filter cartridges with ion exchange resin (and, accordingly, replace the filter cartridge or its filler once every 2-3 months).
In conclusion, it is worth saying that in order to choose the right way to humidify the air, you need to clearly set tasks and determine in which room you need humidification in the first place. For a child's room, for example, a safe cold humidifier is recommended, but airing should be done only when the child is not in the room. In other rooms, an ultrasonic device is well suited, provided that demineralized water (distillate) is used, several flowerpots will not interfere.