What humidity should be in the nursery
The humidity in the living area depends on the climate and the season. In coastal regions and marshy areas, excessive moisture in houses will become a problem, a ventilation system will help to cope with it. During the heating season, heating devices dry the air. Frequent airing will increase the oxygen content, help get rid of excess carbon dioxide, but will cool the room.
The optimal microclimate is created by a recuperation system with humidity control, but it is very costly in design and installation, its arrangement is impossible in an apartment and is not advisable in a small private house. Normal humidity values are between 40 and 60%.
Expert opinion
Nikonorov Vladimir Alekseevich
Our expert. Air conditioning and ventilation specialist with 10 years of experience.
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On the net you can find a lot of tips on how to increase the humidity of the air, but with their help it is impossible to control its rate. Hanging wet rags on batteries is a controversial decision from the point of view of aesthetics, and recommendations about a container with boiling water in the room are dangerous for people.
You can determine the humidity in the room based on your own observations. If you feel dryness of the skin and mucous membranes, this indicates a lack of moisture. Air oversaturation with water vapor causes a feeling of lack of oxygen.
To make the final decision on the normalization of the microclimate, it is necessary to measure the humidity of the air. Traditional methods do not give the required accuracy, so it is best to use a purchased hygrometer, and, based on its readings, purchase devices for humidifying the air.
What should be the normal parameter?
If we talk about well-being, scientists are unambiguous: people feel best at a relative humidity in the range of 30-60%.
But from the point of view of health, the boundaries are somewhat narrowing.
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The conditions of a good climate in the house are important for human life. It is on the appropriate level of moisture that a comfortable stay in a particular room depends entirely. Each living area has its own parameters of the desired temperature and humidity, depending on the purpose. The main points for many are to ventilate the room and measure the temperature of the surrounding air, the state of living organisms living there.
The average data established by specialists is 45%. It can fluctuate depending on the purpose, size and type of room. Operating conditions are an important factor. Of course, small errors are possible both in winter and in summer. If the humidity is too high or too low, there is some discomfort.
- dining room - up to 50%;
- bedroom - up to 50%;
- children's room - up to 60%;
- kitchen and bathroom - 40 - 60%;
- library, study - up to 40%.
Of course, the bathroom and kitchen will be higher in terms of performance, because the norm for them is higher.
In winter, the heating season begins in the house, which significantly dries the air inside the apartment. People living inside may feel discomfort in the dry mucous membrane of the nose and throat. Hair becomes overdry, becomes brittle, skin peels off. If the humidification level in the room is not correct, an unpleasant phenomenon such as static electricity appears. This process becomes the basis for the spread of mites and microbes. The main problems that can arise with excessive dry air:
- diseases and unpleasant consequences for the skin - dermatitis, cracks, wrinkles, peeling skin, problems with the mucous membrane. The skin becomes dry, loses its elasticity, hair and nail plate breaks;
- eye problems - itching, dry eyeball, redness. As a result, conjunctivitis, a feeling of a speck in the eye, may occur;
- the heart valve wears out faster. A person often and quickly gets tired, complaints of headaches appear, activity and efficiency decrease. The heart is exposed to severe stress, the blood becomes thicker;
- metabolism and general work of the gastrointestinal tract worsens - the viscosity index of gastric and intestinal juice becomes higher;
- dryness occurs inside the respiratory tract, local immunity becomes weaker, a person often catches a cold, gets sick;
- the air quality becomes much lower - allergens accumulate in the air masses, which in normal conditions are bound to normal humidity by water particles.
Insufficient moisture affects plants, animals, furniture and household utensils made of wood, sometimes it is necessary to carry out finishing work again - the coatings become faded, cracks.
A high percentage of room humidity can provoke problems such as:
- diseases of the respiratory tract become frequent guests - rhinitis, forms of bronchitis, pneumonia, allergic reactions, the condition of asthmatics worsens - the disease turns into a chronic form that is practically not treated;
- the condition in the room worsens, stuffiness appears, dampness and an uncomfortable feeling arises;
- there is no feeling of freshness - pathogenic microbes multiply, which cause unpleasant odors;
- the laundry dries out much longer and remains damp.
The humidity increased by several percent provokes the active development of harmful microorganisms: fungal, pathogenic, mold. The environment around a person reacts sensitively to an increase in humidity - the plants rot, disappear. Mold appears on ceilings, walls, decoration, wood surfaces are deformed, and paper products, such as books, change their structure.
The physiology of a child is much softer than that of an adult. Children are more likely to suffer from illnesses, respiratory colds, may freeze or overheat. The temperature regime and humidity indicators must necessarily be appropriate for the child's room, it is necessary to create special conditions to protect the small organism from stress factors.
Overdried air in the children's room is enemy number 1. The air masses in the room must be humidified, because diseases of the mucous membranes in the baby can occur, a problem with immunity appears. A common symptom is peeling and itching of the skin. The percentage of moisture in the microclimate of the children's recreation area should not exceed 50 - 60%. If the child has a cold, the moisture level must be increased - so it is better for mucous membranes to cope with drying out.
The ratio of humidity in winter and in summer in the room for the crumbs should be the same, but with one exception - the air temperature should be at least 24 degrees. If the indicators are higher, the nursery will turn into the tropics.
Air humidifier for newborn
Temperature and humidity standards for babies are 22-25 C0 and 40-60%. When choosing a device, pay attention to the principles of its operation:
Ultrasonic
Its principles of operation are based on the supply of water to a special membrane. Ultrasonic vibrations grind the liquid, after which it mixes with air and spreads in the room. The devices are low-noise, capable of humidifying a fairly large room, but demanding on the quality of water.
Steam
Boils and evaporates water. Suitable for installation in a cool room, becauseis able to increase not only humidity, but also air temperature. Has aromatherapy function, consumes a lot of electricity, not recommended for installation in places accessible to children.
Traditional
The principle of operation of the device is based on natural evaporation of water. Built-in fans blow air to the wet cartridge. You can use tap water, the evaporation rate is regulated by the speed of the fans.
Budget models have only a humidification function, while modern and expensive devices are equipped with the following functions:
- filtration;
- ionization;
- aromatization;
- destruction of bacteria.
The most convenient devices are those with built-in humidity level sensors.
Another article about humidifiers
Standards in accordance with GOST in residential premises
GOST 30494-96 regulates the following humidity standards, based on the season: 30-45% in cold months, 30-60% - should be in warm months. The maximum indicator in the 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 the air humidity in the apartment in the range of 40-60% at any time of the year.
The lower indicator is 30% and this is already dry air, uncomfortable for a person, causing dry eyes, fatigue, fatigue, and decreased immunity. With dry air indoors, the leaves of indoor flowers begin to dry quickly, the likelihood of developing allergies in humans is high.
How to choose a humidifier for a nursery
If you live in an environmentally friendly place, your children do not suffer from allergies and respiratory diseases, and you can allocate a small amount for the purchase of a humidifier, opt for the simplest ultrasonic device that does not have additional functions.
Residents of megalopolises are more prone to allergic reactions due to air pollution, the ecology of large cities is far from standards, so it makes sense to choose a device equipped with cleaning and ionization functions. It makes no sense to install a purifier-fragrance in the children's room, some odors can cause allergic reactions.
All other things being equal, give preference to a device that:
- with a compact size, it has a capacious reservoir;
- equipped with a clear control system;
- has a noise level not higher than 40 dB.
Pay attention to the estimated floor space, energy consumption and filter change frequency.
Where to put a humidifier in a children's room
The main criteria for choosing a place for installing a humidifier in a nursery are safety and efficiency:
- position the device so that the child cannot reach it;
- install the humidifier at a height of at least half a meter from the floor;
- place it as close to the heater as possible to achieve optimum humidity.
Attention! The silent humidifier will not disturb sleep, which is especially important for children with increased excitability and hyperactivity.
Check the water level in the device. Modern humidifiers are equipped with a shutdown function in the absence of water, so its timely addition will ensure uninterrupted operation of the device.
Expert opinion
Nikonorov Vladimir Alekseevich
Our expert. Air conditioning and ventilation specialist with 10 years of experience.
Ask a Question
Excess moisture is just as harmful as lack of moisture, check the moisture level with a hygrometer, or use a humidifier that automatically measures this parameter.
Moisture determination methods
The percentage of moisture content is measured with a hygrometer. The price for it varies depending on the accuracy. In an apartment, a device with an error of 3-6% is suitable. Its cost is 600-1100 rubles.
Video: how to measure moisture
Also, moisture can be measured using improvised means. Here are some examples:
- Spruce cone... Place it on a flat surface far enough from heat sources and observe it. With a high value of humidity, its scales will close together more tightly. In a situation of dry air, the bump will begin to open.
- Asserman table... First, measure the temperature in the room with an alcohol thermometer. Record this figure on paper. Then wrap it with a wet cloth and repeat the measurement. In this case, the reading of the thermometer should decrease. We enter the obtained data on the temperature in the table, we find the desired value.
- Glass method... The measurement begins with cooling a glass of water to 5 C. To do this, it must be placed in the refrigerator for 3-5 hours. After this time, we take out the glass and observe the behavior of condensate droplets on its walls for 5 minutes. Rapid drying of the glass will indicate low humidity. Slightly misted walls mean that the humidity in the apartment is at the optimum level. If streams flowed along the wall, then the water vapor content is overestimated.
Of course, these methods have a high error, but on the whole they give a correct idea of the amount of moisture.
Attention! The first sign of dry air is the presence of dry tips on the leaves of indoor plants.
What is a humidifier in a nursery for?
A good humidifier is able to maintain a comfortable microclimate, clean the room from dust and bacteria. Children have weaker immunity compared to adults. During active games, the smallest particles of dust, together with bacteria, rise to the top.
Using a humidifier in your baby's room?
No Required
The drier the air, the more dust is dispersed in it. Small children and their habit of playing on the floor increase the risk of inhaling polluted air. The use of a humidifier reduces the level of dust, reduces the incidence of viral and respiratory diseases.
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