A Guide to Humidity Measuring
Humidity has long been known to affect human comfort and health, particularly when combined with high temperatures. Anyone who has ever observed the weather would understand the importance of humidity measurement in forecasting and determining heat comfort. High humidity can indicate that it is time to turn on the air conditioner to be comfortable, or, in an industrial context, it can signify product damage or spoiling. Similarly, humidity also has the ability to impact electrical systems. For instance, high humidity can lead to condensation of water droplets on circuits, resulting in corrosion and shorting. Therefore, to ensure that humidity is at ideal levels, it is critical to measure it with a humidity meter.
What is Humidity?
Humidity is the amount of water vapour in the air, and it is caused by water evaporating and forming small droplets that become suspended in the air. As the droplets are tiny, they have the properties of gas rather than liquid. There are two ways to measure humidity.
- Absolute humidity (AH)
- Relative humidity (RH)
Absolute humidity is the mass of water vapour contained in a specific volume of air. Relative humidity is a measure of how saturated the air is at its current temperature. Since warm air can “hold” more water vapour, even with the same amount of water vapour, warm air will have a lower relative humidity than cool air. When the relative humidity is high, the air feels humid and sticky due to increased water vapour saturation. RH is generally expressed as a percentage and fluctuates with temperature and air pressure.
How Can Humidity Be Measured?
Once you grasp the basic principles of water vapour and air, measuring humidity becomes a simple process. It is expressed as Relative Humidity (RH) and includes both water vapour and temperature measurements.
A hygrometer, often known as a humidity meter, is used to measure humidity. They come in both analogue and digital versions. However, digital hygrometers are widely used for humidity measurement today as they are more accurate.
Reasons for Measuring Humidity
Humidity meters should be used to determine humidity for a variety of reasons.
1. Assess Manufacturing Conditions
High humidity can cause havoc in a variety of settings, leading to low-quality products. For instance, excess moisture can impair medicine effectiveness and shorten the estimated shelf life of pharmaceuticals.
2. Maintain Product Quality
Once a product is manufactured, its storage conditions should be monitored to ensure its quality remains intact. Excessive humidity can be a significant issue for moisture-sensitive products such as food and beverages, medications, and electrical equipment.
3. Ensure a Comfortable Environment
Along with production, another purpose of maintaining humidity is for human comfort. Controlling RH not only protects the health of the building’s occupants but also improves the efficiency of HVAC systems.
4. Avoid Mould and Pathogens
When relative humidity exceeds 60%, mould formation becomes probable, which can lead to expensive and time-consuming treatment. However, if the relative humidity falls below 40%, the risk of airborne virus transmission increases. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and manage humidity in a space to keep its occupants safe.
5. Safeguard Electrical Systems
Humidity can be harmful to electrical systems and components. The most obvious issue is condensation, which occurs when the relative humidity reaches 100%. The damage persists long after the RH drops and the droplets dissipate, making troubleshooting and identifying the problem source difficult. Therefore, maintaining an ideal RH level is critical.
Find the Best Humidity Meters in Singapore at CETM eStore
Whether you are seeking a temperature & humidity meter, digital multimeter or any other industrial measuring instrument, CETM eStore is the place for you. Serving both B2B and B2C clients, we are a one-stop shop for all of your test and measurement equipment needs. Our products range from thermometers to multimeters in Singapore, and we also provide services such as pre-sales demonstration, equipment calibration, and product training. As an authorised distributor of Fluke, we offer a variety of products, from Fluke multimeters to Fluke process meters, among other well-known brands. Visit our website to check out our products, or purchase a humidity tester of your choice today!