How to Know If You Need a Humidifier or Dehumidifier

Proper humidity in your home is important. If the humidity gets too low, you can experience an increase in allergies and dry skin. If the humidity is too high, you may see the appearance of mildew due to excessive moisture. A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air and a humidifier adds moisture to your air. A quick test can tell you if you need a humidifier or a dehumidifier in your home.

Hydrometer

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase a hydrometer. A hydrometer measures the relative humidity in a given location in percentages. A hydrometer measures the humidity level at around 90 percent on a rainy day .
- 2
  Measure the humidity levels in the rooms where you spend most of your time. For most people, this is the living room and the bedroom. Since humidity levels change regularly, measure the levels in the morning, afternoon and night over a period of several days. Average the numbers out to determine the average humidity in your home.
- 3
  Install a humidifier to add moisture to the air if your humidity level averages below 50 percent. If the average humidity in your home exceeds 60 percent, install a dehumidifier. The correct humidity level in your home should be between 50 to 60 percent.

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