How to Check for the Relative Humidity in a House

While people often notice when the humidity outside is too high for comfort, they rarely pay attention to the humidity levels in their own homes. Too little humidity in the home can create a dry atmosphere that produces static electricity and dry lips, skin and nasal passages. Too much humidity provides the perfect setup for mold and mildew growth. Checking the humidity in your home is a simple process that will let you know where you stand.

Digital or mechanical hygrometer

Instructions

- 1
  Purchase a digital or mechanical hygrometer -- a device used to measure the amount of moisture in the air. The digital version has a numeric readout that clearly shows the humidity level, while the mechanical version usually has a needle that rests on the numbers on a dial that represent the humidity level. You should be able to locate one or both models easily in a hardware or home improvement store.
- 2
  Place the hygrometer in the main living area of your household or in an area that is of particular concern to you like the basement or an upstairs area. Ensure that the hygrometer isn't near a fireplace, heating vent or radiator. Heat sources can affect the accuracy of the hygrometer.
- 3
  Allow the hygrometer several hours to adjust to its new environment, and assess the humidity levels before reading the results. Humidity below 30 percent indicates a home that is excessively dry, while humidity of 50 percent or above may lead to moisture problems.

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