You might be able to learn more about what’s in your home’s atmosphere just from using a simple glass of plain water as a tool. The way this works is with the process known as the ice cube test; it allows us to easily see the amount of humidity that is present within our home environment, without having to use any additional equipment.
If your home’s air is excessively dry, it can cause problems such as suffering from dry skin, nasal/throat irritations, and just generally being uncomfortable. Too much humidity in an indoor environment creates a situation that will encourage mould to grow, and the quality of air in our homes will decline greatly. According to research, “Indoor air humidity, air quality, and health”, published in ScienceDirect, indoor humidity levels are directly linked to comfort, respiratory irritation, and air quality conditions. Thus, being aware of the air conditions indoors can assist in making necessary adjustments that will improve your quality of life.
Easy method to test apartment humidity in minutes
The test is simple and can be done in just a few minutes:
- Fill a glass with water
- Add a few ice cubes and stir
- Leave it in a room for a few minutes
After waiting, observe the outside of the glass. What you see will indicate the condition of your indoor air.
What the results mean
If you observe droplets of water forming on the exterior side of the glass, it shows that the air is more humid since the water vapour from the air condenses against the cold glass surface.
When there are no droplets at all, it shows that the air is dry. The presence of a foggy layer without any droplets means the humidity is moderate.
The science behind it
This experiment depends on the principle of the dew point. When warm air meets the cold substance, it becomes cool and is unable to retain moisture. This causes the extra moisture to form tiny droplets.It is due to this reason that condensation appears on the outside surface of a cold glass, which shows the level of moisture in the atmosphere.
Why knowing indoor humidity is important
Humidity also influences the comfort level and healthiness of a place. When there is not enough moisture in the air, it tends to feel dry and irritating to breathe, particularly if exposed for long periods of time. On the other hand, excessive humidity makes the air thick and might cause the formation of mould in some rooms at home.
A simple test with useful insights
The test with a glass of water does not substitute the use of measuring instruments such as a hygrometer, but provides a simple means to evaluate your air quality from home. Without spending too much time, you will get an overall view of how you can improve the situation.
