Functions of the hygrometer. Do you know what it is and what it is for?

The hygrometer and humidity in environmental comfort

Humidity is an important factor that can determine air quality inside a space. It affects the people and living beings inhabiting it, but it also affects the objects and construction materials. When levels are excessive, it usually condenses in the form of liquid water. Condensation promotes the appearance of molds and dust mites, whose proliferation can cause respiratory diseases. Conversely, when humidity is very low, it affects the throat, causing dryness, and also deteriorates wood and other cladding materials. Hygrotropic comfort is therefore a goal that is only achieved when the individual does not experience either cold or heat, meaning that environmental conditions such as air movement, humidity, or temperature support the activity they are performing. Its measurement is not easy as subjective aspects come into play.

Other factors that influence our sense of comfort

Dry temperature is the temperature of the air surrounding the individual. People constantly interact with their environment in such a way that the difference between this temperature and our skin temperature conditions the heat exchange between that person and the environment. This exchange is called convective heat exchange. Radiation exchange also occurs, which establishes the relationship between a person and the surfaces surrounding them, whether they are walls, ceilings, or windows. This type of exchange can make the interior of a house comfortable at a temperature of 14 °C, but with walls at 22 °C. When the skin temperature is higher than the radiant temperature, it releases heat to the environment. Conversely, if it is lower, the body receives heat from the room.

Air speed plays a role in feelings of heat: in summer it increases our sense of comfort while in winter it decreases it, so it is necessary to reduce it.

Apart from environmental conditions, engaging in intense activity gives us a greater feeling of heat. In fact, our body transforms 10% of our activity into useful work. The rest turns into heat that our body has to dissipate, for example, through sweating.

Clothing is also a variable that conditions our sense of comfort. As the thermal resistance of our clothing increases, it becomes more difficult for our body to release heat. Light clothing in summer helps maintain a balance between the heat generated in the body by ambient temperature and the amount of heat it can transfer to that same environment through clothing.