Does Humid Air Rise or Sink? Complete Guide
While enjoying a cup of coffee in the rain, have you ever wondered why rain falls from the sky? Well, the simplest answer is the presence of higher percentages of water vapor in the uppermost layer of the atmosphere. Does humid air rise or sink? Having a comprehension of this matter will solve all your doubts.
During winter, we all experience dry skin and itching due to dryness. Did you know that a major reason for this effect is humidity? In winter, cooler air from the outer atmosphere enters the house, and cold air can only present less moisture or water vapor. We know that humidity inside a house is the amount of water vapor presented. When there is less water vapor in the inner atmosphere, humidity decreases. It has been recognized that the average humidity inside a house should lie between 30% – 40% during colder months. If your home or room has less humidity than this value range of appropriate humidity, it will even be displayed physically.
Does Humid Air Rise or Sink?
As we discussed, lower humidity levels than 30% will result in dry skin, nose bleeding, an increase in static electric shocks, dry hair, respiratory problems, and catching cold and flu are some health issues related to lower humidity in winter. Your family members will catch a fever often when there is a low percentage of humidity as it is provided a favorable condition to spread virus and bacteria. You will observe cracks in the materials if you have wooden furniture and wooden flooring. Paint peeling from the walls is another sign of insufficient humidity.
The average humidity level for summer is between 50% and 60%.
Humid air means air that contains more water particles. If you purchase a hygrometer, you can easily find the percentage of humidity inside your house. If your home is two-storied, it will read a higher value on your upper floor. Usually, the difference with the ground floor will be 1%- 5%. This displays the answer to your question, does humid air rise or sink. The upper atmosphere has more water molecules and thus becomes more humid. It means humid air rise up.
How Does Humid Air Rise Up?
When moisture enters the air inside your house, it displays Nitrogen and oxygen molecules. Moisture means water vapor, and it has a molecular mass of 18. Nitrogen and Oxygen, respectively, present molecular weights of 28 and 32. These two gases composite nearly 99% of the air inside your house. Hence, this replacement makes the air less dense than dry air at constant pressure and volume.
Less dense air moves upward. This is the reason you get a higher reading near the ceiling when you check with a hygrometer. The floor level will present a lower humidity percentage.
What Happens If Humidity is too High in Your House?
As per your knowledge through this article so far, you know that humidity higher than 40% in winter and 60% in summer is not acceptable. This is because it provides friendly environments for insect infestations, fungus growth, and bacteria spreading. When there are mold spores in the air, the family members will end up with allergic responses, skin irritations, and respiratory issues like increasing asthma.
Poor ventilation will cause high humidity. High humidity levels will be maintained inside your home when there is an over-exchange of air with the outer atmosphere. Malfunctioning of the home’s HVAC system also could be a reason here. Emitting water vapor highly in household activities like cooking, bathing with hot water, watering indoor plants, and cloth drying.
How to Maintain the Humidity of Your Home?
It is essential to stay within the recommended humidity limits. Human immune defense and spreading disease-causing microorganisms depend on the humidity inside a house. To maintain the correct, you will have to check the humidity levels from a hygrometer. Then you can follow the actions to increase or decrease the water vapor inside your house.
How to Increase Humidity Inside My House?
Increasing humidity is way too easy. Do try the following and then check the humidity levels. This will help you maintain healthy skin, avoid flues, protect your wooden structures, etc.
- Hang wet clothes to dry inside the house.
- Add more indoor plants and water them frequently.
- Open the bathroom doors when you shower to move the steam inside your room. You can also keep the warm water in the tub for a while because it will emit moisture as it cools down.
- Keep water containers near heaters and radiators to allow evaporation.
- Invest in a humidifier if all these methods do not make a sufficient improvement.
Where Should I Put My Humidifier?
You need to keep the humidifier in the middle of your room at least a two feet height. Placing a humidifier in your bedroom will give you a comfortable sleep but make sure to maintain a distance of three feet with it. Open the door halfway to allow excess moisture to go out if you use it in your bedroom while sleeping.
Avoid keeping a humidifier near electronic appliances, windows exposed to direct sunlight, and vents.
How to Reduce Indoor Humidity in Your Home?
- The damage to the roof and the cracks of the ground floor will result in more replacement of water vapor. Therefore, hire a professional and check whether there are issues with your roofing and flooring.
- Turn on the AC machines. Make sure you perform regular maintenance to keep the maximum efficiency.
- Turn on the exhaust fans that remove air with water vapor outside.
- Hang your laundry outside.
- Place the indoor plants outside during summer.
- Invest in a dehumidifier.
Where Should Dehumidifier Be Placed in House?
If the house is a two-storied basement is the ideal place to keep the dehumidifier. Keep the machine near a higher humid point, and the place should have good ventilation.
Conclusion
This article describes the behavior of air when it becomes humid, together with everyday household problems bounded by humidity and methods to regulate the appropriate humidity levels.
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