If you think that the air in your home is too humid or if you want to be able to control its quality, then a hygrometer is the solution you need. With this device, you can check the relative humidity level in your home and take action to ensure that you and your loved ones enjoy a pleasant, high-quality humidity level.
Physiological humidity is between 45 and 55 %. If the air you breathe on a daily basis deviates from this, you will be more prone to respiratory problems, allergic reactions and even bacterial overgrowth. Moist air also encourages an increase in dust mites and the growth of moulds.
With the help of a hygrometer, you can easily determine whether it is time to invest in a dehumidifier or an air extractor. On the other hand, if the atmosphere in your home seems too dry, then the hygrometer will confirm whether or not you need a humidifier.
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Our comparison for the year 2023
Comparison updated on 17/03/2023
Thinking of buying an anemometer online and don't know which one to choose? Don't worry, we've got you covered.
In this article, we help you make an informed decision with the help of a clear and concise comparison. It will help you identify the product that best suits your needs, based on the opinions of many consumers.
1. Govee Hygrometer
The complete package according to consumers
The Govee is an indoor hygrometer-thermometer with a simple design, but with many features. It has a large LCD screen and displays data in large letters, making it easy to read. Updated on average every two seconds, the Govee displays a temperature accurate to +/- 0.5°C while the humidity is +/- 3 %. This digital display is further complemented by the presence of 3-level comfort indicators: dry, comfort and wet.
What makes this hygrometer so special is the detailed reports and readings it can transmit to your smartphone via Bluetooth (80m range). Equipped with a storage space that can hold 20 days of data, the Govee will be able, as soon as it has collected enough information, to provide you with a follow-up by day, week, month and year of the various measurements obtained.
On the practical side, the device is equipped with a sturdy folding stand and an intelligent alarm system. This means that when the relative humidity or temperature falls outside a predefined range, an alert is sent to your phone (if it is in range).
2. Oria Hygrometer
Our favourite ❤
The Oria is an indoor thermo-hygrometer with simultaneous temperature and humidity display on an HD LCD screen. It provides accurate real-time data and trends of temperature and humidity in your home.
Powered by 2 AA batteries (not included), this model is lightweight and portable. Among the features most highlighted by consumers are the unique round design that adds an aesthetic touch to the device, and the comfort icon displayed on the screen that indicates whether the atmosphere is too dry, normal or too humid.
The little extra that makes the difference: Oria offers a one-year warranty and attentive customer service.
3. ThermoPro TP50 Hygrometer
An interesting price/quality ratio
The ThermoPro TP-50 is an indoor hygrometer-thermometer with a neat and attractive design. Equipped with a large digital display, this hygrometer shows the relative humidity in the room as well as the temperature. The data is displayed in large characters, making it easy to read, whether you are close by or just a few metres away. The TP50 is very accurate and has a margin of error of only +/- 1° for temperature, which is relatively small.
On the display side, we liked the 3 distinct icons offered by the ThermoPro: dry (for humidity below 50 %), comfort (for humidity between 50 and 70 %) and wet (for humidity above 70 %). The instrument also offers the option of displaying the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celcius.
From a practical point of view, the magnetic attachment of the device and its folding stand will allow you to place the device anywhere. Equipped with a battery, the TP50 also displays its remaining charge level. In short, this is a complete product that offers very good value for money for family use.
4. Homidy Hygrometer
Our former ❤ (ranking 2022)
The Homidy is a high quality digital hygrometer-thermometer with an elegant and durable body. Made of environmentally friendly parts, it offers exceptional accuracy in measuring temperature (+0.3 %) and humidity (+3 %). This accuracy is made possible by its high-precision Sensiron digital sensors, straight from Switzerland.
As for the display, the Homidy has an electronic ink screen allowing a 360° HD vision of the characters displayed. We appreciate the choice of displaying the temperature from Fahrenheit to Celcius as well as the 6 different facial expressions useful to determine in an intuitive way the interior well-being of your house.
On the functional side, the magnetic part of the hygrometer and its elegant base will allow you to place the device anywhere. To sum up, the Homidy is a real hit with consumers: it offers both a clear and tasteful interface and a very fine precision in the measurement of air temperature and humidity.
How to choose a hygrometer?
The choice of your hygrometer depends on many variables: where and how you will use it, as well as ease of use and battery life. However, choosing a hygrometer is easier than choosing a moisture meter Measuring the moisture content in the air is indeed less demanding than measuring the water content in the materials with a probe.
Its location
When choosing a hygrometer, its location can make a big difference. For example, if you are monitoring the relative humidity in a greenhouse, you may want a different product than the one you use to observe conditions inside a reptile vivarium. In most cases, a digital hygrometer that can be placed on a shelf or table will do the trick.
Its accuracy
Overall, hygrometers are consistent and fairly reliable tools. Many are accurate to within 5 %. To ensure that you have a high quality hygrometer, check that it does not exceed this percentage. Beyond that, the accuracy depends on the calibration of your instrument.
It is possible to mechanically adjust the calibration of your hygrometer by purchasing a kit for this purpose. It works simply by placing your hygrometer in a secure bag for a prescribed period of time. The analysis of the hygrometer against the percentage of the calibration kit will determine whether you need to calibrate it.
Digital or analogue
The display speed of your hygrometer has an important impact on its efficiency and the pleasure you get from using it. But how do you choose between a digital device (e.g. a weather station with an lcd screen) and an analogue device?
It is hard to beat an analogue hygrometer when it comes to reading the humidity within a measurement range. However, an analogue dial does not provide a reliable measurement and therefore makes it difficult to detect tiny variations in tenths of a level. Digital screens are the preferred option if you want to know the exact relative humidity and whether your room is in the ideal humidity range.
Power source and battery life
When purchasing an electric hygrometer, you should choose the power source that best suits your needs. Many connected and Bluetooth-enabled instruments (weather stations and the like) come with power adapters. However, you may prefer simpler and more appropriate battery-operated models, depending on your use and the price you are prepared to pay.
Remote monitoring and alerts
Monitoring humidity is not always a matter of comfort. You may need it for business or pleasure. For example, monitoring the humidity in your wine cellar or cigar cabinet can mean the difference between preserving an excellent choice or ruining an expensive collection.
To help you maintain a suitable humidity range, it is advisable to purchase a remote-read hygrometer-thermometer. Whether on your mobile phone or on a remote screen, the purchase of a a connected hygrometer will be useful for setting up alerts if the amount of water in the air changes.
Interconnectivity and interface
Thanks to advances in Bluetooth, WiFi and home automation innovation, you can now link a hygrometer-thermometer to other devices in your smart home (such as a weather station). By accessing your home's thermostat from your smartphone, it offers you the possibility to adjust the temperature of your home according to the measurements collected by your hygrometer. This function is particularly interesting if you want to regulate the price of your energy bill.
What are the different types of hygrometers?
Hygrometers are instruments used to assess the moisture content of materials and air. It is a device that allows you to monitor relative humidity of enclosed spaces to optimise the comfort of the occupants and to avoid allergies. There are 3 types of hygrometers. Each model has its own characteristics, advantages, disadvantages and price.
Mechanical hygrometer: hair or fibre
The mechanical hair hygrometer, which appeared towards the end of the 18th century, was the first device made to assess the degree of humidity in the air. It is based on the elongation and shrinkage of defatted human hair Our hair is prone to shortening in proportion to the relative humidity in the room.
When the relative humidity is between 0 and 100 %, human hair absorbs it and stretches by about 2.5 %. The more humid the air, the more the hair stretches. However, this change does not correlate linearly with relative humidity.
The hair hygrometer works with a bundle of several hairs, which guarantees its mechanical stability. The hair fibres can be natural or synthetic depending on the model. Natural hair hygrometers are more suitable for outdoor use, whereas synthetic hair hygrometers are more suitable for indoor use. The former can operate below 0°C, which is not the case for the latter, as it is very sensitive to temperature variations. The latter is not, as it is very sensitive to temperature variations. It can sometimes show errors within a range of 5 to 10 % depending on its calibration.
In addition to being easy to use, the hair hygrometer is very affordable for people who want to buy a low-cost instrument. The models available on the market come in the form of a dial hygrometer and a digital hygrometer, which give you a reliable estimate of the humidity level in the room. These devices are ideal for domestic use.
Condensation hygrometer
Also known as a dew point hygrometer, the condensation hygrometer is an instrument for measuring the degree of humidity in air and gas mixtures. It consists of a metal box with reflective walls. Its moisture content calculation is based on the occurrence of a dew point on the wall and the temperature of the wall. The casing has 3 cavities which allow for :
- A thermometer ;
- Ether ;
- Air ;
When air is pumped into the box, the ether (placed beforehand) evaporates, which moistens the walls and causes dew to form. The wall temperature is compared with the outside temperature (inside the house) provided by a second thermometer. The latter allows the relative humidity of the air to be determined after analysing the results in a psychrometric table.
The condensation hygrometer displays the humidity level within minutes with an accuracy of 0.2°C to 0.5°C. The margin of error is less than 1 %. It is especially suitable for measuring humidity at temperatures ranging from -90°C to 100°C. Please note that you should handle the materials and the hygrometer carefully during each measurement to avoid possible calibration errors.
Wet bulb hygrometer
Also called Assmann hygrometer or psychrometer, the wet bulb hygrometer determines the humidity level from the decrease in temperature caused by the natural dissipation of water. This temperature (called the wet bulb) is identified by the probe of the bulb thermometer when it is saturated with water. It is compared to the actual temperature probe (called the dry bulb) which is the dry temperature of the air measured with another thermometer.
The wet bulb and the dry bulb allow the determination of the relative room humidity after analysing the results in a psychometric diagram. This graph also gives precise information on absolute humidity and enthalpy. Like the weather station, the bulb hygrometer is widely used in meteorology and is by far the most accurate for measuring humidity. These products are ideal for professionals. They also offer excellent value for money.