Optimal humidity in the bedroom
For most people, the bedroom is the space to immerse themselves in. In the bunk we recover from the experiences and exertions of the past day and recharge our batteries for everything to come. We spend six to ten hours in the bedroom; more time than in any other room, with the exception of the office. So we should attach great importance to a healthy indoor climate in the bedroom. It’s not that simple, however. The recommended humidity in the bedroom is between 40 and 60 percent, the ideal temperature between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius. If these values are fallen short of or exceeded, sooner or later this will affect our health. Air that is too dry attacks the mucous membranes, especially in the nose and throat, which protect us from diseases. In the long run, excessively humid air causes mold in the bedroom, which is also unhealthy.
In the following guide, we will tell you how to establish optimal humidity in the bedroom in the long term.
- Why is there usually a high level of humidity in the bedroom?
- How do you know that the humidity in the bedroom is too high and what are the consequences?
- How dangerous is mold in the bedroom?
- When does dry air arise in the bedroom and what are the consequences?
- How do I create optimal humidity in the bedroom?
- Optimal humidity in the bedroom thanks to automatic ventilation
- Conclusion: optimal humidity in the bedroom
Why is the humidity in the bedroom usually high?
It is often cool in the bedroom because it makes it easier to sleep. However, cold air can hold less water. Therefore, with the same absolute amount of humidity, the (relative) humidity in cold air rises to 60 percent faster than in warm air.
And where does the moisture in the bedroom come from? Mostly from us. We sweat and exhale hundreds of milliliters of water every night. On average, we are talking about up to 2 liters of water vapor per person per night.
The more people there are in the bedroom, the faster the humidity rises. In addition, indoor plants release water into the ambient air through their leaf surfaces. Here, too, the following applies: the more plants there are in the room and the larger their leaves, the stronger the effect. Therefore, it is better not to put plants in your bedroom.
Those who dry their laundry in the bedroom also actively bring moisture into the room. In addition, the popular method of indirectly heating the bedroom through the open door has fatal consequences. The warm, moist air flowing in from the other parts of the apartment can condense on the cold walls of the bedroom and become wet as a result. It is similar if you enter a warm room outside in winter and your glasses steam up.
If large furniture such as the wardrobe is too close to the wall, the air hardly has a chance to circulate. Another problem is that the heating rarely or never runs. If it were turned up every now and then, the warm air could absorb moisture.
In addition, structural defects in the brickwork and windows mean that more cold air and moisture can get into the bedroom. This is due to thermal bridges that occur on the outer wall, window reveal, window lintel or roller shutter box. In these places, materials are often used that have poorer thermal insulation. There, the room air cools down more quickly than on the rest of the wall sections and condensation forms. This is especially the case with existing and refurbished buildings. If there are thermal bridges in your new building, it is a matter of major construction defects that must be complained about.
At a glance – Causes of moisture in the bedroom:
- One person produces an average of 2 liters of water vapor per night.
- Plants in the bedroom
- Drying laundry
- open doors for passive heating
- insufficient air circulation due to furniture placed too close to the wall
- Thermal bridges at windows
How can you tell that the humidity in the bedroom is too high, and what are the consequences?
A common sign of high humidity in the bedroom is when the windows are damp or misty on the inside in the morning. If this happens more often, the first step is mold in the silicone joints, which becomes visible as black spots.
Tip: Wipe off the water as soon as you get up.
If you dry your laundry in the bedroom and the process takes a long time, this is also an indication of moisture in the bedroom. In a damp bedroom, you may sweat more and sleep poorly. Permanent humidity of over 60 percent in a cold bedroom leads to increased condensation. And mold grows particularly well on cold, damp walls. You can recognize moisture from cracked or wavy wallpaper; Mold on green, black, yellow or red spots – depending on the type of mold. There is also a musty smell.
How dangerous is mold in the bedroom?
Mold leads to damage to the building structure and furniture. Most of all, it is harmful to your health. The inhaled fungal spores can often trigger allergic reactions. In addition, persistent mold can lead to insomnia, headaches and migraines, burning eyes, skin irritation and colds. The risk of asthma also increases by up to 75 percent if people are permanently exposed to mold. Read our detailed advisory text on damage to health caused by mold.
When does dry air occur in the bedroom, and what are the consequences?
Dry air in the bedroom is rarely the case. This happens in winter when the heating runs a lot and is not properly ventilated. Permanent low humidity also has health consequences. The first signs are a dry mouth, chapped lips, headache, irritated nose and dry eyes. If this air condition persists, the mucous membranes dry out, the throat scratches and infections and nosebleeds often occur. Inflammation and redness can also appear on the skin. Furniture is also affected. For example, cracks form in the wood because the furniture releases its moisture into the ambient air.
How do I achieve optimal humidity in the bedroom?
Before you go to bed, the humidity should be rather dry, around 40 percent. This gives you enough leeway if the humidity increases overnight through breathing and sweating.
Measure the humidity in the bedroom.
You can measure the humidity in the bedroom using a hygrometer—also known as a humidity meter. Most devices are equipped with a thermometer and are referred to as thermo-hygrometers. Some hygrometers also feature a clock and a barometer for measuring air pressure; these are known as weather stations.
Ventilating the Bedroom Properly
If the humidity level is not where you want it to be, try regulating it through proper ventilation. Start by thoroughly airing out your bedroom both before going to bed and after getting up. This replaces stale, warm, humid indoor air with fresh, oxygen-rich outdoor air that has lower humidity. Proper ventilation can significantly reduce humidity levels in the bedroom. To do this, open the windows fully; simply tilting them open will not yield the desired result. Furthermore, tilting windows can cause the lintels to cool down, creating cold spots—even in new buildings—that promote mold growth. Whenever possible, use cross-ventilation by opening two windows wide on opposite sides of the room to create a draft.
In general, the bedroom should be ventilated regularly—up to five times a day—by opening the windows wide for a few minutes at a time. Different rules apply in summer compared to winter. As a rule of thumb, the following ventilation intervals are recommended:
- Winter: Ventilate for 5–8 minutes with the window open. Temperature differences cause the air to be exchanged much more quickly.
- Summer: Approx. 25 minutes
- Spring and autumn: 10 to 15 minutes
In summer, when outdoor temperatures are high, open the windows only during the early morning or late evening if possible. Only at these times is the outside air drier than the indoor air, making air exchange worthwhile. For this reason, you should not sleep with the window open in winter. Ventilate briefly for five minutes in the morning and evening, and feel free to turn up the heating slightly afterwards; warm air absorbs moisture. If condensation forms on the window despite this, wipe it away immediately.
The same applies when it is raining; it is better not to ventilate then, to prevent damp air from entering the bedroom.
Practical tip: Do not sleep with the window open in winter. Cold air flows into the bedroom and, due to its higher density, settles in the lower third of the room—including the underside of your mattress. Meanwhile, your body warms the top of the mattress significantly. Cold meets warm, and the dew point is quickly reached, leading to moisture accumulation. Since the bedroom is often unheated during the day and cold air cannot absorb much moisture, the dampness remains in the mattress. This leads to mildew stains and mold growth on the underside of the mattress.
Home remedies for optimal bedroom humidity
If the air is too humid, place a small bowl of salt or rice in the bedroom to help lower the humidity level. Both substances absorb moisture from the air; if they clump together, the bowl should be replaced.
If the humidity level drops below 40 percent (even in the morning), place a small bowl of water in the room. Be sure to change the water daily and clean the bowl thoroughly to prevent the growth of germs. Indoor water features, aquariums, and plants also release moisture into the air, thereby improving a dry indoor climate.
Dehumidifiers and humidifiers in the bedroom
In addition to home remedies, fully electronic devices are available to help you achieve ideal humidity levels in the bedroom.
A dehumidifier extracts moisture from the air and collects the water in a container, thereby lowering the humidity in the room. High-quality dehumidifiers operate automatically and switch off once the optimal humidity level is reached. They can remove between ten and 24 liters of water per day; they are quiet, easy to transport, and suitable for both large and small rooms. If the unit features a hose connection, you can conveniently drain the water through it; if a pump is integrated, the water can simply be pumped out of the device.
Humidifiers add water to the air in a room, thereby increasing relative humidity. They are categorized into evaporators, steam humidifiers, and atomizers.
You are likely familiar with evaporators as the small containers that hang on radiators. Inside their small water tank is a filter mat that absorbs water; the moisture is then dispersed into the room via an airflow—such as the warm air rising from the radiator. The filter mat must be replaced every few weeks, and the unit cleaned regularly with disinfectant, to prevent the growth of harmful germs and mold. Fan-assisted evaporators produce more vapor because they generate a stronger airflow. These compact units contain either a filter mat (which requires replacement every few weeks) or plastic slats (which are somewhat easier to clean). Fan-assisted models also require regular treatment with disinfectant. When properly maintained, the filters ensure clean air in the room; consequently, evaporators are sometimes referred to as air purifiers.
Steam humidifiers boil water to release steam into the room’s air. Their main advantage is hygiene, as the boiling process kills germs and pathogens. There are two types: electrode humidifiers and heating-element humidifiers. The former bring water to a boil using an electric current flowing between two electrodes, while the latter heat the liquid via a heating coil, much like an electric kettle.
Atomizers use an ultrasonic generator to break water droplets down into tiny particles. Larger units achieve this using a pressure pump and fine nozzles. The resulting cold mist escapes into the room and evaporates. Hygiene is a top priority for these devices as well; regular, thorough cleaning is essential.
Dry bedroom
- Moisten dry air with a small bowl of water, indoor fountains, aquariums or plants
- Use humidifiers: vaporizers, evaporators, nebulizers
Damp bedroom
- do not heat through the open door and the warmer air in the neighboring rooms
- do not dry laundry
- do not put up house plants
- Set up furniture a short distance from the wall
- Turn up the heating: warm air absorbs moisture
- Wipe damp windows dry in the morning
- Regulation of the air humidity through regular intermittent and cross ventilation
- do not ventilate when it is raining
- bind moist air with salt or rice
- use fully automatic dehumidifiers
Optimal bedroom humidity thanks to automatic ventilation
You have now read about all sorts of measures you can take to regulate the humidity in your bedroom. But all of them demand a certain discipline from you – such as B. measuring the humidity, regular ventilation, cleaning of air dehumidifiers.
However, there is a solution that will relieve you of all of this work: automated ventilation. Here we differentiate between central and decentralized ventilation systems. The latter are suitable for new buildings, but can also be easily retrofitted in existing buildings. The small devices mounted in the outer wall ensure a perfect exchange of air. Most of them have a hygrostat that always guarantees ideal humidity in the bedroom.
Decentralized ventilation systems work in pairs: the used warm room air is discharged via one of the devices. At the same time, fresh air is supplied from the outside via the other device. The fans change their direction of rotation every 70 seconds. There is a ceramic core at the heart of the ventilation system. This stores both the heat in the interior and a healthy basic moisture level in the exhaust air, which it releases again to the supply air after changing the direction of rotation. The same thing happens with the warmth of the room air. 93 percent of this is returned to the living space. As a result, you get a well-tempered, fresh air with ideal humidity.
Automatic ventilation eliminates the need to open windows for fresh air. This offers numerous other benefits: thanks to built-in filters, odors, dust, mosquitoes, flies, smog, and noise are kept outside—all unwelcome guests that no one wants in their bedroom. Keeping windows closed also provides protection against break-ins, as burglars often use tilted windows or open doors to gain entry to a home. Furthermore, contrary to popular belief, decentralized ventilation systems are inexpensive to operate; a single unit costs around five euros a year in electricity. When installed throughout the home, decentralized ventilation can also help you save on heating costs.
Modern ventilation units are now available that are specifically designed to meet the unique requirements of bedroom ventilation. They feature enhanced soundproofing to minimize internal operating noise and block out external street noise.
Conclusion – Optimal humidity in the bedroomHere’s how to do it
The temperature and humidity in the bedroom have a significant influence on our sleep quality and thus whether we feel fresh and well rested the next day or exhausted and unable to concentrate. If the humidity in your bedroom is too high for a long time and is reflected on the windows, it can also lead to mold growth. Inhaled mold spores can also cause diseases such as asthma in the long term.
Too little humidity is also problematic for health, as it dry out the mucous membranes and we become more susceptible to diseases. It is therefore important to always pay attention to the humidity in the bedroom and to take countermeasures if necessary. There are various ways of influencing the humidity – plants or no plants, renouncing drying clothes and ventilating, which should be carried out for an appropriate period depending on the season or outside temperature. In addition, air dehumidifiers or humidifiers can be used to achieve the recommended 40-60% humidity.
Decentralized fans also ensure the correct supply of fresh air with optimal air humidity without disciplined ventilation or regular measurement of air humidity in the bedroom. Suitable for new buildings and renovations, the individual fans are built directly into the outer wall. Special sound insulation fans also keep out disturbing noise from outside, additional pollen and dust are filtered from the supply air. Would you like to find out more?
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