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 there usually a high level of humidity in the bedroom?
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:
- 1 person produces an average of 2 liters of water vapor per night
- Plants in the bedroom
- Dry your clothes
- open doors for passive heating
- Insufficient air circulation due to furniture standing too close to the wall
- Thermal bridges on windows
How do you know 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 arise 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 create 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 humidity
Correct ventilation
Home remedies
Humidifier / dehumidifier
Measure humidity
Measure the humidity in the bedroom
You can measure the humidity in the bedroom with a hygrometer, also known as a humidity meter or moisture meter. Most devices are equipped with a thermometer and are called thermo-hygrometers. Some hygrometers also have a clock and a barometer for the air pressure. Here we are talking about weather stations.
Correct ventilation
Ventilate the bedroom properly
Ventilate the bedroom properly – open the window completely If the humidity is not the desired level, try to regulate it by ventilating the room properly. The first step is to ventilate your bedroom properly before going to bed and after getting up. In this way, you can replace the used, warm, humid room air with fresh, oxygen-rich and low-moisture outside air. Correct ventilation can already reduce the humidity in the bedroom very well. To do this, open the window completely. Tilted windows do not produce the desired result. In addition, tilting the windows can lead to lintels cooling down and creating cold spots in the new building, which can encourage the formation of mold. If you can, ventilate across the room with two wide-open windows on opposite sides so that there is a draft.
In general, the bedroom should be ventilated for a few minutes intermittently, up to five times a day. There are a few different rules to be observed in summer than in winter. The following ventilation intervals are recommended as a rule of thumb:
Winter: airing for 5-8 minutes with the window open. Due to the temperature differences, the air is exchanged here much faster.
Summer: approx. 25 minutes
Spring and autumn: 10 to 15 minutes
In summer, when the outside temperature is high, only open the windows in the early morning or late evening if possible. Because only at this time is the outside air drier than the indoor air and an air exchange is worthwhile. Therefore, you should not sleep with the window open in winter. Briefly ventilate the room for five minutes in the morning and evening and then turn up the heating a little. The warm air absorbs moisture. If condensation has formed on the window anyway, wipe it off immediately.
It is similar when it rains. Then it is better not to ventilate so that wet air does not get into the bedroom.
Practical tip: Do not sleep with the window open in winter. The cold air flows into the bedroom and, due to its higher density, moves in the lower third of the room, i.e. also on the underside of your mattress. However, you will warm the mattress properly from above. Cold meets warm and the dew point is reached quickly. Waterlogging occurs. Since the bedroom is also not heated during the day and the cold air can no longer absorb moisture, it remains in the mattress. This creates mold stains and mold on the underside of the mattress.
Home remedies
Home remedies for optimal humidity in the bedroom
If the air is too humid, place a bowl of salt or rice in the bedroom to reduce the humidity in the bedroom. Both foods suck the water out of the air. If they clump together, the bowl must be replaced.
If the humidity (also in the morning) is below 40 percent, set up a bowl of water. You should definitely change this daily and clean the bowl thoroughly to avoid germs. Indoor fountains, aquariums and plants also give off moisture to the room air and thus improve your dry room climate.
Humidifier / dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers and humidifiers in the bedroom
In addition to the home remedies, fully electronic devices are available to achieve ideal humidity in the bedroom.
A dehumidifier removes moisture from the air and collects the water in a container to reduce the humidity in the bedroom. Good dehumidifiers run automatically and switch off as soon as they have reached the optimum humidity. They absorb between ten and 24 liters of water per day, are quiet, easy to transport and suitable for both large and small rooms. If the device has a hose connection, you can easily drain the water over it. If a pump is integrated, the water can simply be pumped out of the device.
Reduce dehumidification in the bedroom for an optimal indoor climate
Humidifiers bring water into the room air and thus increase the relative humidity. A distinction is made between evaporators, evaporators and atomizers.
You are probably familiar with evaporators as small containers that hang on the heater. In their small water tank there is a filter mat that soaks up. Your moisture is with the help of a stream of air, e.g. B. the heat of the heater, sprayed in the room. The filter mat must be replaced every few weeks and the evaporator regularly cleaned with disinfectant so that harmful germs and mold have no chance. Fan evaporators produce more steam because they generate more airflow. The compact devices contain a filter mat that you have to replace every couple of weeks, or plastic lamellas that are not quite as laborious to clean. Even evaporators with a fan must be treated regularly with disinfectant. If you follow all of this, the filters will ensure clean air in the room. That is why an evaporator is also called an air purifier.
Evaporators or steam humidifiers boil water, which releases steam into the air in the room. The advantage lies in hygiene, because germs and pathogens are killed when the water is boiled. There are electric and heating element evaporators. The former bring the water to the boil through the flow of current between two electrodes. The second heat the liquid like a kettle over a heating coil.
Atomizers tear droplets of water into small particles with the help of an ultrasonic generator. Larger devices use a pressure pump with fine nozzles for this. The cold mist escapes into the room and evaporates. Hygiene is also a top priority with these devices. Regular and careful 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 humidity in the bedroom 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 makes it unnecessary to ventilate the windows. And that has many other advantages: Thanks to the built-in filters in the ventilation units, odors, dust, mosquitoes, flies, smog and noise remain outside. All of them unpleasant guests who no one likes in the bedroom. Closed windows are also anti-burglary protection. Many intruders use tilted windows and open doors as an opportunity to enter the apartment. In addition, contrary to popular belief, decentralized ventilation systems are not expensive when it comes to entertainment. A device generates around five euros in electricity costs per year. Designed for the entire apartment, you save additional heating costs with decentralized ventilation.
There are currently fans that adapt to the special requirements of bedroom ventilation. They are equipped with extra noise protection measures to minimize intrinsic noise and, if necessary, to shield street noise from outside. You can find out which ventilation suits you in this guide.
Conclusion: Optimal humidity in the bedroom - this is how you get it done
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?
Find out more without obligation from the inVENTer ventilation experts.