Not many people know what hygrometers are, let alone know how to use them. However, they can actually be very handy tools to have and those who know all about them find them simple and straightforward to use. Their primary purpose is to measure how much moisture is in the air so they are typically used by people who have a keen interest in the weather. In other words, it is used to measure the humidity in the air.
Some hygrometers do this through the use of human hair which collects and measures the air, whilst others use wool. Whilst it might seem strange that human hair is used, it has actually been shown to be one of the most accurate methods of measuring moisture in the air. The reason for this is because when the hair is wet, it stretches in order to absorb the moisture and therefore it changes length. The length can then be measured on the dial of hygrometers, making it a simple and effective method of measuring how much moisture is present in the air.
It is important to check the hair every once in a while just to ensure that it is still working properly. Sometimes it is necessary to replace the hair because it may have become exposed to too much moisture.
Alternatively, you may have chosen to use wool as some hygrometers use this instead of hair. The way this works is by hanging some wool from one end of the rod which is balanced by rocks at the other end. The wool then absorbs the moisture that is present in the air and goes up or down depending on how wet or dry it is.
When choosing between hygrometers, it doesn’t really matter whether you choose one that used hair or wool as it normally just comes down to personal preference. However, in both cases it is important to replace whatever you are using as it becomes dirty. The reason for this is because the dirt affects the weight of the wool and stops the hair from absorbing all the moisture in the air. Both of these can make the readings from the hygrometers inaccurate which therefore makes it a waste of time and effort.
Another important thing to do when using hygrometers is to ensure you clean them when required. This ensures that they are running effectively and therefore that you are getting accurate and reliable readings.
As long as they are used properly, hygrometers can be a simple and effective tool to measure how much moisture is in the air. As well as this you can get many different varieties other than the ones which use human hair or wool. For example, you can also get dew point, electrical, and hygrometers which can be used in the home. All of the above have their different advantages and whichever one you decide to use can come down to something as simple as whichever one you find the easiest to use.
