Contents
- 1. Humidity Too High or Too Low Drawbacks
- 2. Humidity Monitors or Meters
- 3. Why Humidistats are Beneficial
- Top 8 Best Humidity and Temperature Monitors
- 1. AcuRite® Indoor Hygrometer/Thermometer Humidity Monitor
- 2. ThermoPro™ Indoor Hygrometer/Thermometer Humidity Monitor
- 3. ThermoPro™ Indoor Hygrometer/Thermometer Humidity Monitor Backlit Touchscreen
- 4. AcuRite® Pro Accuracy Temperature and Humidity Monitor with Alarms
- 5. AcuRite® Pro Accuracy Temperature and Humidity Monitor
- 6. BENGOO Indoor Temperature and Humidity Monitor
- 7. La Crosse® Technology Color Forecast Station with Temperature Alerts
- 8. HoLife Indoor Temperature and Humidity Monitor
- Final Thoughts
Best Brand Choice Without Exception
This little humidity/temperature monitor is used by me in conjunction with my dehumidifier in summer and humidifier in winter because I don’t want my windows dripping water down them when it’s cold outside and warm inside. In the summer. I don’t want my house so dry from air conditioning that I use a dehumidifier and watch the monitor as I keep my humidity at 30% where I like it best. It’s very accurate because I checked it with other brands that I have around my home. I highly recommend this device that is not expensive to buy.
Humidity got you down? Is your hair dripping sweat and your armpits not holding onto your antiperspirant?
Not enough humidity will make your hair dry as a bone and frizzy including having dry mucous membranes.
Suffer no more getting the humidity to the proper level so that the dryness in your home can be controlled at the level you want it for comfort and health.
A monitor is an instrument or device used for observing, checking, or keeping a continuous record of a process or quantity. In this case, the monitor is the humidistat and/or hygrometer and thermometer. The best humidity meters are discussed here for your better understanding using with or without using a humidifier.
1. Humidity Too High or Too Low Drawbacks
In the winter when our furnaces are running, the air inside our house will become dry having lowered humidity. This will eventually cause skin to dry, suffering increased sinus irritation, dry itchy eyes, and a dry mouth and throat. I awaken with a dry mouth in the middle of the night so bad that I must drink some water kept on my nightstand.
Dry air from low humidity can cause inflamed mucus membranes in your respiratory tract, including the nose, that can increase your chances of colds, flu, sinusitis, and upper respiratory infections. When humidity is low, viruses stay around long and spread to others more quickly. Using the best hygrometer will let you know your humidity levels at all times.
2. Humidity Monitors or Meters
Humidistats control the amount of humidity in the air preferably between 30% and 50% while other authorities say 40% to 60%. With dry air, your humidity can drop to only 10%. You will be able to tell if your humidity is too high when your windows condensate and drip moisture where mold can grow. A humidistat works very much like a thermostat except that it senses moisture in the air rather than the temperature of the air. You adjust your humidity level with a humidistat.
Hygrometers measure the humidity in the air to let you know you need or don’t need humidity. It tells the humidifier or furnace’s humidifier to control the humidity at the level you set it when using portable and console type humidifiers, or whole-house humidifiers. These are known as humidistats.
Thermostats today have built-in humidity controls where you set temperature and humidity levels on high-end furnaces.
Use a vaporizer or humidifier when you want more intense humidity for a sick child.
Humidistats, hygrometers, and thermostats do one thing—to control your furnace’s humidifier for your needs when built-in or retrofitted. All websites define them the same way. Read our reviews for the best indoor humidity monitors. Monitors only observe and show you the levels with built-in sensors. They control nothing.
3. Why Humidistats are Beneficial
You don’t need a humidistat—but it’s nice to have one to control the moisture in your home when attached to a humidity producing device. It’s really a no-brainer—if you want dry air and suffer the symptoms and miseries of congestion, nosebleeds, sore throat, sinus congestion, cough, dry skin, and hair, then don’t buy one. Just sayin’. They are affordable, easy to use, and you can stop the dryness in your home.
On the other hand, if you have too much humidity, you will grow mold having that nasty musky odor and your windows will drip moisture known as condensation. These products are not monitors but are humidistats. They show you relative humidity and you then adjust the device for the percent you want in your area. Monitors only identify levels of indoor humidity. They cannot attach to a humidifier or a furnace’s humidifier to measure anything.
Many humidity and temperature monitors cost very little on Amazon.com® and do what they are designed to do. Monitoring devices only indicate the amount of humidity and temperature in your home. They are a thermometer and hygrometer.
The other independent device is sometimes called a humidistat. These attach to your furnace and some are a part of humidifiers or dehumidifiers so you can control the humidity.
If you’re expecting a monitor to increase or decrease humidity and temperature, you’re looking for the wrong product—you need a humidistat.
You can use the monitors almost anywhere:
- cigars humidor, wood musical instruments case (guitar, violin)
- inside the refrigerator (check its lower temp range); cold would kill the batteries
- in the car
- some terrariums as long as it doesn’t get wet
- egg incubator
- gun cases
- greenhouses (might need 2)
- basement/garage/crawlspace
Always check your instructions to be sure where it can be used.
Top 8 Best Humidity and Temperature Monitors
To stop sore and dry throats, dry skin, and dry coughs in your family, consider a humidistat. When humidity is too low wood furniture and floors lose moisture, and can crack and shrink. When the air is too dry, the reverse happens. Moisture keeps houseplants healthy and the static electricity you get when touching door knobs will be gone. You will be able to lower the temperature on the thermostat to your furnace, since with warmer air from more humidity, your home requires less heat.
Monitors only display the humidity level—they do not add or remove humidity.
1. AcuRite® Indoor Hygrometer/Thermometer Humidity Monitor
The AcuRite® monitor, made by ©Chaney Instrument Company, model number 00613, is wireless and easy to read. It uses no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything. When you are aware of your home’s humidity, you can stop the growth of mold and mold spores, viruses, bacteria, fungi, mites, and other conditions that cause asthma and allergic negative environmental illnesses and complaints. The look is a soft silver color with black trim and black numerals.
The digital unit is not only a humidistat, it also is a thermostat for knowing the temperature as well in your home. Know your readings at a quick glance and make changes as you need. The precise indoor thermometer and hygrometer tells you if your humidity is too low or too high or okay.
It is powered by 1 AA alkaline battery (not included) and works best with the Polaroid (camera) batteries. The unit is wireless and uses no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything. You can choose to have it read in Fahrenheit (F.) or Celsius (C.) degrees. The icon showing humidity lets you see the perfect indoor conditions for low or high. Time and date stamps are not available on this model and it cannot be calibrated.
It records your high and low temperature and humidity for you to know. Set the unit on a table, mantel, or anyplace to see immediately or mount it with the magnet on the back to any metal surface such as your refrigerator. If you want it on the wall, use Velcro® to put it there. The unit is very accurate. It works by sensing the air around it. It makes no noise, beeps, or any sound. There is only 1 button on the back to set and that is whether you want it to readout in F. or C.
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
The dimensions are 3-inches high x 2.5-inches wide x 1.3-inches deep and made of durable plastic. It weighs a slight 2-ounces.
The temperature range for this accurate unit is 32- to 122-degrees F. (0- 50-degrees C.) The accuracy is ±2-degrees F. The relative humidity (RH) ranges from 16% to 98%. The accuracy for the humidity is ±3% from 21% to 80% RH. The reading frequency is every 15 seconds.
The User’s Manual shows: “High and low readings are captured from three 12-hour blocks of time, starting at the time batteries are installed. At the end of each 12-hour block of time the product examines highs and lows from the past three 12-hour blocks of time (or 36 hours) and displays the highest and lowest readings. The high and low records displayed are always taken from within a minimum of 24-hours and a maximum of 36-hours.”
One disadvantage is the unit is not backlit; easy to see in the day but grab a flashlight for the dark.
The low/high data records every 24 hours. If you want to change your 24-hour time period remove the battery and reinsert it from the hour you want to start such as 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. the next evening.
Gift-wrapping is available for family and friends. You will receive the unit, a User’s Manual, and a 1-year Limited Warranty. It is made in China.
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2. ThermoPro™ Indoor Hygrometer/Thermometer Humidity Monitor
The ThermoPro™, model number TP50, is a great small white thermometer and hygrometer with black numerals for measuring and knowing the humidity and temperature in your home in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. The humidity level icon will show DRY/COMFORT/WET. Dry indicates the humidity is below 30%, comfort means the humidity is between 30% to 60% with the temperature between 68- to 79-degrees F. (20°C.-26°C.), and wet means the humidity is too high above 60%.
The unit is powered by 1 AAA battery, included. It uses no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything. With the digital display, you will see low and high temperatures and humidity records. Time and date stamp are not on this model device. You cannot calibrate the unit; it is preset at the factory. It is not backlit.
With the correct indoor humidity, you can avoid having dry skin and hair, sinusitis, congestion, and sore throats all winter. Stand it up on a table or use the back magnet to attach to any metal, such as a refrigerator. Push the small button on the back to set it to F. or C.
The large screen is easy to read. Its high accuracy indicates ±2~3% RH and ±1-degree F. and a wide temperature range from -58- to 158-degrees F. (-50°C.~70°C.), and humidity range from 10% to 99% RH.
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
The dimensions are 3-inches high x 2.5-inches wide x 7/8-inches deep and weighs about 2.3-ounces.
Gift-wrapping is available for family and friends. You will receive the unit, a User’s Manual, and a 5-year Limited Warranty with ThermoPro US-based customer service. It is made in China.
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3. ThermoPro™ Indoor Hygrometer/Thermometer Humidity Monitor Backlit Touchscreen
The ThermoPro™, model number TP55, is a small white thermometer and hygrometer for measuring and knowing the humidity and temperature in your home in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. This model is backlit with a touchscreen to see easily in dim light.
With the LCD digital display, you can view the humidity and temperature every 10 seconds for updates. The humidity icons read DRY/COMFORT/WET. The unit will show you the high and low readings for the last 24 hours and for all time. Sit it on a tabletop, mount to a wall using the hole in the back, or use the magnetic strip on the back to attach to metal or the fridge.
This unit is useful in most places where you need to know the temperature and humidity levels.
The unit uses 2 AAA batteries included and change between F. and C. with the small button on the back. It uses no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything.
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
The monitor is smaller than an iPhone (not included).
Gift-wrapping is available for family and friends. You will receive the unit, a User’s Manual, and a 5-year Limited Warranty with ThermoPro US-based customer service. It is made in China.
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4. AcuRite® Pro Accuracy Temperature and Humidity Monitor with Alarms
The AcuRite®, model number 01080M, made by ©Chaney Instrument Company will let you know your inside environment whether it’s your home, office, baby’s room, or greenhouse. This unit has alarms to tell you the information you want to know.
This unit is black and is digital with colored humidity zones at the top of its circular face. There is no backlight and the screen is a standard LCD gray color, not what the picture shows. It uses 2 AAA batteries using no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything.
It measures your conditions every 10 seconds and features an easy-to-read digital display. Included is a customizable, programmable high- and low-humidity alarm, and it records daily and all-time highs and lows. Compact, easy to use, and offering a variety of mounting options, it’s a must-have for any home or office.
Program your humidity alarm and manually calibrate the unit if needed.
The monitor will measure indoor temperature and humidity from -4 to 158-degrees F. (-20 to 70°C) and 1-99% RH. The accuracy is ±0.5-degrees F., and ±2% RH with the manual calibration option.
The unit will not sound the alarm if the temperature goes above or below a safe level. It only monitors humidity levels. There is no alarm for temperature. You can, however, configure the unit with low and high values and if it goes outside those values, an alarm will sound. Be sure to read the instructions for how to do this.
Sit it on your tabletop, attach to the wall or use the magnet to connect to metal surfaces and the fridge.
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
Gift-wrapping is available for family and friends. You will receive the unit, a User’s Manual, and a 1-year Limited Warranty. It is made in China.
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5. AcuRite® Pro Accuracy Temperature and Humidity Monitor
The AcuRite®, model number 01083M, made by ©Chaney Instrument Company will let you know your inside atmosphere whether it’s your home, office, baby’s room, warehouse, spa, or greenhouse. It is wireless using 2 AAA alkaline batteries (not included). It uses no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything.
Information on the digital screen is accurate measuring the humidity and temperature of indoor air from -4 to 158-degrees F. (-20 to 70°C.) and 1-99% RH. You can count on the professional accuracy ±0.5-degrees F., ±2% RH with its manual calibration option that people like to have.
The display shows you the lows and highs for the last 24 hours and for all time. The conditions are monitored every 10 seconds and you can sit the unit on top of a table, mount to the wall, or attach to metal using its magnet on the back.
It is not backlit, has no date time stamp or alarms. The screen is a standard LCD gray/green color.
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
The dimensions are 2-7/16-inches wide x 3-1/16-inches high x 7/8-inches deep.
Gift-wrapping is available for family and friends. You will receive the unit, a Digital Thermometer with Hygrometer User’s Manual, and a 1-year Limited Warranty. It is made in China.
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6. BENGOO Indoor Temperature and Humidity Monitor
The BENGOO Digital Hygrometer Thermometer Monitor is not electric and runs on 2 AAA alkaline batteries (not included). It uses no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything. The unit is black and will monitor your home, greenhouse, warehouse, office, child’s room and anyplace you want to know about your indoor environment.
The LCD digital screen shows either Fahrenheit or Celsius. The display shows high and low for your temperature and humidity. Daily lows and highs are shown as well. The button for F. or C. is on the back. The large LCD display with the temperature and humidity level icons show DRY/COMFORT/WET indicating the High/Ideal/Low air conditions in your room.
Sit it on your table or desk with the fold out stand on the back, hang on the wall with the hole in the back, or use the magnet to attach to metal or the fridge. There is no timer or alarm function and it is not back lit. It cannot be calibrated.
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
The dimensions are 4.33-inches tall x 3.15-inches wide x 0.98-inches thick and weighs 4-ounces.
Gift-wrapping is available for family and friends. You will receive the unit, a User’s Manual, and a 1-year Limited Warranty. It is made in China.
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7. La Crosse® Technology Color Forecast Station with Temperature Alerts
The La Crosse® Technology, model S88907, stands vertically in black is backlit and can be turned off—the light has 3 settings: Hi/Low/Off. The color forecast icons with barometric pressure tendency monitors the indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. It does not give barometric pressure readings. It is wireless and can use its power cord.
This device is quite sophisticated and technologically smart!
The WWVB radio station derives its signal from the NIST Atomic clock in Boulder, Colorado. A team of atomic physicists continually measure every second of every day to an accuracy of ten billionths of a second a day. These physicists have created an international standard, measuring a second as 9,192,631,770 vibrations of a Cesium 133 atom in a vacuum.
The User’s Manual for setting up the weather station is here.
The price for the unit is under $40 and if you want expert setup it will cost almost $100.
The WWVB has self-setting time and date with automatic daylight-saving time updates. This station monitors your precise outdoor weather and the Comfort Meter monitors your indoor humidity showing GOOD/HUMID/DRY. The color forecasts are animated reacting to the changes in barometric pressure. Set the high/low temperature alerts. You are able to measure the indoor, outdoor temperature and humidity with the MIN/MAX records. Adjust the brightness the way you visually like it best.
You will also know the forecast tendency with the indicator, heat index, and dew point. The 12/24-hour atomic clock is a manual setting by you. It has a perpetual calendar with day/month/date. Set and customize for weather stations and the remote sensor. The wireless range is 300-feet.
The unit has a time alarm and a snooze (10-min.) function, signal strength icon for sensor transmission, atomic reception indicator, station and sensor low-battery icon.
Plug the UL® list power cord into a 110/120-Volt, 50/60 Hz outlet. Outside the USA, Canada or Mexico buy a 220/240-Volt adapter. The transmitter is 433.92 MHz, 5-Volt D/C, 150 mA output.
Receiver power: 5-Volt A/C adapter (included) or optional 3 AAA alkaline batteries (not included). Sensor power: 2 AA alkaline batteries (not included).
The indoor temperature range: 32 F. to 122 F. (0 C. to 50 C.). Outdoor temperature range: -20 F. to 140 F. (-40 C. to 60 C.); or -40 F. if using Lithium (recommend sensor only in extreme conditions). It can be mounted on the wall with the keyholes on the back.
Display: 6.16-inches long x 0.93-inches wide x 9.65-inches high.
Sensor: 1.57-inches long x 0.79-inches wide x 5.12-inches high.
Indoor comfort range:
Too DRY (1-25%)
DRY (26-39%)
Comfort OK (40-75%)
Wet (76-83%)
Too Wet (84-99%)
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
You will receive the unit, included TX141TH-BV2 Wireless Outdoor Temperature and Humidity Sensor, User’s Manual, and a 1-year Limited Warranty. It is made in China.
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8. HoLife Indoor Temperature and Humidity Monitor
The HoLife, model number HM025AB, wireless indoor only hygrometer for humidity and thermometer for temperature includes a clock and calendar. The large LCD display is 3.2-inches showing current temperature and humidity inside your home. It uses 2 AAA alkaline batteries (not included). It uses no electricity so does not need to be wired to anything. This digital monitor displays the date calendar and time on one screen at the same time.
Move it to different rooms and set it on a table or desk, use the magnet to attach to metal or your refrigerator, or use the hole on the back for attaching to the wall.
Use the small button on the top to select Fahrenheit or Celsius up or down. The device automatically records over 24-hours the minimum and maximum humidity and temperature in your area. The unit cannot be calibrated; factory set. It is not backlit.
It is made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic in a black color. The time can be set in 12/24 hours and the relative humidity (RH) range is 20%-95%
Temperature Range: 14° to 140° F. (-10° to +60° C.).
Tolerance Range: 1%-40% RH, ±8% RH; 40%-80% RH, ±5% RH; 80%-95% RH, ±10% RH, 32° to 122° F. (0-50° C.), ±1.8° F. ±1° C.)
Remember, the device only shows you the levels of humidity in your home or office. You will need a humidifier to put moisture in the air or a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air.
The dimensions are 3.6-inches wide x 3.6-inches tall x 1.3 inches thick and weighs 3.2-ounces.
Gift-wrapping is available for loved ones and friends. You will receive the unit, User’s Manual, and a Warranty with 45-days money-back Guarantee and an 18-month Guarantee. It is made in China.
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Final Thoughts
When it comes to your health, knowing the humidity level in your home, business, office, warehouse, or other places will be shown for you with a monitor. However, to add or decrease humidity, you will need a device to do that mentioned in the above discussion. Hopefully, the products reviewed here will give you an idea for monitoring your humidity and temperature at the same time. Happy shopping!