Nobody can feel the difference between 55% and 65% relative humidity, but the wardrobe can. Before you buy a machine or call a company, spend a week measuring. A digital hygrometer costs less than AED 100 and settles the argument.
What to buy
A digital thermo-hygrometer that shows temperature and relative humidity. Logging models record readings over time; two manual readings a day are enough. Moisture meters that probe walls are a different tool, for leaks and damp walls.
Where to place it
Bedroom or living room, about waist height, away from the AC supply, windows and the bathroom door. Not on the floor and not in the wardrobe at first.
When to read it
Dawn and before bed. UAE homes commonly read about 45% in the afternoon and 60% overnight, and 60% is where moisture problems begin. Note the AC setting with each reading.
Move it to the suspect spots
After a week in the main room, move it into the wardrobe, the bathroom and the room that smells. Closed wardrobes in humid flats read higher than the room around them.
What the numbers mean
- Under 55% overnight all summer: the AC is coping.
- 55 to 60%: borderline; fix the easy sources.
- Above 60% on most nights: the AC is not enough.
Keep the log
Date, time, room, temperature, humidity, AC setting. Photograph any mould next to the reading. That log is what an engineer, a landlord or an inspector needs. Then read what size dehumidifier you need.
Key points
- A digital hygrometer under AED 100 beats any guess; place it at waist height away from the AC vent and windows.
- Read it at dawn and before bed; UAE homes often show 45% in the afternoon and 60% overnight.
- Log a week before you call anyone, and photograph the reading next to any mould.
Step by step
How to measure the humidity in your home
- 1
Get a digital thermo-hygrometer
Any digital unit that shows temperature and relative humidity. Two readings a day are enough; a logging model saves the typing.
- 2
Place it where you live
Bedroom or living room, about waist height, away from the AC supply, windows and the bathroom door. Not on the floor, not in a wardrobe at first.
- 3
Read at dawn and before bed
Humidity peaks overnight and at dawn; afternoon readings understate the problem. Note the AC setting with each reading.
- 4
Move it to the suspect spots
After a week, move it into the wardrobe, the bathroom and the room that smells. Closed wardrobes in humid flats commonly read higher than the room.
- 5
Keep a one-week log
Date, time, room, temperature, humidity, AC setting. Readings above 60% overnight on most days are the evidence you need before buying or calling anyone.
