Do radiators raise or lower room humidity?

div0 · 13 Sep 2013 at 16:58

Lysander said:
Nice Angus Higgins use of brackets, by the way.

Thanks.

Long live the memory (of the unnecessary [but much loved] Angus Higgins bracketing system)

areksnumbr1sxylady · 13 Sep 2013 at 18:54

Pretty sure that it lowers the humidity, In old times when I was small and we lived in Eastern Europe in one of those soviet flats, during winter the heating would be turned up to the max that we used to open windows while it was -30 outside, keep in mind size of those windows are nothing like the modern ones, they were at least 3-4 times bigger, a grown man could`ve easily jumped out with bending a little bit.

We also put wet cloths on radiators and that made the air in the home feel a lot nicer and humid...

That was before we changed those radiators so they could bet cut off, no idea why this was not thought from the beginning.

PistolPete · 13 Sep 2013 at 23:23

Tefal said:
which instruments get affected by humidity?

Wooden instruments primarily.

~>Dg<~ · 13 Sep 2013 at 23:49

PlacidCasual said:
I'm not claiming any special expertise but I have read that it's a natural fibre, horse hair specifically was mentioned but if anyone knows better I won't take offense.

skin makes great strings

also maybe hes growing something as humidity has a dramatic effect on growth :eek:

PapaLazaru · 13 Sep 2013 at 23:54

Increase. I think.

Water molecules are attracted to the coldest points, ie a cold window, where they gather. They will also stay where they may lie, like a carpet. If a room is damp, they will stay where they are.

Warm air releases them into the air, therefore increasing the air humidity.

The humidity sensor in my lounge seems to agree with this, until the windows are opened, causing a breeze, therefore releasing the humid air into the outdoors.

Castiel · 14 Sep 2013 at 02:05

Zogger said:
If you cut the radiator in half, do you have two radiators or accidentally all over the floor?

Depends on what you cut it with....

wmb · 14 Sep 2013 at 07:34

PapaLazaru said:
Increase. I think.

Water molecules are attracted to the coldest points, ie a cold window, where they gather. They will also stay where they may lie, like a carpet. If a room is damp, they will stay where they are.

Warm air releases them into the air, therefore increasing the air humidity.

The humidity sensor in my lounge seems to agree with this, until the windows are opened, causing a breeze, therefore releasing the humid air into the outdoors.

Sigh. It was correctly answered on page one. Relative humidity will decrease. A radiator will just add sensible heat to the room, water content of the air will stay the same (unless there is an open and ever present source of water next to the radiator but let's not complicate things). As the temperature of the air increases with the same moisture content relative humidity decreases. Failry simple physical concepts are at play here.

Unless the OP has musical instruments much colder than the surrounding air (which could cause condensation on them) they will be much better off keeping them in a room with the radiator on, not off, if they are trying to keep them dry and away from moisture.

[FnG]magnolia · 14 Sep 2013 at 08:05

What if he has a lute which he sometimes keeps in the freezer, huh? What then, Mr Smarty Pants? (if that even is your name, which I doubt)