Rating of the best thermometers for baths and saunas for 2020

The most important condition for maintaining a comfortable temperature in a bath or sauna is the presence of a hygro-thermometer.

In our review, we will provide advice on how to choose the right product with high measurement accuracy, identify the best manufacturers, guide you by the average price, and give recommendations on what you should pay attention to so as not to make a mistake when choosing.

Requirements for sauna instrumentation

Devices for monitoring bath microclimate values ​​differ from similar attributes located in residential premises. They will have to work in extreme conditions. Their measurement range is wider and the scale is longer. In addition, developers and manufacturers must take into account the requirements for safe operation, ease of mounting and comfort of reading information. Therefore, the list of standard characteristics of watches, hygrometers, barometers and thermometers purchased for baths and saunas includes:

• resistance of the materials from which the body and open structural parts are made to water, steam, accidental impacts, and high temperatures;
• tightness of parts through which control measurements are made;
• the ability of the body materials not to heat up to levels that burn a person;
• constructive sophistication, which makes it difficult to damage the measuring elements of devices;
• bright, clear scale markings, allowing you to see instrument readings at a sufficient distance and distinguish them under conditions of increased vaporization.

All parts of control devices used to measure microclimate characteristics in baths and saunas are made of safe materials. When heated, they do not release toxins or other substances that can cause the slightest harm to health. Devices should be purchased exclusively from specialized stores, without relying on the competence of handicraft manufacturers. In addition, the scale and readings of homemade control devices may differ significantly from calibration standards.

Bath timer

Bath procedures are a responsible process. The consequences that may arise in the event of an extremely long stay in conditions of elevated temperature have already been described above. In the steam room, to record the time spent in the room, you can install both a simple hourglass and an electronic clock.

Naturally, an electronic device cannot be installed in a steam room, but if it is installed correctly, you can get an originally designed accessory with increased practicality during operation. In the photo and upon visual inspection, such an element will look very beautiful and will create an atmosphere of modernity and technology in the room.

List of instruments for control measurements in the bathhouse

There are many components in the bath microclimate that cannot be measured with conventional devices. We will not be able to control air exchange, dust and aromatic substances in the air mass. However, we are quite capable of controlling the period of stay in the steam room, permissible temperature, pressure, and moisture level. To do this, it is enough to purchase control and measuring attributes. It is not necessary to buy all the devices on the list, but it is advisable to stock up on the basic devices.

Device #1 - thermometer

Not a single sane bathhouse attendant would deny the importance of a thermometer, even if he has many years of experience in “tormenting” his clients in the steam room. The threshold of temperature sensitivity is purely individual, because There are no people with an equivalent perception of heat. Although the range of temperatures possible for safe procedures is quite wide, the GOST 52493-2005 regulation still sets the framework according to which you can steam and enjoy steaming:

• in Russian baths within temperatures from 40ºС to 60ºС;
• in Turkish at a similar temperature;
• in Finnish saunas at a temperature of 100-110ºС, because dry heat is much easier to tolerate than wet heat.

The temperature is, of course, determined in accordance with the general physical condition of the planned visitors. In case of overheating, the bathhouse and steam room should be cooled by ventilation and rescheduling the visit to a later time.

Personal and public baths are equipped with mechanical and newfangled electronic thermometers. The principle of operation of mechanical measuring instruments is based on a common physical phenomenon - the expansion of bodies under the influence of heat. The physical state of expanding bodies in mechanical temperature meters can be liquid, solid or gaseous. The last type is not used due to the significant error and the not quite domestic range. Basically, we know the simplest liquid and dial thermometers, characterized by a simple design and an affordable price.

The operating principle of electronic temperature meters is based on variations in the resistance of the conductor, which changes following changes in temperature. Electronic systems are more expensive and sensitive than mechanical measuring devices. For baths, they are most often produced in the format of bath stations, combining two or more measuring instruments.

From these two groups of measuring instruments, the three most common options are suitable for arranging baths:

• Liquid thermometers
  are devices whose working body resembles a flask. Inside this vessel, made of heat-resistant glass, a test tube with a wetted liquid is placed and a scale plate is installed. Due to temperature changes in the environment, the liquid increases or decreases in volume, due to which its column, usually colored red, increases or decreases. The line of the wetted liquid stops opposite the scale mark with the actual temperature displayed. Liquid thermometers no longer use mercury because... when damaged, it releases extremely harmful mercury vapor. Colored alcohol or galinstan is now moving through the thermometer tubes. The average permissible error is 1ºС;
• Dial thermometers
  are also devices with a mechanical principle of operation, only the indication of temperature changes in them is not carried out by a liquid, but by a spring made of an iron-nickel alloy. The spring is installed in a brass tube: when it contracts, the gap in the tube increases, and when it expands, vice versa. The movement of the spring is reflected on the dial, marked mainly up to 100-140ºС. A significant disadvantage of dial meters is an error of 2, and sometimes 3ºС;
• An electronic thermometer
  is the most accurate measuring device, the working element of which is a temperature sensor. The readings taken by the sensor are transmitted to the display unit, and from there they are displayed. The error of the digital device is only 0.5ºС. The downside is the cost and the fact that electronics cannot be installed in the steam room. In rooms with high temperatures, only the sensor is located. It is attached to a meter cable included in the factory kit. The display with the display unit is mounted in the rest room or dressing room. It is not very convenient to monitor temperature changes from there.

To summarize: if you plan to install a thermometer directly in the steam room, it is better to purchase a mechanical pointer or capillary, also known as liquid, device.

Construction requirements insist on the use of a capillary device in a bathhouse that complies with GOST 28498. Place it at eye level at approximately a height of 1.5-1.7 m. It is not recommended to install it next to the door, because the readings will not be accurate. Manufacturers advise to deviate from 2 m so that microcracks do not appear on glass parts. If the owner of the bathhouse decides to prefer an electronic measuring device, then he will have to forget about installing it in the steam room.

Device #2 - time meter (timer)

Keeping track of time while taking bath procedures is not at all easy. Control is especially difficult in the closed space of a steam room, but it is precisely there that you absolutely cannot forget about its rapid flow. Clearly timed steaming techniques will be the key to health if the owner of the bathhouse acquires an hourglass or digital clock.

An electronic time meter, similar to a thermometer, is installed outside rooms with high humidity and temperature. Most often, sand options are used in saunas and steam rooms, which correctly measure 10 or 15 minutes. They consist of two hermetically connected heat-resistant glass flasks, from one of which sand “flows” in a thin stream into the other. They are “started” by turning the empty glass piece down, after which the time counting process begins again. In order not to damage the clock in the bathhouse and not to get burned while turning the hot flask, the sand device is attached to a wooden base using a rotating wooden bracket.

Device #3 - hygrometer for soft steam

A proper balance of humidity and temperature is one of the important conditions for the formation of a favorable bath microclimate. In dry-air Finnish steam rooms, for example, the moisture level should not exceed 30%. With too many suspended water droplets in the air, dry vaping will not bring the required result. In wet Russian steam rooms, 85% is enough, and in showers and soap rooms, the moisture level can reach 95%. There will be no relaxing comfort in the rest room if the device registers more than 60%.

The moisture level in the bathhouse and sauna should be monitored by a hygrometer, the operating principle of which is based on the properties of human hair or synthetic thread to lengthen or shorten in proportion to changes in the level of humidity in the environment. In a simplified way, its diagram can be represented as a metal frame. A hair or thread runs along its vertical axis in the center. The upper end of the hair is rigidly attached to the upper crossbar of the frame, and a weight is suspended from the lower end. Changes in hair length are transmitted to a arrow, which indicates the humidity value on the scale. The disadvantage of this type of meters is the gradual loss of sensitivity. However, setting up a hygrometer with your own hands is not difficult.

An independent tuner should stock up on a transparent plastic bag, a regular kettle and a suitable stand for the device being tuned. You can use a shallow pan turned upside down as a stand. You will need it to install the hygrometer opposite the kettle spout.

Algorithm for setting up a bath hygrometer:

• We put a bag on the device, align the neck of the bag with the spout of the kettle and wrap it tightly with thread, elastic band or twine;
• place the hygrometer on the stand so that it is opposite the spout and the bag does not touch the fire;
• light the fire and wait for it to boil;
• We monitor the instrument needle through the bag; it should reach the maximum mark and remain in a stationary position for at least 3 minutes;
• if the hygrometer readings at this moment are not equal to 95-100%, correct them using a screwdriver through the hole on the cover at the back of the device.

Adjustments can be made directly through a plastic bag. If a bath station with a thermometer was adjusted, you can correct the thermometer readings in the same way. They should be equal during the boiling period 97-100ºС. Minor deviations of a couple of degrees or percentages are not a cause for concern.

Device #4 - bath barometer for pressure control

Pressure, i.e. The force of air impact per unit surface is a value that bathhouse attendants needlessly treat with disdain. She is obliged to protect people with poor health from dangerous stays in the bathhouse during a specific period. If the device detects pressure changes, it is better to postpone bath procedures.

A pressure meter should not be placed in a Russian steam room, only in the relaxation room. For safety reasons, a high-precision mercury barometer is not suitable for equipping a sauna or bathhouse. You need to buy a basic mechanical device - an aneroid, which is a metal box with corrugated elastic walls. The box is hollow, the air from the cavity has been completely pumped out. When the ambient pressure decreases, the box expands; when it decreases, the opposite occurs. The movements of the box are transmitted to the spring, which in turn causes the arrow to rotate and point to the divisions of the round scale.

Electronic digital pressure meters are available for sale. They can be purchased separately or as part of a bath complex called a station.

Hygrometer for a bath: choice and features of use

To configure the bath hygrometer you must use:

• plastic bag;
• kettle;
• a stand for the device of such a size that the device can be placed at the same level as the spout of the kettle.

Sequence for setting up a bath hygrometer:

1. The bag is placed over the device so that the other half is placed over the spout of the kettle. This design can be secured using threads, elastic or twine.
2. Then the device is placed on a stand opposite the spout of the kettle so that the package does not burn.
3. The burner is lit and the kettle is brought to a boil.
4. Then you need to make sure that the device’s arrow reaches the maximum mark and remains there while the water boils (about 3 minutes).
5. If there is a significant deviation from the 100 percent mark, it is necessary to tighten the thread tension using a screwdriver.

If we are talking about setting up a thermometer-hygrometer system for a sauna, then you can also adjust the thermometer. When the kettle is boiling, the temperature should be between 97 and 100 degrees Celsius.

Pros and cons of sauna stations

Purchasing control and measuring instruments as a set will eliminate a lot of hassle in selecting an equivalent design for individual devices. On a single, impressively designed station panel, a different set of instruments can be located: from two main ones to all four. The type of measuring devices and their number depend on the location of the upcoming operation and the preferences of the owner:

• a bath station with an hourglass is purchased to equip steam rooms;
• electronic and mechanical complexes with barometers and clocks are purchased for installation in locker rooms and rest rooms;
• digital stations with a temperature sensor are installed outside, not far from the steam room, and the measuring organ is brought into the room being tested.

The only disadvantage of a set of devices is that if one device breaks down, you will have to carry everything for repair.

After completing a detailed review of control devices, there will certainly be no doubt about their necessity. You can purchase a full set of instruments or limit yourself to purchasing a thermometer and a watch. It is important not to forget: controlling the parameters of the bath microclimate will ensure ideal results and protect against negative consequences.

The correct selection and installation of measuring instruments will allow you to maintain a suitable microclimate in the steam room and provide control over temperature, humidity, residence time and even pressure. Get the maximum benefit from visiting the sauna!

Optimal performance in a steam bath

There are certain standards for humidity and temperature readings in different rooms of the bathhouse.
By adhering to these standards, you will make your stay comfortable and safe. First, you need to take into account that the higher the air temperature, the lower the humidity should be. Excessive levels of both parameters are dangerous to health. Each room has its own requirements:

• In the steam room, the temperature can be from +40 to +90 degrees (in the Finnish one - above +100). Humidity should be from 30%. The optimal indicator is 60 g/liter of air.
• In auxiliary rooms (dressing room, washing room, rest room) it is necessary to maintain the temperature within +25 degrees.

Please note that to control the duration of your stay in the bathhouse, it is better to install an hourglass. The optimal time in the steam room is about 15 minutes.

Requirements for bath thermometers

A bath thermometer helps create the necessary microclimate in the room, which will be favorable for all visitors.
Measuring instruments will warn you if the permissible temperature limit is exceeded. In addition, they can be used to control the combustion process. By looking at the temperature mark, you will know exactly whether you still need to add more firewood. At +60 degrees, you can start steaming brooms. Measuring instruments for a bath are constantly influenced by changes in temperature and humidity, and therefore must meet certain requirements:

1. Be heat and moisture resistant.
2. Do not be subject to mechanical stress.
3. Be equipped with a housing that does not heat up to prevent burns due to accidental contact.
4. Measure readings as accurately as possible.
5. Fits organically into the interior design.

For the steam room, it is recommended to use thermometers in a wooden case. It is highly undesirable to install measuring instruments made of synthetic materials. At high temperatures they release toxic fumes into the air.

Bath barometer

The air pressure in the steam compartment is also a very important parameter, which some bath attendants do not pay enough attention to. Indeed, temperature and humidity are fundamental parameters, but optimal pressure is also very important if the bath attendant wants to create the most comfortable conditions for his visitors.

If we are talking about a Russian bath, then there is no need to use a barometer in the steam compartment, and optimal pressure should be achieved within the rest room. The use of mercury barometers is strictly prohibited due to safety regulations.

The simplest and most suitable for use in a bathhouse is the aneroid. This device is in the form of a regular box with corrugated walls. If the pressure decreases, the box expands and vice versa.

Types of measuring devices for baths

Based on the principle of operation, there are several types of thermometers: digital (electronic) - from 230 rubles, most accurate; capillary (liquid) - from 300 rubles, have a small error in readings, pointer (mechanical) - from 450 rubles. Least accurate. It should be noted that the price of measuring devices affects the quality. Inexpensive mechanical thermometers have a maximum rated error. Often, cheap devices are made from low-quality materials that cannot withstand constant changes in temperature and humidity.

Dial thermometers for baths

These bimetallic devices look like regular watches.
Only the hand on the dial shows the temperature in the range from 0 to 120 degrees, and not the time. The spring in such equipment changes the degree of compression with temperature changes. Accordingly, the error of mechanical devices is higher compared to liquid ones. The advantages include a rather large dial and various design options.

Capillary bath thermometers

Otherwise they are called liquid.
Typically, liquid products provide readings in the range from 0 to 160 degrees. These devices consist of a straight tube containing an organic liquid (kerosene, toluene, alcohol). Previously, the filler of such devices was mercury. However, mercury equipment is strictly prohibited from being installed in a steam room. If the glass flask is damaged, then in conditions of high humidity and temperature the evaporation of mercury will cause irreparable harm to your health.

Electronic bath thermometers

This device is distinguished by practicality and maximum accuracy.
It is a compact case made of stainless steel or heat-resistant plastic with a liquid crystal display. The device can withstand temperatures up to +235 degrees, while its maximum error can be 0.5 degrees. It is often equipped with a remote wired or wireless sensor and installed outside the steam room. Some models also have a built-in sound warning system when the required temperature is reached.

It is most convenient to install a remote thermometer for a bath in the dressing room or rest room. In this case, only the sensor is mounted in the steam room itself. This allows you to control the temperature from a distance. The device is especially popular in commercial baths with several steam rooms, since some models involve connecting three or more sensors to a common system.

Disadvantages include high cost and the need to periodically replace batteries. It is also not always convenient, since you need to leave the steam room to check the temperature. However, of all the varieties, a thermometer with a bath sensor is considered the most durable and high-quality.

Hygrometers for baths

Staying in a room with high humidity and air temperature can be hazardous to health. Therefore, hygrometers are installed in the bathhouse to measure humidity levels (from 300 rubles apiece) and control the microclimate in the steam room. When purchasing a device, give preference to models with a wooden case. They are the safest to use.

Sauna stations for steam room

Bath stations are considered a definite innovation in steam rooms and are especially relevant in Russian baths.
The most common models of bath stations combine both a thermometer and a hygrometer. In some cases, the device can even be equipped with a barometer, which determines the pressure in the steam room. Such a device is useful for hypo- and hypertensive patients, who are recommended to steam only at certain pressure levels.

The disadvantages of the device include expensive repairs. If one of the devices breaks down, you must take the entire set to the workshop. However, a high-quality bath station with the most accurate devices will last for many years without breakdowns, although it will cost more.

How to choose a quality product

When buying a thermometer, the first thing you should pay attention to is the body. The device must have a sealed, safe casing that can withstand high temperatures and high humidity. The best option is the one made of wood. Low thermal conductivity prevents accidental fire.

All transparent structural elements must be made of heat-resistant glass. It is also important to consider the range of readings. Ideally, a hygrometer should be able to show from 0% to 100%, with a thermometer above 100 °C. It is important to purchase certified products only from a reliable manufacturer - a guarantee of successful operation of the device for a long time.

Installation of measuring devices in the steam room

In order for the instrument readings to be as accurate as possible, you need to know where to hang the bath thermometer correctly. To do this, you need to consider several points:

1. The digital thermometer is mounted in the rest room or dressing room. The sensor is in the middle of the steam room wall.
2. Mechanical and liquid devices are installed at a height of 1.5 meters, closer to the shelves.
3. It is not advisable to attach the device near a door or window. Due to the cold air entering through the opening, its performance will be underestimated.
4. Installing a thermometer in a bathhouse near the stove will lead to inflated readings.
5. For the most accurate measurement, you can install several thermometers at different heights.

How to choose a thermometer for a bath - watch the video: Often, measuring instruments in a steam room are considered decorative rather than functional elements.
If you use your steam room frequently, you will feel the optimal temperature and humidity readings based on your condition. However, installing such equipment will allow you to constantly monitor and adjust the microclimate in the steam room and prevent negative health consequences. It is necessary to constantly maintain a certain temperature in the steam room, especially since its changes have peculiarities. It is necessary to take into account not only high degrees, but also high humidity in the room. Therefore, they use a special thermometer for baths and saunas, which not only decorates them, but is useful and necessary.

In the photo - a dial thermohygrometer and an hourglass

When choosing them, pay attention to the material from which they are made. Most often it can be wood or metal. To withstand high temperatures, the flask is made of special heat-resistant glass.

Hygrometer for a bath: choice and features of use

Thermometers in the sauna room will show the most accurate parameters if you follow certain rules when installing them:

• The digital mechanism should be fixed in the dressing room or rest room, the display – approximately in the middle of the wall in the steam room;
• Mount liquid and mechanical thermometers closer to the shelves, approximately at a height of 1.5 meters;
• Do not secure mechanisms near windows or doors. Cold air entering through the opening will reduce the thermometer readings;
• Do not install devices near furnace structures, as this will lead to an overestimation of the indicators.

Attaching several thermometers at different heights will help achieve the most accurate determination of temperature conditions.

Types of thermometers

Capillary

In the store today you can freely buy a regular bath thermometer, which will almost completely resemble the room version. To give the accessory an interesting appearance, it is placed in a wooden shell ().

The temperature is displayed using a mercury capillary, which is covered with fireproof glass from exposure to high temperatures. In addition, for safety, mercury is replaced here with an organic liquid tinted with some color.

This bath thermometer can have different appearances, depending on the imagination of the performer, for example:

• Oak Leaf;
• samovar.

It is able to quite clearly show the room temperature in the range of 0-180˚C.

Switch

A round thermometer can become a decoration for the steam room. Outwardly, it resembles an ordinary watch, and the base is wood. This bath thermometer is waterproof, and its service life is quite long.

The scale allows you to control the temperature within 0-120˚С. The only drawback of the device is its error, which steamers should take into account.

Digital

This version of the thermometer is considered the most accurate temperature meter. It is made of steel or antipyretic plastic; it is also attached to a sensor with a cable up to 1 m long. Most experts claim that this thermometer is superior to any other devices of this type in accuracy and versatility.

To support this, we should add the fact that you can find out the temperature in the steam room remotely, even from another room. The equipment allows you to evaluate it in the range of 0-225˚С.

The price of such an electronic bath device, of course, will be more expensive than previous options. But its error is only half a degree.

It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of a bath station. The device combines a thermometer and a hygrometer.

You can immediately find out the temperature and humidity in the steam room. It is the electronic thermo-hygrometer for baths that has recently been used to maintain comfortable conditions in Russian baths.

The device may look different, but it will always have two scales or two hands or two dials.

Why do you need a thermometer in a bath?

There are some people who do not understand why a thermometer is needed in a bathhouse. In the old days they steamed without it and nothing bad happened. It should be noted that the conditions of today are radically different from past centuries.

Studies have shown that high ambient temperatures create extreme conditions for our body that not everyone can cope with. For example, it is almost impossible to withstand more than 100˚C in a Russian bathhouse, and it is also very dangerous.

In this case, it is necessary to reduce the degrees of wet steam to 60-70˚С. It is almost impossible to do this without a thermometer, which can affect the health of the steamer.

How to choose the right thermometer

If we talk about the cost of the device, open thermometers for baths and saunas with an arrow can be considered the most inexpensive, but their readings should not be completely trusted; there is an error, although not critical. In a steam room, it is usually recommended to install equipment made of steel and wood.

Advice: for personal safety reasons, you should not purchase mercury thermometers for the steam room, even if they are protected by fireproof glass.

Currently, there is an increased demand for equipment that contains both a thermometer and a hygrometer, which is purchased by lovers of Russian baths. Many people prefer a beautifully designed accessory to quality.

Advice: do not use thermometers made of synthetic materials.

And yet – what to choose

Let's try to summarize what was said above.

In this way we can come closer to understanding choice.

1. Accuracy . All devices, including digital ones, have errors.

For this indicator you can bet on:

• I place – electronic thermometers;
• II place – capillary;
• III place – switches.

It should be fairly noted that the error is not that big.

1. Cost and personal preferences. When choosing a bath thermometer, many people pay attention to the appearance of the equipment so that it matches or at least harmonizes with the surrounding environment. However, you will have to pay extra for exclusivity.

1. Measurement scale. When choosing, pay attention to this component, since there is no point in paying extra for unnecessary degrees. Very often there are thermometers with a top mark of 180˚C, but there are also lower ones.

1. Two in one . Thermohygrometer is a new type of measuring equipment for baths. After purchasing it and installing it correctly, you will be able to control two important components - humidity and temperature.

The accuracy and durability of the equipment directly depends on its installation.

Follow the rules provided by the thermometer instructions, and you can reduce the measurement error to a minimum.

1. Install dial thermometers from the floor at a distance of about 160 cm, which is approximately at eye level.
2. Do not mount the thermometer with your own hands near the door or close to the stove, otherwise the readings will be incorrect.
3. The electronic version of the thermometer makes it possible to control the temperature of the steam room from another room by installing a sensor there. But, think about it, will it be convenient for you to constantly leave the steam room to find out the temperature?

Conclusion

Each of us tolerates humid and hot air differently, so the thermometer and temperature regime should be selected individually. For some, safety comes first, others prefer a beautiful accessory, and others worry about the accuracy of the readings when choosing an electronic thermometer for a bath ().

At the same time, the main thing is not to harm your health and get maximum pleasure from bath procedures. In the video presented in this article you will find additional information on this topic.

A hygrometer is a device for measuring humidity - everyone knows this. It is also well known to everyone that recently it has become a permanent, and for many, a necessary (not just a decoration) attribute of most saunas and baths.

Experienced lovers of bath procedures say: “The best hygrometer is the ears!” However, then they usually add: “... and experience.” Of course, experience is a great thing, but a beautiful and reliable device on the wall of a modern steam room (sauna) never hurts.

Most of the numerous modern hygrometers can be divided into three main groups.

1. Electronic hygrometers.

Very often, these devices are built into control panels for steam generators and humidifiers. The reliability and accuracy of operation of such products largely depends on the circuit design and the quality of the components.

2. Psychrometric hygrometers.

The principle of operation of devices of this type is based on changing the difference between the readings of a wet and dry thermometer, which depend on the humidity of the air in the room; they then directly measure the humidity using special psychrometric tables. Temperature is measured based on dry bulb readings.

Such hygrometers are rarely used in sauna baths.

3. Mechanical hygrometers.

The principle of operation of such devices is based on the property of degreased hair to change its length when the humidity of the surrounding air changes. When the length of the hair changes, the pulley mechanically connected to it rotates, and the end of the arrow moves along the scale (see Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Diagram of a hair hygrometer.

Today, instead of good old hair, a specially treated synthetic thread is usually used as a sensing element. Mechanical hygrometers operate quite reliably over a wide temperature range of at least +10°C to +120°C), measuring humidity fairly accurately in the range from 30% to 100%. Such mechanisms are now installed in the vast majority of relatively inexpensive bath hygrometers and combined thermometer-hygrometers. Most often, bath hair hygrometers and bimetallic thermometers-hygrometers operate stably and provide fairly reliable readings with quite acceptable - from a practical point of view - accuracy.

However, like any mechanical device, the hair hygrometer does not like rough handling, especially strong shaking or sharp blows. Sometimes such a device can begin to completely indecently overestimate or underestimate readings, even just after a long stay in severe frost.

If it is possible to compare the readings of a hair hygrometer with the readings of a reference device, then if there are serious discrepancies, the readings of a mechanical hygrometer can be easily corrected. This can be done using a screwdriver through the hole on the back cover. You should insert a screwdriver into the slot of the adjusting screw on the support of the measuring mechanism and, turning it carefully, move the arrow to the desired reading on the instrument scale. Usually this is enough to restore the functionality of the hygrometer.

If it is not possible to compare the readings of a hair hygrometer and a known working precision device, then you can try to make adjustments using another method available at home. It should be borne in mind that it is best to check the operation of a thermometer-hygrometer at a temperature as close as possible to what would usually be in the steam room.

To check and adjust, you will need: a kettle, a transparent plastic bag, a stand for the device being tested to place it at the level of the kettle spout (for example, a shallow saucepan). Next we proceed as follows. We place the device in a bag and make a small hole in the bag for steam to escape (photo 1). We connect the bag to the spout of the kettle and secure this connection with threads or an elastic band (photo 2). We put it all on the stove and light the fire (photo 3).

After some time, the water in the kettle will boil, the scales will fog up, the temperature will begin to rise, and the thermometer needle will set around 95-100°C, the hygrometer needle will also begin to deviate and reach its maximum (photo 4).

If within 3-5 minutes the hygrometer needle does not change its highest position, we can assume that the maximum point has been reached. The thermometer needle should show 95-100C, that is, a temperature close to the boiling point of water. If the value is different, for example, 80°C, you need to adjust the thermometer readings using a screwdriver through the hole on the back cover. This can be done directly through the package. The most important thing is not to get scalded!

If necessary, the position of the hygrometer needle is also adjusted, setting it to a value close to the maximum - 95-100%.

Now you can carefully remove the device from the bag, dry it and... go to work. The photo at the beginning of the article shows the readings of a household electronic thermometer-hygrometer and a hair bath thermometer-hygrometer tested using a kettle. The picture was taken the next day after checking, adjusting and drying the device for 24 hours - the readings of both devices are almost completely identical. Thus, this method allows you to quite accurately adjust the hygrometer at temperatures close to operating temperatures.

But the main thing is not to forget that no matter what precise device is used, your well-being is the most important criterion. A bath should bring health and joy!