ha-optimal-humidity

Home Assistant Sensor Integration to assist with maintaining the optimal humidity in your home!

Please see this Discussion on Humidity for a good overview of some of the terms used in this integration.

Many signs of inadequate humidity levels can occur, but here are a few common examples:

Too much humidity

• Condensation on windows in winter
• Uncomfortable feeling in summer
• Moisture stains on walls
• Musty smell
• Mold

Not enough humidity

• Itchy eyes, nose, and skin
• Dry skin and chapped lips
• Static
• Damaged wood floors

Most systems use relative humidity as set-points for humidification systems, which of course, is relative to temperature. That means setting a fixed relative humidity would also require a fixed temperature. In an ideal world, we would maintain a fixed temperature, but in most environments, that comes at a high cost.

Apparent temperature, or the temperature we feel, is also impacted by humidity. Therefore, we can maintain a comfortable environment by controlling humidity more fluidly, and also control costs, as it is significantly less expensive to add humidity to the air than heat.

In addition to how we feel, other organisms love humid environments, such as mold. Mold can have detrimental effects on health and can do irreparable damage to your home. Condensation on windows is also a factor. This sensor also considers these factors by allowing one to assign a critical temperature sensor for the coldest point in your controlled location. For example, you can place critical temperature sensors at your window or on your basement floor.

Another factor that influences humidity that is not often considered is air pressure.

This sensor integration attempts to determine the optimal relative humidity set point for your humidifiers and dehumidifiers based on those factors.

Installation

MANUAL INSTALLATION

1. Download the zip file from latest release.
2. Unpack the release and copy the custom_components/optimal_humidity directory into the custom_components directory of your Home Assistant installation.
3. Configure the optimal_humidity sensor.
4. Restart Home Assistant.

Configuration

# Example configuration.yaml entry

sensor:
  - platform: optimal_humidity
    sensors:
      test_optimal_humidity:
        name: "Optimal Humidity"
        type: optimal_humidity
        indoor_temp_sensor: sensor.indoor_temp
        indoor_humidity_sensor: sensor.indoor_humidity
        critical_temp_sensor: sensor.critical_temp
        indoor_pressure_sensor: sensor.indoor_pressure

Main Options

Parameter	Required	Description
indoor_temp_sensor	Yes	Temperature sensor to use for calculations. Typically the warmest sensor in the room.
indoor_humidity_sensor	Yes	Humidity sensor to use for calculations. Typically in the same location as the indoor_temp_sensor.
critical_temp_sensor	Yes	Temperature sensor to use for calculations to avoid mold and condensation. Typically the coldest sensor in the room.
name	No	Friendly name Default: Optimal Humidity
type	No	The type of sensor to use for the primary state. Value can be any of the attributes listed below. Default: optimal_humidity
indoor_pressure_sensor	No	Pressure sensor to use for calculations. If not included, will use the elevation set in Home Assistant to calculate the Standard Air Pressure.
comfortable_specific_humidity	No	Overrides the comfortable specific humidity calculation. In milligrams of H₂O per gram of Air⁻¹ Default: Calculated based on indoor_pressure_sensor if available, or from Home Assistants elevation setting if not.

Attributes

Attribute	Unit	Description
dewpoint	°C/°F	Dewpoint from the indoor_temp_sensor and indoor_humidity_sensor and indoor_pressure_sensor combined.
optimal_humidity	%RH	The optimal set point in relative humidity for a humidifier or dehumidifier.
comfortable_specific_humidity	milligrams of H₂O per gram of Air⁻¹	Calculated based on indoor_pressure_sensor or Home Assistants elevation setting, 21°C and 45%RH. Can be overridden by using the comfortable_specific_humidity option.
specific_humidity	milligrams of H₂O per gram of Air⁻¹	Specific humidity from the indoor_temp_sensor and indoor_humidity_sensor and indoor_pressure_sensor combined.
critical_humidity	%RH	Calculated critical humidity at the coldest point in the room, using the critical_temp_sensor.
mold_warningr	boolean	Whether or not there is a risk of mold at either the critical point or the indoor sensor location.
humidex	°C/°F	Humidex using the Canadian standard.
humidex_comfort	text	An english statement describing the current human comfort level base on the humidex.
optimal_humidex	°C/°F	Humidex at the optimal_humidity with the current temperature from indoor_temp_sensor.
comfortable_humidity	%RH	Comfortable humidity, not taking into account the critical_temp_sensor.

Contributions are welcome!

If you want to contribute to this integration, please read the Contribution guidelines