Does The Damp Air Feel Colder?

The feeling of cold depends on many factors --- for instance, the wind, humidity, whether the person is standing in the sun or shade, whether he/she is exercising, the clothing worn, and whether his/her skin is damp.

Let's first look at how heat is taken away from the body. To simplify the argument, let's assume that the body is dry, exposed, motionless, in still air and in the shade. The question now becomes: whether dry air or damp air takes away heat from the body faster, i.e. whose thermal conductivity ('conductivity' from hereon) is higher.

Many people think that the conductivity is higher for moist air than for dry air. However, this is not true. The conductivity of water vapor is actually much less than that of dry air. So, if damp air (i.e. water vapor) has any effect on the conductivity of air, it would make it less conductive, not more.

So in damp air you should feel warmer. But the truth is when air is more humid it is more likely to be unstable or to be part of a storm front and the air movement is the real reason you feel colder. Moving air, i.e. wind, which carries heat away from the body. People sometimes call it the 'wind chill' effect. It feels much colder in a windy day than when it is calm.

If we move from damp air to a wet person (actually in the rain or a body of water) then what happens?  The conductivity of water is about 25 times that of air, i.e. water conducts heat 25 times faster than air. You may feel chilly standing in still air at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but it would be much harder to jump into a pool at 40 degrees water temperature. In fact you would suffer hypothermia in just a few minutes time.

So while high humidity slows the cooling effect of evaporation (which would tend to warm us), it also increases the moisture level in our clothing. The damp clothes cool our bodies by conducting heat away from us, which makes us feel colder. And in winter, colder air wins this battle!

Now you know why that high humidity makes the hot air feel even hotter and that is why you are more likely to be adversely affected in a high humidity - high heat city.

So damp cold air or damp hot air has the same effect – you feel warmer.

Are you looking for fast and fair Heating Repair? Aaron’s Mechanical Services wants you to stay comfortable all year round.  Most important we want you to spend the least amount of money possible while you stay comfortable. If your Heating system or HVAC unit needs service or replacement please think of us and call at 623-388-4436 and we will come to you and solve your Heating System service needs.

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