Room temperature refers to the range of air temperatures that people prefer in the room. Measuring room temperature is actually very easy. You can use a thermometer stored in the middle of the room to take temperature readings or download an app on your smartphone that can do this.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Reading a Thermometer
Step 1. Choose a digital thermometer for the most accurate results
Electric or digital thermometers are usually more expensive than other thermometers, but they can provide fast and accurate results. Digital thermometers can also react more quickly to changes in temperature than other thermometers, so you'll get an accurate reading.
Some digital thermometers have the ability to store readings. That way, you can compare the room temperature over time to see how it changes
Step 2. Use a glass thermometer to get an estimate of the temperature
Glass thermometers use a glass tube filled with liquid to measure temperature. When the air around the thermometer turns warm, the liquid will move up the tube so it can be used to measure room temperature accurately.
- Choose a glass thermometer that does not contain mercury. Mercury is highly toxic and can be dangerous when a thermometer breaks.
- Glass thermometers are sometimes also called light bulb thermometers or liquid-in-glass thermometers.
Step 3. Choose a bimetallic thermometer for easy reading options
A bimetallic thermometer or dial thermometer has a metal tip that moves up and down on a circular scale to indicate temperature. This tool uses a piece of metal that can stretch and bend as the temperature increases. As the piece expands or contracts, the tip of the scale pointer moves. The large arrow on the tip makes it easy for you to check the room temperature.
Bimetallic thermometers are not as accurate as digital thermometers
Step 4. Place the thermometer in the center of the room
Regardless of the type of thermometer you use, you should place it in the center of the room, at least 0.6 meters higher than the ground for an accurate measurement of the room temperature. Mounting a thermometer on a wall can result in inaccurate readings as heat on the wall can damage the reading.
Place the thermometer on a table or chair so that the temperature on the floor does not affect the reading
Tip:
Make sure there are no heat sources near the thermometer.
Step 5. Wait for 5 minutes for the thermometer to read the room temperature
Before checking the temperature, give the thermometer time to adjust the reading. Thermometers, especially those made of glass and bimetallic, can take several minutes to take an accurate reading of the room temperature.
Do not hold or stand near the thermometer as your body heat can affect the room temperature reading
Step 6. Check the temperature on the thermometer
After placing the thermometer in the center of the room and waiting for a few minutes, you can check the temperature readings to find out the room temperature. Room temperature is usually in the range of 21–24 °C.
- A digital thermometer will display the temperature on its screen and give the most accurate results.
- Read the number next to the liquid on the glass thermometer to measure the temperature.
- Pay attention to the number indicated by the arrow on the bimetallic thermometer to measure the temperature.
Method 2 of 2: Using a Smartphone
Step 1. Download the thermometer app on your smartphone
There are many smart phones that are equipped with sensors that can monitor the temperature of the device. You can download an app that uses these sensors to take a rough reading of a room. Head to the app store on your phone and look for a thermometer app that can be downloaded.
- Visit the App Store to download the thermometer app for your iPhone.
- Visit the Google Play Store to download the app for your Android device.
- Some of the popular temperature measuring apps are My Thermometer, Smart Thermometer, and iThermonitor.
Step 2. Open the app
After downloading the app, find its icon on the phone screen and tap it with your finger to open it. You may need to wait a few minutes for the app to update once it's opened.
You'll need to wait for the app to finish downloading before you can open it
Step 3. Choose a rough temperature reading to measure the room temperature
Depending on the type of application you are using, you may have different room temperature reading options. Some apps allow you to check your phone's battery temperature or outdoor temperature based on meteorological data. Choose a rough temperature reading to find out the temperature of the room around you.
Tip:
Most apps give you the option to select the reading in Celsius or Fahrenheit, but you can also convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius, and vice versa.
