Humidity

[Kevin Briggs]

Hi, everyone.

I am the proud owner of a new music room. It's in my basement, which usually has about 55% humidty when my dehumidifer is working away. Is this a safe level for my mandolin and acoustic guitar?

Thanks for any help.

Kevin

[Jim Broyles]

The old rule of thumb is if you don't like it your instrument will not like it either. Humidity should be at 45-55% according to Maury's Music. (http://www.maurysmusic.com/humidity___acoustic_guitars)

[Kevin Briggs]

That's good news, and thanks for the great resource.

I just got a longer hose for my dehumidifier so I can move it closer to my music room. In my music room I have a temperature and humidity guage. I figure it is easier to dehumidify than to humidify. I may invest in a new, more powerful dehumidifier at some point.

Any suggestions?

[Kevin Briggs]

That's good news, and thanks for the great resource.

I just got a longer hose for my dehumidifier so I can move it closer to my music room. In my music room I have a temperature and humidity guage. I figure it is easier to dehumidify than to humidify. I may invest in a new, more powerful dehumidifier at some point.

Any suggestions?

[allenhopkins]

My basement "cave" has kept my menagerie pretty much OK for 30+ years. Just keep monitoring that hygrometer. High humidity is less damaging than low; you have to really get to the tropical-rain-forest level, IMHO, before you start seeing serious effects. The only thing I'd caution is that you may find your instruments going a bit sharp, if you tune them "upstairs," then put them away in the basement and take them out later.

[big smiley guy]

55% isn't too high. Usually the worst thing that happens in really damp environments is mold which can be unpleasant. The worst I ever saw was a guitar that had been kept in a leaky closet for years and when it was opened the instrument was covered in in a white, cobwebby mold. I have too many allergies so I didn't work on it.

[Rob Grant]

Allen wrote:
"you have to really get to the tropical-rain-forest level, IMHO, before you start seeing serious effects."

At that level and environment it's not the humidity that gets to the instruments, but the mold, fungus and glue and timber eating insects.<G>

[Rob Gerety]

I have a basement music room too. (Well, a reclaimed bedroom actually but I now call it the Music Room in hopes that the name will stick with my family members!) Here in the northeast the basement is perfect. It smooths out the highs and lows of temperature and humidity. I do run a small room size humidifier during the heating season which works perfectly and I also run a small room size dehumidifier in the summer. Neither has to work too hard - I can pretty much keep the room at whatever humidity level I choose. Typically I have it at 45 - 50. I do find that in the winter (dry) when I bring my instrument upstairs to play it gradually goes flat. In the summer (damp) it will go sharp. Very slow process however. It lives 99% of its life in the basement. I also like that the room is out of the normal traffic areas of the house so I can leave the instruments out in the air hanging on the wall. I know some don't like to do this - but personally I think it is much better for the instruments - especially those that don't get played much.