Indoors humidity

[Florin]

Hi Guys,

so... I bought for my son a nice 100 y old upright piano 2-3 weeks ago. Some work needed to be done (we are still working on it), but I've noticed the soundboard cracking a little... So I became aware about the some humidity issues I ignored all these years

Bottom line - me and the piano are happy between 40 and 60% humidity, actually more after 50 - 55%.

So I bought yesterday a hygrometer, and the humidity in my house was 25%. That's dry!!! I went to a store and bought two humidifiers, they are working since then.

About 4-5 liters of water are dissipated now in the air, so the humidity is now about 45 in the piano room.

So it means those little vessels you put on the heater does not work, since maybe they can dissipate 0,5 l/ 24 h.

And I had them anyway, and used to dry laundry on the heaters too...

Have you measured the humidity inside your home? It seems the dry air is unhealthy for us, and for our Warwick basses as well

So.. what is your experience with this?

 

[DiMarco]

In our old wooden house which was built in the 1910's the air was always very humid and the place was also very dusty. It made it harder for me to breathe as I'm suffering asthmatic bronchitis from time to time.

Now we're living in a concrete house which has mechanical ventilation the air must be way less humid. So far I love it but I will have to keep an eye on my Dolphins.

 

[Augie]

wow, its unseasonally humid here and its 45%outside when its raining. Its been great because we normally have temperate humid winters and very hot, dry summers summers truss rods are a twice-yearly thing to do. i have been able to avoid it for a few extra months this year.

 

[boebl]

Mh I've no idea, but as I've a small livingroom & kitchen combo in my students-flat I think my humidity is quite ok due to cooking. Only winters with a lot of heating tend to be dry, but my basses get enough wax, I hope

At home I got a cheap accoustic guitar in a room almost not used at all, but I have the feeling it's becoming dry. It was crap anyhow, but imo it's getting worse. No doubt accoustic instruments are more affected by humidity.

 

[Tom Thump]

I keep my basses in their cases with half a potato. Got that "trick" from an elderly luthier. Don't know why, but it seems to work.