Protecting musical instruments from extreme temperatures is a top priority for hobbyists and professionals alike. You might not be aware of the danger low indoor humidity levels can pose to wooden musical instruments over time. But maintaining ideal humidity levels in your guitar room or home studio will ensure your instruments last. Review Sylvane’s guide to learn more about controlling and maintaining humidity in your music room.
Humidity's Effect on Wooden Instruments
Nearly all guitars and other musical instruments made from wood are built in an environment where humidity is closely controlled and monitored. Wood is susceptible to warping that can alter the tone and timbre of the instrument or, even worse, cause it to crack. That means additional low humidity levels in your home or music room can cause wood to lose its natural moisture content. So, maintaining an ideal humidity where your guitars are kept is vital.
Should You Humidify Your Guitar Room?
If you have a large collection of wooden instruments that you hang on the wall or display in stands, we recommend investigating the humidity levels in your room. Determining indoor humidity levels is the first step in controlling your guitar room humidity, and the best way is using a humidity monitor.
What Should a Guitar Room's Humidity Level Be?
Most experts and instrument manufacturers agree that an ideal relative humidity range of 40 to 50 percent is best for storing instruments. Anything l
ess could cause shrinking on the instrument's top, stress, and eventually cracks. So, anyone living in arid climates like the southwest or frequently use air conditioning systems, which can lower humidity levels, may be especially vulnerable to low indoor humidity levels.
How to Humidify Your Guitar Room Using a Room Humidifier
If your music room's humidity is too low, we recommend using a room humidifier to remediate this issue. Room humidifiers are a low-cost and easy way to maintain ideal instrument humidity levels. Some models come with built-in humidistats so that you can set your desired humidity level without having to adjust the moisture output rate of the device constantly.
When selecting a humidifier, keep a few things in mind:
- Consider the size of your room. Humidifiers are manufactured for specific coverage areas. To help select the correct humidifier size for your guitar room, determine its square footage and refer to our Humidifier Buying Guide for sizing information.
- Whole-house humidifiers can benefit those who store musical instruments in multiple rooms or need humidification for a multi-room studio. They are available in both ducted and console models.
Other Tips to Consider
Using a humidifier to control indoor humidity is only one part of protecting your valuable possessions. You should also consider these tips and tricks to keep your instruments working well:
- Store musical instruments in their cases, not hanging on walls or on stands.
- Consider purchasing a guitar case humidifier for long-term storage.
- Do not leave your instruments in vehicles, basements, attics, or other areas prone to high swings in humidity and temperature levels.
- Maintain constant temperatures in the rooms you store your instruments.
Additional Questions?
Do you still need help finding the best humidification solution for your space? Give us a call at 1-800-934-9194. Let us know any other tips and tricks you may have in the comments below, or reach out on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.
