Humidity control for guitar collection

[Morogan]

Hello all - need some advice. I recently had an Aprilaire 700 installed to protect my guitar collection. To keep them happy, I need to keep the RH between 45-50%. The issue I have is that the humidistat control included with the 700 maxes out at 45%, and unfortunately I've only been able to coax about 40-41% out of the system. Is there a good substitute humidistat that gives me control up to about 55%? I'd even consider a commercial unit if someone was aware of one.

[Airmechanical]

honeywell makes a fine line of humidifiers, look em up on the web and take your pick

no problem maintaining 50% humidity!



.

[beenthere]

Honeywell makes several humidistats that can be set a lot higher then 45%.
You may need to have your humidifiers water supply connected to the hot water heater to get your humidity to 50%.

[Morogan]

Thanks for the suggestion. I already come off the hot supply, so that shouldn't be an issue, thankfully.

[summit]

Honeywell humidifier thermostats go up to 60%. Be careful getting so close to 60%, mold stays domant below 60. If you get a humidistat and set it at 55%, there could still be particular spots in your home that get up to 60% (basement areas, etc.)

[Morogan]

Yep, understood. I will be putting in a UV system in the spring.

[teddy bear]

Yep, understood. I will be putting in a UV system in the spring.
What part of the country do you live in? Most home in cold climates can not handle +40%RH with <10^F outdoor conditions. You will end up with condensation at the cold surface. Maintaining wood at 40%RH will be ok for the guitars. During the summer get a good dehumidifier like Santa Fe for summer. Manintain <50%RH throughout the summer. What has a UV light have to do with controlling mildew/mold in the far corners and under rugs in a structure?
Remember that wood response to %RH and not temperature. Raising or lowering the temperature raises or lowers the %RH by +2%RH per degree. Take the advice you get on this site with a grain of salt. Regards TB

[Morogan]

I live in the mid-atlantic. Temperatures here rarely get below 20-25 degrees (in our coldest month, Jan., the average of our lows is 25F, with a daily mean of 32F). Average here is only about 70 days below 32F.

I've lived here since 1994 and I've got multiple digital indoor hygrometers around the house and in the worst part of summer I've only ever seen this house get up to about 49&#37;RH - and even then that's only happened once. In the summer, my home's summer humidity is fine without dehumidification, sitting between 42-47%RH typically.

40% is a tad dry for certain guitars depending on their construction climate. For example, the Taylor Guitar Company's factory is a constant 47%RH @ 75 degrees, and they recommend that stores carrying their product be kept at 50%RH.

Incidentally, my house was recently tested for mold and only showed a few signs of black mold in the blower unit. I assume this is because of my home's perpetual dryness (at least until last week when I had the humidifier installed). This is why I am having UV installed at the source, since I don't seem to have any issue with mold elsewhere in the house.

[teddy bear]

I've lived here since 1994 and I've got multiple digital indoor hygrometers around the house and in the worst part of summer I've only ever seen this house get up to about 49%RH - and even then that's only happened once. In the summer, my home's summer humidity is fine without dehumidification, sitting between 42-47%RH typically.

40% is a tad dry for certain guitars depending on their construction climate. For example, the Taylor Guitar Company's factory is a constant 47%RH @ 75 degrees, and they recommend that stores carrying their product be kept at 50%RH.

Incidentally, my house was recently tested for mold and only showed a few signs of black mold in the blower unit. I assume this is because of my home's perpetual dryness (at least until last week when I had the humidifier installed). This is why I am having UV installed at the source, since I don't seem to have any issue with mold elsewhere in the house.

Signs of mold in the blower unit are not caused by dryness. Mold in the unit is more likely caused by continued dampness during the cooling cycle. The ducts down stream of the cooling coil are +90%RH when the cooling coil is operating. When the tstat is satisfied, the a/c shutts off. There are several lbs. of moisture on the cooling coil. As the this moisture slowly evaporates, the ducts continue to be damp for days at a time. This grows mold. A UV lite is only effective within 18" of the bulb.

Regarding being dry during warm, damp weather, the lack of excess humidity is a sign of inadequate fresh air infiltration/ventilation. You need +-75 cfm of fresh air in a home to purge indoor pollutants and renew oxygen when the home is occupied by people. Most well built homes do not get the fresh air they require to be healthy during mild weather. The force that makes homes breathe during cold weather is the "stack effect" or hot air ballon effect. This is great for the guitars-not so go for the people.

For ideal IAQ, bring 75 cfm of fresh air into your home when you are there. Maintain <50%RH for comfort, health, and yes, the guitars. Most health organization are recommending fresh air ventilation and <50%RH when occupied. With accurate monitoring, you will realize the importantance of a good ventilating dehumidifier during damp, cool, low/no a/c requirements. Following these recommendations will you to will also grow old along with your guitars. Seasons Greetings, TB

[Carnak]

are you the guy from usenet with the guitar 'humidor'?

[Carnak]

easy enough to control humidity in a sealed off closet than it is to try and risk mold in the whole house in the winter

[Morogan]

are you the guy from usenet with the guitar 'humidor'?

No. Not sure to what you are referring, although if I had room in the house to make one, I would.

[Morogan]

easy enough to control humidity in a sealed off closet than it is to try and risk mold in the whole house in the winter

I'll keep that in mind the next time I am practicing my guitar in a closet. ;-) Seriously, I play as many as eight or more hours throughout the day, so my environment honestly needs to be the same as where my guitars are stored.

[glennac]

You need a humidifier which makes steam to get your humidity in the over 40% range in addition to a correct humidistate. There are several manufactures of these units. They are more expensive and use a lot more power to boil water into steam but they work. You may need a commercial model if you want to do your whole house. These will operate well without your furnace having to be on, just your blower and are set up to turn the blower on without calling for the furnace unless the temperature drop calls for it.

[Carnak]

I'll keep that in mind the next time I am practicing my guitar in a closet. ;-) Seriously, I play as many as eight or more hours throughout the day, so my environment honestly needs to be the same as where my guitars are stored.

smart alec :)

Hardwood floors want 50% but are not going to get it in a cold climate.

Takes a little time for the wood to dry out. Take them in and out of the closet they will be fine.

[beenthere]

Good thing you don't play your guitars any place else besides at your house. Or they wouldn't be in a 50&#37; RH enviroment then either.

[Morogan]

Man, what's with all the attitude? (Forgive me if I am misinterpreting.)

My collection guitars absolutely do NOT leave the house. When I play out I use my cheap Fenders and Epiphones.

I think I've got all that's productive out of this thread already. Thanks to those that responded respectfully.

[JDrew]

Im a first year and was wondering if a static controle ecominizer helps with humidity? Is a new stat all you need in this case?

[cn]

I also own a collection of classical guitars which generally need RH between 40-60&#37;. It is fine in the summer but in the winter, it is a challenge. This is because of simple law of Physics 101.

When outside air is cold, let's say 20-30F, any humidity you produce above 30-35% will condensate on the window, and water will roll down the bottom of the window and this:
- defeats the purpose of humidifying your guitars
- can rot your window bottom (which is usally made of wood)
- can produce mold in the house.

This is my 2 cents and has worked for me the last 20 years with absolutely no problem.

1. I have an Aprilaire 550 Humidifier (hooked up to cold water supply), I set it at 35%.....so this is baseline humidity in the house.

2. Each guitar gets its own humidifier. Here are the options:

a. Get an "Oasis" humidifier for each guitar for $40 or so but this is a waste of money.
http://oasishumidifiers.com/original.html

b. Make your own humidifier by using:
- a used 35-mm film cartridge like this:
http://www.kodak.com/eknec/documents/d4/0900688a802682d4/filmContainers.jpg
- drill a few 1/8" holes near the top
- cut a small piece of sponge (dish-washing sponge) and stuff it in the container.
So when you use it: wet the sponge and squeeze excess water out, insert it in the film container, close the lid, then suspend the film container between guitar strings or alternatively, you can place the film container in the guitar neck inside the guitar case, the humidity produced will travel throughout the case.

You can also post a message in the Classical Guitar forum, there are tons of luthiers on this website that may be able to help you:

http://delcamp.net/forum/en/viewforum.php?f=11

Anyway, this little tricks work for me the last 20 years without damaging the house.....:)
HTH.