February 2025
By: Josh Walejewski
Read Time: 1-2 Minutes
Humidity plays a key role in home comfort, health, indoor air quality, and the longevity of your belongings, especially musical instruments. Maintaining relative humidity (RH) between 40% and 60% not only supports a healthier living environment but also helps protect delicate instruments from damage. Let’s uncover how to create the perfect harmony between humidity and instrument care.
Why Proper Humidity Matters for Instruments
Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases moisture based on the surrounding environment. Frequent humidity swings cause wood to expand and contract, which can lead to cracks, warping, and tonal distortion in guitars, violins, pianos, and similar instruments.
Metal components are also at risk—high moisture levels can lead to corrosion, primarily affecting the instrument’s appearance, though in some cases, prolonged exposure can impact functionality.
Stringed instruments are especially susceptible to humidity extremes. Their wooden bodies and metal hardware need to remain in balance for optimal tone and playability. When conditions are too dry or too damp, you may notice changes in sound quality, playability, or signs of damage.
Signs and Consequences of Low or Excess Humidity
Low Humidity
When wood is exposed to dry air for a prolonged time, it loses moisture to the environment through evaporation. When this happens, the wood fibers shrink, affecting the structural integrity of guitars, violins, and pianos. A warped guitar/violin neck or cracked piano soundboard can throw off intonation and make the instrument difficult to play. In pianos, dryness can create a sharper, more percussive tone with less sustain.
Excess Humidity
On the flip-side, excess humidity forces wood to swell, raising the grain and sometimes loosening glue joints. Additionally, as wooden components expand/swell, tension is increased on strings and other metal components. This often leads to tuning instability and a higher action/diminished playability. ‘Sticky keys’ on a piano usually suggest humidity is too high which can make the keys less responsive. Over time, constant expansion and contraction may result in permanent damage.
How to Monitor Indoor Moisture Levels
A hygrometer is the simplest way to measure RH in a room. Most modern thermostats display indoor humidity, but if your instruments are stored in a different space, a separate hygrometer is a wise investment. Small battery-operated models are available online for around $10.
Whole-Home Solutions for Year-Round Humidity Control
Maintaining stable indoor humidity is key to preserving your instruments. Whole-home solutions provide consistent moisture control throughout your living space, eliminating the need to monitor each room individually.
Whole-Home Humidifiers
During dry winter months, a whole-home humidifier helps maintain proper RH levels. Unlike portable units, which only treat a single space, whole-home systems regulate humidity throughout the house. All while keeping energy costs low and not producing that white dust portable units produce.The AprilAire 720A Whole-House Humidifier provides 21 gallons of humidification per day. Its sustainable design reduces wastewater by 60% (compared to previous models). For these reasons, the 720A gets our stamp of approval as the best humidifier on the market today.
Whole-Home Dehumidifiers
In hot, humid weather, a whole-home dehumidifier removes excess moisture, preventing warping, corrosion, and other humidity-related damage. These units can be stand-alone or connected directly to your HVAC system. Therefore, maintaining balanced conditions without requiring constant adjustments.
One whole-home dehumidifier from AprilAire does the work of 2-4 portable units found in big box stores. With a 15-year life expectancy, AprilAire dehumidifiers last 3-5 times longer and come with an impressive 5 year bumper to bumper warranty! Additionally, AprilAire dehumidifiers cost $216 less to run during the summer than cheaper retail models. Whole-home units cost more upfront, but cost considerably less in the long run.
More Ways to Protect Your Instruments
- Store instruments in well-sealed cases when not in use to help shield them from environmental changes
- Avoid placing instruments near air vents, radiators, or direct sunlight, as these can create rapid fluctuations in temperature and humidity
- Keep a hygrometer in your music room or instrument case to monitor conditions and ensure RH stays within the ideal range
- Stabilize indoor temperature around 70°F and avoid sudden changes—moving an instrument from a cool, dry space to a warm, humid one too quickly can stress the wood and cause damage
By maintaining balanced indoor conditions, you’ll preserve sound quality, extend the life of your instruments, and enjoy a more comfortable home environment.
Final Thoughts
Humidity control is essential for protecting the integrity and tone of your instruments. Whole-home solutions remove the guesswork, making it easy to maintain a stable environment year-round. If you’re looking for reliable humidity control to keep you and your instruments in top shape, contact us today to learn more about whole-home humidity control solutions.
Read more blog posts from Kettle Moraine Heating & AC.
About the Author
Josh Walejewski
Josh is a business professional who has worked in the HVAC industry since 2017. With a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Degree (B.A.A.S) in marketing and sustainable business management from the University of Wisconsin, he has a passion for all aspects of HVAC, business, marketing, and environmental stewardship.
