|
E. Linacre |
12/'98 |
Pianos, guitars etc include wood which adjusts to the ambient humidity. For instance, a piano which has adjusted to a humid climate (such as Florida) for a decade or more not only needs to be retuned, but also may suffer cracking, splitting and warping, when transported to a dry climate, such as that in Phoenix, Arizona. Damage can be caused even in humid climates by heaters or air conditioners. However, an internal automatic humidifier which maintains a 6-10 % wood moisture content will preserve pianos.
Old books too suffer from either very low, very high or variable humidity. A recommended climate setting for libraries is 50% relative humidity.