catch 22 humidity

[RIFF WRATH]

have been checking on my humidity daily....never goes above 40.....burning wood in the wood stove with a constant pot of water on it, got 2 big fish tanks running...2 gallons plus per week to water all the plants....basement not properly sealed......showers dailly...laundry couple times per week....wet laundry hung inside to dry.....need slippers and a sweater to take out chill in house....and the humidity stays at 40....so do I trust the guage...do I buy another one to verify the first.....which of the guages do I trust (everything is made in china)...should I buy a 3rd one and average out the 3 readings.....
bah humbuckler
RIFF rant!!!!!

[fraser]

i have a few cheap analog ones, none of them ever read the same, so i bought a $40 digital one from canadian tire- its pretty good, i trust it, and use it to calibrate my analog ones- now they all read pretty good.
funny, i live in a 14x20 room and ive got 4 of them lol.
i think you can trust any decent quality digital. when i bought it i was shocked to see how low my humidity was- bunch of plants and a leaky hot water tap in the bath- no heater, sure felt humid, but was only 35%- i keep it now at 45-55%.
i accomplish this by letting the leaky faucet drip just the right amount lol.

[david henman]

...i am in a similar predicament. my studio has drop/false ceilings, so any attempts at humidifying the place are pure exercises in futility. i might as well try and humidify the entire city of newmarket.

-dh

[RIFF WRATH]

I had thought of tossing it in the toilet and see how it reads soaking wet...LOL
Fraser...you're gonna get in heck again re dripping tap.....last I recall you were recycling way too many bottles and wasting the contents.....thank goodness you didn't waste the beer...LOL

[Paul]

Breathe on it. Your breath has greater than 40% relative humidity, and that'll chase the number up, if the device is working.

I base the appropriate level of humidification on my instruments, my wood floor, and my nose. When my nose starts to dry out and bleed, then I know there is a problem.

[RIFF WRATH]

good suggestion Paul.......I'l try it tonight....and have a brewskie to ensure that my mouth is not too dry...LOL
cheers
RIFF

[fraser]

I had thought of tossing it in the toilet and see how it reads soaking wet...LOL
Fraser...you're gonna get in heck again re dripping tap.....last I recall you were recycling way too many bottles and wasting the contents.....thank goodness you didn't waste the beer...LOL

lol- well the tap drips anyway, nothing i can do about it- its an old style and ive replaced the seals and cartridge a couple times to no avail- its the landlords problem anyhow, not mine, and if its good for my guitars, then great.
the only time i waste beer is when i fall asleep with one open.

...i am in a similar predicament. my studio has drop/false ceilings, so any attempts at humidifying the place are pure exercises in futility. i might as well try and humidify the entire city of newmarket.

-dh

any chance you could throw a bit of vapour barrier up there? its just a big sheet of plastic, you can put it on top of the insulation if theres any, or just lie it on the tiles-
did that once in a buddys studio, he had forced air, was really dry- it worked great

[david henman]

any chance you could throw a bit of vapour barrier up there? its just a big sheet of plastic, you can put it on top of the insulation if theres any, or just lie it on the tiles-
did that once in a buddys studio, he had forced air, was really dry- it worked great


...thanks for the suggestion.

my studio is in a commercial plaza, and the ceiling is where the heating (and cooling) ducts are located.

what i'm thinking of doing is building a small, cheap, enclosed storage container, with enough room for twelve guitars and a small humidifier.

-dh