Water, Humidity and Your Audio System
As we approach winter and the heating season, I thought it timely to make you think about an important element: Water.
As your heaters begin to work, one of the common side effects of their use, more so than air conditioning, is the drying out of your home. You notice this with door jambs, cabinets, and all sorts of things. For those of us who have pianos, controlled humidity is essential to preserving adhesives used to attach different materials to wood, such as the felt on a hammer. Sudden changes in humidity can cause rapid expansion and contraction that may disrupt those attachments.
It can also affect speakers, sometimes resulting in the sudden appearance of unforeseen rattles or buzzes.
The most common experience involves you: static shock. This frequently happens as you walk across a carpet and touch a grounded metal object.
ZAP!
With today’s electronics and touch panels, I have seen situations where a static shock can cause a product to become “locked up.” In many cases, simply turning the product off and back on will bring it back to life. Sometimes you may also need to unplug the device for a few minutes and then start it again.
Another common area where static becomes noticeable is when playing LPs, records, vinyl — or whatever term you have for those black discs. Fun intended.
Some companies have made a nice living selling products designed to reduce static, including specially treated mats and devices such as the Zerostat. They can work pretty well.
But I would like to suggest an entirely different approach, one that is inexpensive and can also make your home more comfortable:
Add some humidity.
There are humidifiers, vaporizers, whole-house systems and even decorative fountains that can add moisture to the air. Along with one of these, you should have a humidity monitor. They are inexpensive and readily available. I generally try to keep my house somewhere around 30 to 40 percent relative humidity during the winter months.
Now, this is really important: any device that uses water must be properly maintained.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the type of water to use, cleaning procedures, replacement filters, disinfecting and maintenance schedules. Some humidifiers benefit from distilled or demineralized water, while others are designed to operate with ordinary tap water. The correct choice depends upon the particular unit.
The same applies to cleaning products. Do not simply add bleach, disinfectants or other chemicals unless the manufacturer specifically approves their use. Different humidifiers use different materials and operating methods, and what is perfectly acceptable for one unit may damage another.
If you have a humidifier attached to your furnace, remember that it also requires regular cleaning and maintenance. Pads, filters, reservoirs and water lines can all accumulate minerals or biological material over time.
The point is simple: adding humidity can be beneficial, but only if the equipment adding that humidity is itself kept clean and properly maintained.
So as winter arrives, keep an eye on the humidity in your home. Your records, electronics, speakers, furniture — and perhaps even your nose — may appreciate it.
As always, happy and safe listening!
—Lou