Humidifiers - Do You Really Need One?
I received a question from Julia about this, and I get this question every month. So here is my answer.
Short answer:
Do you live in a snowbound area or in the middle of an arid, high-altitude desert? If you don't live in those places, then no, you do not need a humidifier.
Summary:
If you don't own a snow shovel, you don't need a humidifier either.
Long answer:
I generally do not recommend humidifiers for people living in Australia, especially in South Australia with our Mediterranean climate. Humidifiers are primarily necessary for those living in regions with cold, snowy conditions where the air is extremely dry, or in high-altitude deserts.
In countries with cold, dry winters, the air inside homes can become very dry due to heating systems. For example, Russia, Greenland, Canada, parts of the USA, and Scandinavian countries.
Extremely dry air can be detrimental to solid wood instruments, which can crack or warp if not properly humidified. Using a humidifier in these regions helps maintain a stable humidity level, protecting the instrument from damage.
In such areas, people often use heaters or air conditioners that further dry out the air, making humidifiers essential to prevent damage to solid wood instruments.
In Australia, particularly in areas like South Australia, the climate is typically more moderate and less likely to cause extreme dryness that can damage solid wood ukuleles.
However, it's still important to monitor the humidity levels of the room where you store your instrument. Ideally, the relative humidity should be kept between 40% and 60%.
The average annual percentage of humidity in Adelaide is 47%, right in the "butter zone." It is very rarely much below 40% or above 60%, maybe for a few days but not months on end.
If you notice that the humidity levels in your environment are significantly lower than 40% for a few months, you might consider using a humidifier.
For most Australian climates, simple steps like keeping your ukulele in its case when not in use and avoiding exposure to direct sunlight or extreme temperatures should be sufficient to maintain its condition. Dogs and ukuleles should not be left in cars on hot days.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
CC
