Humidity Control for Musical Instruments

Q: Can Condair solutions be used in private homes as well ?

Yes without question and with Condair's extensive portfolio of products it will be possible to select the correct humidifier for the specific application

Q: What are the benefits of optimal humidity levels for musical instruments?

Humidity plays a crucial role in maintaining optimal performance of musical instruments, particularly those made of wood and protecting your health. Five benefits would include: wood stability, tone quality, playability and comfort, longevity and preservation, as well as consistency in instrument performance.

Q: What types of instruments are most affected by dry air?

Pianos, violins, guitars, cellos, and other wooden or veneered instruments are most at risk, but even wind instruments with wooden parts can suffer from low humidity.

Benefits

There are many reasons to manage humidity in environments where musical instruments are kept and used.

Maintains acoustic performance

Optimal humidity extends the period between necessary retuning and maintains tonal quality.

Prevents expensive damage

Humidity control avoids dimensional changes and damage to materials and veneers.

Provides return on investment

Maintaining optimal humidity reduces the risk of repairs and reduces servicing and tuning costs.

Humidity control for musical instruments

Benefits Use Cases References FAQs

Humidification for instruments

Many musical instruments contain natural materials such as wood, cork, leather and ivory. As such they are susceptible to dimensional changes when the air is too dry, and moisture is drawn from their surface. This may result in the need for frequent re-tuning, poor acoustic performance and ultimately damage and costly repairs.

The optimum humidity level for musical instruments, such as pianos, string and woodwinds, is typically between 40-60%RH. At this level, strings stay in tune longer, keys, hammers and mechanisms function smoothly, and soundboards retain proper curvature and tone.

Condair provides a comprehensive range of humidifiers for instruments and music venues. From mobile units for residential use, to installed systems for the largest of concert hall, Condair can provide the correct humidifier solution for any musical humidity control application.

Dehumidifiers for instrument storage

Storing musical instruments in overly damp conditions can encourage fungal growth on materials such as wood, felt, leather and storage case interiors. High humidity, above 60%RH, can weaken glue joints, cause soundboards to bow or warp, and result in corrosion on metal parts, such as strings, valves and sliders.

Storage areas ought to be monitored using hygrometers, to ensure humidity remains in the optimum 40-60%RH range. Ventilation or heating can also be beneficial in maintain the ideal condition, as both will impact humidity. However, dehumidifiers will provide a robust solution to excessive air humidity and can be a more energy efficient solution for short- or long-term storage of instruments.

Condair offers dehumidifiers for small or large areas, with a range of options for plumbed-in or manually drained systems, alongside free expert advice on product selection and installation.

Use Cases

Discover Condair in action

Projects and references

Allianz-Arena, Munich

The Allianz Arena was one of the most controversial construction projects, even prompting a public vote by Munich citizens. It has since become a central landmark in northern Munich and an architectural symbol of the city. Particularly striking is the translucent, diamond-shaped outer shell, which can glow in different colors.

Using projectors and asymmetrical parabolic mirrors developed specifically for the Allianz Arena, the diamonds can be illuminated in different colors depending on the club's colors. The stadium is around 50 meters high, 200 meters long, and can accommodate 66,000 spectators. Condair RS steam humidifiers ensure optimum humidity levels.

Thomann GmbH, Treppendorf (Germany)

In-room humidification is an integral part of air conditioning: for guitars, trumpets, customers and employees. At Thomann Musikhaus, controlled humidity guarantees protection, atmosphere and health.

Philharmonie Berlin

The Philharmonie Berlin uses the Condair DL hybrid humidifier to ensure precise, hygienic humidity control that supports acoustics, comfort and reliable hall performance.

Philharmonie Luxembourg

The Philharmonie Luxembourg uses the Condair DL hybrid humidifier to ensure precise, hygienic humidity control across its concert halls for optimal acoustics and comfort.

Steinway & Sons showroom, UK

Steinway & Sons has been renowned for producing the finest pianos since 1853. Passion and commitment, perfection and quality, reliability and “ of course “ an inimitable sound are just some of the characteristics people all over the world associate with these high-quality instruments. The impressive showroom in London Marylebone was recently refurbished. Condair™s steam humidifiers are playing a vital role in maintaining the exceptional craftsmanship involved in the production of Steinway™s famous pianos.

Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is probably the best-known concert building in Great Britain. Aronud two million guests a year enjoy acoustic cultural delights ranging from rock to classical music. Condair steam humidifiers ensure a perfect humidity in the organ chamber so that wooden parts maintain their integrity and shape, and move over each other perfectly, as they were designed to do.

Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, Australia, identified as one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings. Though its name suggests a single venue, the building comprises multiple performance venues which together are among the busiest of performing arts centres &ndash hosting well over 1,500 performances annually, attended by more than 1.2 million people.Condair evaporative and steam humidifiers are helping to maintain the ideal indoor environment, to preserve the integrity of the wooden interiors, the musical instruments, the vocal performance of the artists and the health of the public.

Festspielhaus Erl

The Erl Festival Theatre achieves a pleasant indoor humidity level through precise steam humidification. Its diamond-like architecture blends harmoniously into the surrounding Tyrolean mountain landscape.

Musiktheater Linz

Musiktheater Linz uses the Condair DL hybrid humidifier to ensure precise and hygienic humidity control, which promotes acoustics, comfort, and material protection.

Christ's Hospital Organ

Condair has supplied a Condair CP3 steam humidifier to humidify the school hall organ at Christ's Hospital School near Horsham, ensuring it resonates correctly and remains in tune whatever the weather. Large pipe organs need to have the humidity maintained within their organ chambers in order to preserve the wooden sound boards and sliders. If the air in the organ chamber becomes dry then it will draw moisture from the surrounding wood causing it to suffer dimensional changes. This can cause the sliders to warp and stick, resulting in an unresponsive instrument. By maintaining 55% relative humidity (%RH), the wood is in equilibrium with the air and it retains its moisture content and shape.

The Glasshouse (formerly Sage), UK

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a concert and event center in Gateshead, England, and home to the Royal Northern Sinfonia ensemble and the Academy of Music and Sound. It has three performance halls that seat 1,700, 400 and 200 people respectively.

Condair gas-fired steam humidifiers ensure the optimum atmosphere to preserve the wooden interior and musical instruments, as well as creating a healthy and comfortable room air humidity in the halls.

City Recital Hall, Angel Place

Located in the heart of the Sydney CBD, City Recital Hall produces, presents and hosts a rich and diverse program of concerts and events, embracing all genres and art forms from chamber orchestras to opera, contemporary ensembles to bands, talks and debates, to festival events. The venue was opened in 1999 and is the first specially designed concert venue to be built in the city since the Opera House in 1973. Condair supplied a Condair ME evaporative humidification system is providing the mainstage auditorium low energy, hygienic humidity control and also two Condair EL electrode steam humidifiers are used to provide humidity for performance stage and instruments.

Roskilde Cathedral

Mould and mildew no longer a problem Roskilde Cathedral chose Condair to supply a system to keep mould and mildew out. The problems with mould and mildew were occurring in the cold, unheated chapels and crypts. It would be almost impossible to install heating sources in the building to reduce the humidity level in the problematic areas. Three dehumidifiers were therefore installed as a trial. These gradually removed the excess humidity and then stabilised the level below 65%, which has been enough to keep mould and mildew away from the velvet covered coffins. The trial has been running for four years, and will continue for ongoing data collection. Roskilde Cathedral also has a data logging system installed in the building, which monitors that the air humidity is maintained under the critical limit all year round.Condair is very aware that churches are a sensitive building environment. It is important that excess humidity is always removed gradually under professional control and monitoring. Advantages &bull Correct dehumidification to avoid damage&bull Air humidity control to prevent mould and mildew&bull Reduced heating requirements System specifications &bull Dehumidifiers: Dehutech 320 (3)&bull Control: JA1000 with display&bull Data logging&bull Installed: 2010 "Our problems with mould and mildew in the coffin velvet in our chapels and crypts were solved." Ole HøjlundBuilding Manager, Roskilde Cathedral

Svenska Teatern

The Swedish Theatre (Swedish: Svenska Teatern) is a Swedish-language theatre in the center of Helsinki. It was the first national stage of Finland. It started as Engels Teater in 1827 and got its current facade in 1935 when it was renovated in by architects Eero Saarinen and Jarl Eklund, representing functionalism. In 2012, a renovation lasting a year and a half, worth 50 million euros, was carried out, in which the building was restored to its foundations. The work was done hand in hand with the Finnish Heritage Agency. Condair supplied EL electrode boiler steam humidifier for the ventilation of the theater. Humidification ensures a good working environment for the actors and maintains the integrity of wooden instruments, furnishings and the interior. Photos: Svenska Teatern

Quotes from our customers

Musikhaus Thomann GmbH, Treppendorf (Germany)Florian RittwegerSales Management

“Optimal humidity is a must for our instruments and at the same time refreshing and health for our customers and our team.”

Christ’s Hospital School, UKPeter DuttonSchool organist

Condair clearly had experience in working with such ancient and delicate organs and was quickly able to propose the most suitable model, as well as its positioning for installation.

It has made a real difference in keeping the humidification in the organ chamber stable and we are now able to play the organ whatever the weather is like outside; even during the cold, dry conditions of last winter.

Opera North, UKRichard AshtonGeneral Manager

The orchestra spends over 20 hours a week rehearsing and performing here, so it was essential to provide a consistent level of humidity during the times when they use the space. After meeting with Condair, we felt confident that the company understood our specialised requirement, not just the level of humidity, but also the need for reliability, flexibility and cost effectiveness.

Since installing humidification, which we switch on as and when required, our musicians have felt much more at ease regarding the safety and performance of their instruments.

Steinway & Sons, UKCraig TerryManaging Director

Incredibly rare and expensive wood is used in some of our models – but actually any type of wood is susceptible to changes in environmental conditions. Dryness is the enemy of pianos so humidity is really important. We need 40% to 50% humidity all the time to protect the wood, whether they’re in the showroom or the workshop. Condair’s units are ideal for the job.

And because we rely so heavily on the reliability of the humidifiers, we also contracted with Condair to service the humidifiers at regular intervals. Would I recommend Condair? Oh yes, they’ve supplied great service.

Frequently asked questions

Can Condair solutions be used in private homes as well ?

What are the benefits of optimal humidity levels for musical instruments?

What is the easiest way to maintain proper humidity levels for instruments?

To avoid the problem of unregulated humidity, it is important to first understand the challenges . Every room, even within a single facility can and most likely will be unique in the way the humidity varies. Initially consider investing in a hygrometer, a compact device used to measure atmospheric humidity and temperature as both are important parameters in control of humidity around musical instuments. Many instrument cases come equipped with built-in hygrometers, allowing you to stay informed about the humidity conditions within your storage case. Having data about the environment in which the instrument is stored or used is a significant step towards addressing the issue. As its important to minimise the differential to which the instrument may be exposed.

What types of instruments are most affected by dry air?

Why is it important to maintain proper humidity levels for musical instruments?

Musical Instruments particularly those made from wood or containing natural fibres require close control of humidity in the air surrounding them. These natural products are typically cellulose based so they expand and contract with changes in humidity. This is essential for the preservation of all chambers, wooden sound boards and sliders that there are no dimensional changes. Dry air extracts moisture from the material causing shrinklage which not only damages the object’s sound quality but can have a huge impact on financial value of the instrument.