Best Humification System for Acoustic Guitar

[TaylorCocobolo]

I highly recommend Vornado humidifiers for in room use. The one I have holds about 4 gallons. They are the best I’ve found and work as advertised. The filters need replaced every 6-8 weeks during the heating season. They are the best brand I’ve used after trying several.

The D’Addario humidpacks work, although, I have heard of them leaking. They are convenient and can be used year round.

Music nomad makes a really nice reusable absorbable sponge that doesn’t leak and stays damp for up to 14 days in really dry weather. The sponge material they use can be bought separately.

[Brucebubs]

My new Gibson SJ-200 came with the D'Addario system in a sealed bag in the hard case.

[Birchtop]

I keep two rooms humidified at 45% RH. I also use Humidipaks in the more expensive instruments, the rest get sponges.

The violins and viola use Dampits.

[ishtar]

While it may be impractical or impossible for some, having a room with both a humidifier and dehumidifier available to regulate humidity is a really nice option...

[Mark Stone]

I clicked Oasis because that's what I currently use. It's very reliable. However, under a watchful eye, any one of a million varieties will work.

[EZYPIKINS]

I clicked D'Addario But What I actually use is Boveda Humidipak system. Boveda is who makes the Humidipak for D'Addario. Cheaper. And now that I've learned they can be rehydrated I'll likely never buy another.

[kizz]

These are also good https://bovedainc.com/small-wood-instruments/

[raysachs]

Hunidipaks, either the Boveda or D'addario version. They're identical - Boveda makes all of them and D'addario markets them also. Most of the time in a wall cabinet, but for a few months each winter, when we're in a rental place near our daughter, in the case.

-Ray

[mawmow]

Originally Posted by JohnW63

" I only hung a wet hand towell in the closet."

I suspect your humidity is not in the same range as some of us.

Well my house structure and floors are woods but walls are gyprock covered.
Summer humidity climb as high as 85-90 % under 30 C (90 F).
I can then get inside temp to 25-27 and humidity to 65-70 %.

As outside temperature gets nearby 0 C (30 F), electric heaters have been working for a month or so
and inside humidity is now by 55-60 % at 22 C (70 F). I will wait until it falls to 50 or so before I hang the towell.

In the meanwhile, spaces will appear in the wooden floor as it dries out.

When outside temp will go well below 0 (by -10 C to -20 C and more), heaters will dry my house
and I could then have to wet the towel twice a day.

[jaymarsch]

I use the Boveda system which may be similar or the same as the D'Addario humidipak system. Works great for me though I live in an area that is already pretty guitar-friendly climate wise. Only two times throughout the year do I experience a couple of weeks of extremes.

Best,
Jayne

[FrankHudson]

I've not tried the water beads, and they sound interesting to me.

I have used the sponges in containers methods. They dry out way too fast in our dry winters. If you have one or two guitars, and stick around home all winter, they still work and are inexpensive.

I used the Oasis tubes for a couple of years. The last longer between refills than mere sponges, but still require weekly filling in dry times. And I had one start a small leak at a seam.

For the past few years I've used the Humidipaks. I recharge them a number of times. They last at least twice as long as the Oasis tubes and I feel the waterproof bags may provide some insurance from any possible leaks. Since I have a number of guitars to humidify in a studio space I'm not in every day, the amount of time they last is a prime advantage outweighing any other concerns.

[TwoMartinMan]

Originally Posted by Stratcat77

I had a home system installed. Not cheap but well worth it in my opinion.

Attachment 46535

I did the same. Allows me to keep all my guitars hanging on the walls. They stay in tune better and get played more than if they were in cases. The entire house benefits. Well worth it.

[The Bard Rocks]

We use wood heat (as much as possible) and even the oil is hot air. When we first moved here we had a room humidifier and quickly abandoned it. It seemed we were filling it several times a day and things kept getting plugged due to minerals in the water. Pans of water on the stove didn't help much though we continue to use them.

So, I sprang for a whole house humidifier going through the hot air system. My installer told me it wouldn't work well. He was right. It did make some rust inside the heat pipes. That was a total waste of money here. Maybe if you were in a city (no wood heat) with different water, it might prove different.

Fast forward a few years. We added a 10x10' greenhouse to the home, heated only by the fact that a door is open to it and a ceiling fan there is going all the time. My wife grows cool season orchids and they need a lot of moisture. we collect rainwater and put it through a fogger. When it's running you can barely see across the room. And it goes on multiple times each day, on a timer. Now, that made a difference!

My guitars are stored in cases in a closet on another floor and the season where I need to fill my individual humidifers (with distilled water) has been halved.

[TomB'sox]

If you can afford it and have space, IMO, the best way, which is what the question asked is in a humidity controlled cabinet. Your guitars are out to see and the built in humidifier needs filling once a month at the most and the digital read out tells me the humidity at a glance.

Before this, and still for a couple, I used the Boveda packs as well.

[Parlorman]

I have a humidity controlled display cabinet so I selected "Other". If I do have to leave guitar in its case I use Oasis humidifiers.