Humidity Issues

[7earsDoFall]

Hello, I'm having some questions concerning humidity. I don't intend to use electric dehumidifier so I've bought a pack of dehumidifier (fairprice brand - similar to Thristy Hippo) and I'm unsure of how to best utilise it so I've some questions...

1. Which placement around or below the drum is best to put the dehumidifier?
2. Is it better to open the windows and doors when I'm not drumming to circulate in air? But if I use the dehumidifier, do I start shutting up my room etc..?
3. When I'm wet, say I've washed my legs or came home and am sweating, should I enter the room where I place my drums?
4. I don't have air-con, will fan be of any help?

I live in a HDB btw and I'm also looking for a hygrometer, but was unable to find from quite a few pet shops - If any of you know where I can get it in north or central Singapore (below $20, preferably analog). And if I do get it, what percent should I aim to keep my room humidity to?

 

[weckl-x]

What are you concerned about? Rust?

 

[7earsDoFall]

hmm, I'm concerned about my whole drumset - its hardware, wood etc... I hope I can prevent rust, dust and any other bad effects that a drumset can be exposed to so that my drumset can last longer and have a higher value if I intend to sell.

 

[Liquidribs]

we need this!!

all we need to do is set the humidity level to the correct settings!

my room also gets rather hot and humid when the sun shines in the morning and heats up the blinds in my room. of course the cheapest way is to move the set to a cooler area in the house.

by the way there's quite a number of "humidity" threads in soft..

 

[weckl-x]

hmm, I'm concerned about my whole drumset - its hardware, wood etc...

The local humidity will wreck havoc on your hardware, but your shells will probably do fine.

What drums do you have? Multi-ply shells are actually pretty resilient, and unless your drumkit is in a VERY damp place like a bathroom, next to a heater or in the open exposed to the elements, they really should hold up fine.

DW shares some basic principles on their site:

Proper Storage

It is very important to protect your drums from damage and temperature extremes. If your drums are set up for an extended period of time, keep them covered. Keep drums away from and out of damp or cold areas.

How to control for potential damage from extreme temperatures:

Extreme temperature shifts within a short period of time do pose a potential hazard to drum shells and their finishes. As humidity and temperature change, the moisture content within the cells of the wood is affected. This can make the shells expand or contract, warp or even crack. A general consensus among drum manufacturers has been that drums are safe and comfortable when stored in an environment in which you are comfortable in.

http://www.dwdrums.com/faq/faq.htm#storage

To answer your other questions as best as I can...

1. Which placement around or below the drum is best to put the dehumidifier?
-- The way mechanical dehumidifiers work is that they are designed for a room/place of a certain 'capacity'. Place a small unit in a large room, it won't really serve its purpose as it is cannot regulate the humidity in the whole room, perhaps just the immediate area around it.

Get what I'm trying to say? In that way, the thirsty hippo moisture absorbers were designed for use in a small enclosed space, like a cupboard, a drawer, etc. from their website: "closet, wardrobe, vehicle, stereo-case,etc."

2. Is it better to open the windows and doors when I'm not drumming to circulate in air? But if I use the dehumidifier, do I start shutting up my room etc..?

It'll be good to have ventilation (if it isn't raining or anything) so that humidity doesn't build up in one area.

You're talking about the moisture absorbers right? It really doesn't really have any effect unless you are using enough of them for the size of your room.

3. When I'm wet, say I've washed my legs or came home and am sweating, should I enter the room where I place my drums?

It's generally okay, it won't be that drastic unless your clothes are soaked through and you're dripping wet.

4. I don't have air-con, will fan be of any help?
Yeah, it'll help. Ventilation/circulation will be helpful.

 

[7earsDoFall]

Liquidribs: haha yeah but I don't think my parents are going to allow me to keep electricity running for electric dehumidifier. oh ya, I have already read quite alot, maybe all the humidity threads on drums already but could not find certain answers.

weckl-x: hey weckl-x, my drumset is 8 ply btw, thanks for your answers to my questions, I now have a better understanding of this humidity-drum relations.

cheers