HIFI in humidity

[Ladders]

Hi! I have a set of hifi separates that I had as a 21st birthday present, so not the sort of thing I want to get damaged! Unfortunately they’ve sat under the spare bed for years as I don’t have anywhere to use them properly at the moment.

I do have a cellar / man cave that would be a nice place to be able to use them, but I’m a bit worried that the damp in there could damage them? I have a dehumidifier in there, and the humidity varies from 60-80%. Non of my tools in there really rust, but if you leave paper etc in there it will get a little bit damp.

Any advice on whether this is a good idea or not? Thanks!

[Crackie]

Have a search for vacuum storage bags...........I've seen them used to store summer clothes in garages during winter.

In principle these should be ideal for protecting your hi-fi too.

Something similar to these should work but you'll have to check out yourself to see if your hi-fi gear will fit. The big bags are very big

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-comb...

[psi310398]

If you have any of those desiccant sachets that come with new consumer electronics, pop those into the storage container. (Uncooked) rice can serve a similar but less effective purpose...

[Crackie]

psi310398 said:

If you have any of those desiccant sachets that come with new consumer electronics, pop those into the storage container. (Uncooked) rice can serve a similar but less effective purpose...

Good call

[Ladders]

Thanks for the replies, I meant put the hifi down there to use though!

Maybe it will be fine during the summer when it’s dryier now, and then put back inside when the weather turns for winter? Currently 60%rh in there at the moment.

[psi310398]

My friends had a hifi in their house outside Mombasa on the Kenya coast which is usually very humid and it seemed to work perfectly well. I've sat in restaurants in Buenos Aires where it reaches dew point frequently and there has been music on, so I presume hifi can survive humidity.

But a damp UK might not be replicating the conditions exactly.

[Crackie]

Ladders said:

Thanks for the replies, I meant put the hifi down there to use though!

Maybe it will be fine during the summer when it’s dryier now, and then put back inside when the weather turns for winter? Currently 60%rh in there at the moment.

Ah......OK, I misunderstood.

Might be a good idea to invest in something like this for the room. https://probreeze.com/products/dehumidifiers/500ml...

[Ladders]

Thanks. There is a dehumidifier running permanently in there already so probably should be ok then!

[stevoknevo]

I had an old Marantz AVR and Sony DVD player in our static caravan for many years - we only have a seven month season and it was left there over winter for the other five months. It was pretty damp (we used to leave dishes/bowls of salt in every room to draw the moisture and they'd be nearly full on our return). The Marantz would be a wee bit flaky when first powered on for the first time after the winter, but once it got some heat through it and a bit of use it was fine for the rest of the season. Brought it home this year as we're getting a new caravan and opened it up to try and sort the slightly dodgy volume dial - it was pretty grubby inside, but it's 18+ years old, however my Denon AVR that isn't much younger, and has always been home based, was spotless inside when I opened it recently. But the Marantz still works fine, and I managed to sort the volume dial!

I reckon you'd be fine as long as it's used regularly, and maybe take it upstairs over the worst of winter. If there's any case ventilation on your amplifier etc then maybe keep it covered when not in use?

[Baldchap]

Rice in a bag can release starch which damages equipment.

Vacuum bags with a dessicant pouch in it should work a treat, or at worst a taped up bin liner.

[Ladders]

Ok thanks. Think I’ll take at least the amp down for the summer and then store inside again over winter. Cheers! 🙂