While you were gone on vacation, did you shut off your air-conditioner?

Did you go on vacation yet this summer?  While you were gone, did you shut off the air conditioning in your home?

Are you aware that turning off your air conditioning during humid months can cause damage to your fine furniture?

According to a Furniture Care and Handling article from the Smithsonian Institute, the greatest environmental damage to furniture comes from wide swings in relative humidity.  Wood absorbs and desorbs water in the air causing wood to expand and contract. This can lead to warping and bulging and possible even mold growth! When you turn your air conditioning off, the relative humidity goes up.

Additionally, not every space in your home will have the same level of humidity. Basements typically have high moisture and attics can have high moisture and high heat!  It is not recommended to store fine furniture in either of these spaces.  Furthermore; storing furniture in a garage, storage units or warehouses is not advisable.  Furniture can deteriorate quickly in non-climate controlled spaces.

The most ideal home humidity is around 50%.  To maintain the humidity level in your home, a dehumidifier can be used or the air conditioning set so that it maintains a stable environment; therefore, preventing damage to your fine furniture.  This is particularly important in southern climates where the air is very humid.

If you have a piece of furniture that has been damaged from poor storage conditions, Salpeck’s Furniture Service may be able to restore it to its original beauty.  Give us a call and request a quote at 919-449-7902.

If you have any questions about caring for fine furniture, please feel free to contact Buddy at Salpeck’s Furniture Services or leave a comment below.

Furniture care climate control is important and necessary, especially for antiques!