So there has been a bunch of talk on the board about the effectiveness of the Herco clay humidifier. I decided to test them out myself since I use them during periods of low humidity.
First off, I live within one mile of the ocean so my humidity level is generally in the 50-60% range. Normally, I would not need a humidifier. However, there are periods, like now, when the winds change direction and blow from east to west picking up dry desert air along the way. These conditions are called "Santa Ana" winds in So. Cal. This would be comparable to "Kona" winds in Hawaii. The current Intellicast humidity level for my area is 44% at the current time. During these periods I will fill up my Hercos and put them in most of my uke cases (I have more ukes than Hercos at the current time.)
Since there was a thread the other day where the Hercos were dismissed as being ineffective, I decided to run a quick test. I submerged three Hercos in 400ml of tap water for two hours. The Hercos were bone dry at that time. After two hours I removed the Hercos, shook of excess water into the cup and remeasured the remaining water. 375ml remained meaning each Herco absorbed about 8.3ml of water (roughly 35/100ths of an ounce, or one third of a shot glass for most of us.)
I then took two identical Koolau tenor cases (empty so that the wood in individual ukes would not cause variations in humidity levels) and placed one Herco in each. I placed a hygrometer in each one and shut the cases for 24 hours. After 24 hours I opened the cases as quickly as I could and got the initial readings. I then closed the cases and placed the hygrometers on top of the cases for an ambient reading. After 30 minutes, each hygrometer measured 5% LOWER (not percentage lower but actual humidity level lower.)
These findings are identical to a test I ran when I first received the hygrometers. Even with a uke in the case the levels increased 5% versus the ambient room levels.
In conclusion, for areas where humidity levels are in the high 30's to low 40's, the Hercos do raise the humidity level in hard cases by 5% (again, actual humidity increase and not percentage. I have no idea if two Hercos in a case will raise it higher. In areas of very low humidity a Herco might be worthless since a 5% increase will still be too low for those conditions.
I am too lazy to run a test with two or more Hercos to see if the raw humidity level could increase over 5%.
Hope this helps.
First off, I live within one mile of the ocean so my humidity level is generally in the 50-60% range. Normally, I would not need a humidifier. However, there are periods, like now, when the winds change direction and blow from east to west picking up dry desert air along the way. These conditions are called "Santa Ana" winds in So. Cal. This would be comparable to "Kona" winds in Hawaii. The current Intellicast humidity level for my area is 44% at the current time. During these periods I will fill up my Hercos and put them in most of my uke cases (I have more ukes than Hercos at the current time.)
Since there was a thread the other day where the Hercos were dismissed as being ineffective, I decided to run a quick test. I submerged three Hercos in 400ml of tap water for two hours. The Hercos were bone dry at that time. After two hours I removed the Hercos, shook of excess water into the cup and remeasured the remaining water. 375ml remained meaning each Herco absorbed about 8.3ml of water (roughly 35/100ths of an ounce, or one third of a shot glass for most of us.)
I then took two identical Koolau tenor cases (empty so that the wood in individual ukes would not cause variations in humidity levels) and placed one Herco in each. I placed a hygrometer in each one and shut the cases for 24 hours. After 24 hours I opened the cases as quickly as I could and got the initial readings. I then closed the cases and placed the hygrometers on top of the cases for an ambient reading. After 30 minutes, each hygrometer measured 5% LOWER (not percentage lower but actual humidity level lower.)
These findings are identical to a test I ran when I first received the hygrometers. Even with a uke in the case the levels increased 5% versus the ambient room levels.
In conclusion, for areas where humidity levels are in the high 30's to low 40's, the Hercos do raise the humidity level in hard cases by 5% (again, actual humidity increase and not percentage. I have no idea if two Hercos in a case will raise it higher. In areas of very low humidity a Herco might be worthless since a 5% increase will still be too low for those conditions.
I am too lazy to run a test with two or more Hercos to see if the raw humidity level could increase over 5%.
Hope this helps.
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