How far to store comics from vents. 0

[ISDBear]

I am aware that temperature affects how quickly comic books degrade.  I have seen the library of congress suggestions for storage of comic books.  They recommend storing books away from windows and doors, as well as away from radiators and vents.  All of this seems logical, but how far away should they be?  How close is too close?  Should they be on the other side of the room?  I currently have books being stored inside of comic cubes, which are about a foot away from a vent in a walk-in closet that has become my comic storage room.  I noticed that the side of the cube feels cool to the touch, but the books inside do not feel noticeably cool.  If I close the vent, it becomes warm and humid in there.  Anybody with experience on the impact of temperature on comic degradation?

[namisgr]

Warmth and high humidity accelerate the chemical processes that cause the paper to age.  Cool and dry is highly recommended.  In your case, if the books inside your cubes are exposed to either high temperatures, high humidity, or worse yet both, then they're too close.

[marvelmaniac]

I would think that the vents blowing directly on or in very close proximity to the comics is what you are looking to avoid.

Unless you have a room where the environment is 100% controlled for archival storage of paper products there is going to be temperature and humidity changes taking place all of the time, all part of living in the same home as your books.

Unless you are a museum all you can hope to do is person_having_a_hard_time_understanding_my_point the aging process by attempting to keep the temp and humidity as constant as possible along with controlling other degrading/aging factors such as handling, acids from boards and polypropylene bags and UV (which is probably the worst factor)

I have a couple of books I have had since the 60's and others I purchased in the late 70's/early 80's that have been stored in my bedroom, in Mylites with Halfbacks in Comic Storage Boxes some of which are in the open, some in a closet but the blinds and windows are never opened in that room and there has been virtually no aging/degrading of any of my books as far as I can tell.

If the books/comic cubes are not in direct line of the vents or in close proximity where the temp changes dramatically when the heat/A/C is running in that area and they are stored properly with acid free boards and Mylites away from Sunlight and UV with no major environmental issues to deal with chances are your books will not degrade in your lifetime.

Enjoy Your Books!!!