How Colorado's Climate Affects Your Clock

Low humidity and wooden cases

Boulder sits well below the humidity levels most antique clocks were built in. Cases shrink, veneer lifts, glued joints let go, and door panels rattle in frames that used to be tight. Keeping indoor humidity in the 35 to 45 percent range does more to preserve an antique case than any amount of polishing.

Temperature swings and rate

A pendulum rod lengthens as it warms, and a longer pendulum runs slower. A clock on an exterior wall or above a fireplace in a Colorado home can shift its rate seasonally by a minute or more per week. Move the clock away from heat sources before assuming the movement is at fault.

Altitude and clocks arriving from out of state

Clocks that ran perfectly at sea level frequently need re-regulation after arriving here. Altitude itself is a minor factor; the dominant effects are the change in humidity and the temperature swing between day and night in a dry climate.

Practical protection

Run a humidifier in winter. Keep clocks off exterior walls and away from vents, radiators and direct sun. Dust the case, not the movement. And keep to a service schedule — dry-climate clocks lose their oil film faster than clocks in humid regions.