What Warps a Record?
Let’s get one thing out of the way: vinyls need maintenance. One of its favourite ways to act out? Warping. That wavy, sad-looking curve where your beautiful flat LP suddenly thinks it’s a potato chip. But what actually warps a record?
No, it’s not just heat. Or time. Or bad vibes. Let’s dig in.
Heat: The Obvious Culprit, but Let’s Talk About It Properly
Yes, heat warps records. But not just any heat. It’s not like your LPs are going to melt because it’s a little toasty in your room. The kind of heat that causes warping usually involves either:
- Direct sunlight = record death trap
- A closed car on a hot day (a classic crime scene)
- Near anything that gets warm (radiators, amplifiers, overly ambitious lava lamps)
Vinyl softens around 60°C (140°F) which can be easy to reach if you’ve placed it near a hot area.
Pressure + Time = Sad LPs
A record lying flat under the weight of a hundred other records? That’s a slow-motion disaster.
Over time, gravity wins, especially if the stack isn’t perfectly even. Warps can also happen when:
- Records lean at an angle in a shelf
- A record is clamped too tightly in a gatefold or boxset
- The sleeves are too tight, creating subtle pressure
If your records are doing yoga poses while stored, they can come out looking like potato chips.
Humidity
Humidity doesn’t get the blame it deserves, but it absolutely plays a role in warping. Vinyl doesn’t absorb moisture, but when the air gets damp, it can soften just enough to become more vulnerable especially if there's any pressure involved.
If your records live in a space that’s constantly humid, think basement, attic, laundry area. They’re slowly being exposed to conditions that encourage bending and distortion. It’s a long game, but the end result isn’t pretty.
And yes, high humidity can invite mold too. Not ideal.
Best move? Store your collection somewhere cool and dry. Vinyl thrives on stability.
Manufacturing Defects: Yep, It Happens
Not all warps are your fault. Sometimes, a brand-new record comes out warped straight from the pressing plant. Maybe the vinyl didn’t cool evenly, or maybe it sat awkwardly while being boxed and shipped. Either way, if it arrives warped, return it. Life’s too short to listen to wobbly jazz.
The Bottom Line: Vinyl Is High-Maintenance (But Worth It)
If you treat your records like royalty, store them vertically, keep them cool and clean, don’t stack them like pancakes, they’ll stay flat and happy for decades.
Got a warped record already? Swing by Audio Image, we offer professional record flattening right here in-store.
Written by Shubaan & Joseph.
