10/08/2026
If you turned the heat on and suddenly noticed small gaps between your hardwood boards, take a breath. You are probably watching a normal seasonal change, not a floor failure.
In Connecticut, October can bring a sharp drop in indoor humidity when forced-air heat starts running. As the air dries out, hardwood releases moisture and naturally narrows. Across an entire room, that small movement can make gaps at the joints suddenly visible.
The key is the pattern. Even gaps that appear across the floor and close back up in spring are usually normal seasonal movement. Gaps that stay in one spot, continue getting wider, or appear with cupping or crowning deserve a closer look.
You cannot stop wood from responding to the seasons, but you can reduce the swing. Keeping indoor humidity between 35 and 55 percent with a whole-home humidifier is one of the best things you can do for your floors through heating season. Skip the steam mop, use a dry or barely damp microfiber cloth, and do not fill seasonal gaps that will close again in spring.
Not sure whether what you are seeing is normal? AGW Hardwood Floors is happy to give you a straight answer.
October heating season causes the steepest humidity drop hardwood endures. Learn what's normal, what's not, and when to call for hardwood floor refinishing in Connecticut.