Wooden Furniture: Preventing Damage From Heat And Moisture –  Modern heating systems dry a house out. This is not too much of a problem with new furniture, which is designed for a dry house. But with antiques, or furniture  that is imported from other parts of the world, sudden transportation to a dry atmosphere can cause the wood to dry out and crack. Sometimes the problem occurs when old houses are damp-proofed; levels of  moisture in the house change and, as it dries out, so does the furniture.