the hvac thing

Otto Keyes okeyes@uidaho.edu
Thu, 28 Aug 2003 13:59:06 -0700


Thanks Eric.  I have his card somewhere too, but can't locate it at the
moment.  It's somewhere in my piling system.

Otto

----- Original Message -----
From: "Wolfley, Eric (wolfleel)" <WOLFLEEL@UCMAIL.UC.EDU>
To: "'College and University Technicians'" <caut@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 1:44 PM
Subject: RE: the hvac thing


>
> Hi Jim et al.
>
> I got his card while we were there...
>
> Claud Kissmann
>
> Claud.kissmann@cpfm.utexas.edu
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Eric Wolfley
> Head Piano Technician
> Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
> University of Cincinnati
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Busby [mailto:jim_busby@byu.edu]
> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 4:00 PM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: RE: the hvac thing
>
> Otto,
>
> Are you referring to Vince Mrykalo? As I recall, he's the only one besides
> myself from Utah that was there. madvinmryk@yahoo.com.
> Jim Busby BYU
> -----Original Message-----
> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of
> Otto Keyes
> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 11:43 AM
> To: College and University Technicians
> Subject: the hvac thing
>
> Fred, Alan & all,
> >From what I have seen, it would seem to me that older buildings w/out
> hvac are often better than newer buildings with hvac....at least in
certain
> climates.  While the pitch swings have been a bit less this year, the
proir
> 2 years were not bad.  The RH is relatively stable here, though it does
have
> some bumps, dips & spikes.  The worst time was last summer when the
recital
> hall was closed up after classes ended & nobody really looked in there for
> about 3 weeks until it was time to get ready for music camp.  It was like
a
> huge walk-in cooler and the concert pianos were way out of whack.  I had
> nightmares of Chicago for about a week!
> By the way, does anyone have the e-mail address of the gentleman from UT
who
> gave the hvac lecture in Dallas.  I need to get a copy of his
presentation,
> but seem to have mis-placed the address he gave.  For those of you who
were
> not there, that was a great lecture.  It would be worthwhile to get a tape
> or video and a copy of his power-point slides.  Really some good
> information.  We need to give our specifications in terms of pitch
> deviation, rather than just RH guidelines.  Makes the engineers do their
> homework before they design a system which makes things worse.
> Alan, my advice to you is "pull the plug & open the windows!".  Not the
> conventional wisdom, mind you, but then I'm seldom conventional, & let
> others judge the wisdom. :-)  I doubt that it would fly anyway, especially
> since you would probably have to break windows to get some fresh air.
> Otto
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm@unm.edu>
> To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2003 6:43 AM
> Subject: Re: filling Dampp-Chasers
>
>
> > Interesting, Otto. Could be that lacking AC was a good thing, with
> respect
> > to humidity. Higher temps may have meant lower relative humidity (and
> would
> > normally mean that, assuming the same source of air, with the same
> actual
> > moisture content), hence less pitch drift upward, assuming the normal
> rise
> > in humidity over the summer. Often I think that older buildings
> without
> > modern HVAC systems can be easier on pianos than newer ones without
> > humidity control - depends on all the details of the systems involved.
> I
> > always tell my customers that the stuffiest room in the house is
> probably
> > the best one to put the piano in. Just hermetically seal it, and pitch
> will
> > stay constant for years :-)
> > Regards,
> > Fred Sturm
> > University of New Mexico
> >
> > --On Tuesday, August 26, 2003 4:08 PM -0700 Otto Keyes
> <okeyes@uidaho.edu>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Had an interesting developement over the summer, in that the AC
> compressor
> > > for the main recital hall & large classroom packed it in.  As a
> result,
> > > those areas, as well as all the studios around them were much hotter
> than
> > > usual this summer.  This has also been a much hotter summer than we
> have
> > > seen in some time.
> > >
> > > However, though the pianos were in need of tuning, they have
> remained
> much
> > > closer to pitch than expected.  In general, they were within 2-5
> cents
> of
> > > pitch-in contrast to Alan's 20-30 cent swing just 60 miles or so
> up
> the
> > > road at EWU.  We have virtually no humidity control here, yet the
> pitch
> > > swings are very manageable for the most part.  Pitch adjustments are
> > > required, but are not the general fare.  These generally come on the
> new
> > > pianos and Wurlitzer studios, which one would expect anyway.  Do you
> have
> > > "humidity control" on the hvac system in your building?  I assume
> so,
> > > since it is much newer than our buildings.  If we were down east, or
> in
> > > the mid-west, we would
> > > be managing the pitch much like one does a yo-yo.
> > >
> > > There seems to be some move afoot on the part of the upper admin. to
> fix
> > > the problems with the music building, which makes me somewhat
> nervous.
> I
> > > need to get a data logger in here to see what's really happening so
> we
> > > can have some intelligent input into the process.  Otherwise the
> cure
> may
> > > be worse than the disease.
> > >
> > > Otto
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Fred Sturm" <fssturm@unm.edu>
> > > To: "College and University Technicians" <caut@ptg.org>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 1:52 PM
> > > Subject: RE: filling Dampp-Chasers
> > >
> > >
> > >> Hi Alan,
> > >> Our university server has finally cleared out enough worms and
> viruses
> > >> (and mostly overload caused by the latter) that I can receive and
> reply
> > >> to emails, at least sporadically.
> > >> After 15 years, I now have a grand total of three full systems
> installed.
> > >> Patience is the operative word here. Let me recommend a gradual
> approach,
> > >> beginning with half systems on a few critical pianos, then a few
> more,
> > > then
> > >> some upgrades to full systems. Half system being humidistat plus
> adequate
> > >> drying tubes - at least one 50 watt, for grands plus one or two
> > > additional,
> > >> possibly lower watt. I like the dry humidistat for my climate
> anyway,
> but
> > > I
> > >> think the dry would be best just about anywhere for this
> application -
> > >> would keep the piano within the low end of the cycle (assuming the
> > >> ambiant humidity goes below 35% on a regular basis).
> > >> I have a couple Steinway B's with half systems with one 50w and one
> 25w
> > >> installed along with dry humidistat, and another B with just one
> 25w
> with
> > >> standard humidistat (that's what I originally used, maybe 12 years
> ago).
> > >> The higher wattage pianos were plus and minus 8 to 10 cents (up to
> plus
> > > 10,
> > >> up to minus 8) at the end of the summer (high pitch time here). The
> low
> > >> wattage was plus 10 to 25 cents. I don't have any naked B's now,
> but
> they
> > >> used to be plus 15 to 40 cents.
> > >> I also have a couple B's with G6PS installed (full system, with 50w
> and
> > >> 37w drying units). Both were within plus or minus 5 cents
> throughout.
> > >> If you demonstrate the results to someone who will pay attention (a
> piano
> > >> faculty member?), you can possibly recruit an assistant lobbyist
> for
> > >> funds to install more.
> > >> I like the idea of including a system in the purchase of any new
> piano.
> > >> The cost is insignificant in that context - less than 1% the cost
> of a
> > >> grand.
> > >> Regards,
> > >> Fred Sturm
> > >> University of New Mexico
> > >>
> > >> --On Wednesday, August 20, 2003 12:25 PM -0700 Alan McCoy
> > >> <amccoy@mail.ewu.edu> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > Now this is a problem I'd like to have. I have, instead, the
> problem
> of
> > >> > getting money to purchase dampp chaser systems. And, of course,
> 20-30c
> > >> > pitch changes to knock my head against.
> > >> >
> > >> > Alan McCoy
> > >> >
> > >> >> -----Original Message-----
> > >> >> From: caut-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:caut-bounces@ptg.org]On
> Behalf Of
> > >> >> Keith McGavern
> > >> >> Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 7:54 PM
> > >> >> To: College and University Technicians
> > >> >> Subject: RE: filling Dampp-Chasers
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> >> At 7:01 PM -0500 8/19/03, Mark Cramer wrote:
> > >> >> > ...Anyone progress with ideas for porting the water from room
> to
> > > room?
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Here's what I've been doing for years:
> > >> >>
> > >> >> This involves 27 Sohmer Studios *without* fill tubes. I go down
> the
> > >> >> hall to each room, turn on the light and remove the lower front
> > >> >> boards.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> I then access a water faucet in the custodian's closet on each
> of
> the
> > >> >> three floors with a 3' black rubber hose fitted with a
> connection
> > >> >> device for the faucet. From that I fill two gallon plastic jugs
> that
> > >> >> I walk to the pianos. The tanks are hung low enough to pour the
> water
> > >> >> in the humidity tanks. . When the jugs become empth, I refill. I
> do
> > >> >> add Humidity Treatment to the jugs each fill-up.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> During the filling of the humidity tanks, I check the rods to
> make
> > >> >> sure the units are operating and check the pads for crust. This
> > >> >> process takes between 45-60 minutes depending on how empty the
> tanks
> > >> >> are.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> I have a notice sign on each piano asking for the users of the
> rooms
> > >> >> to call when they notice a Low Water Light blinking.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> If just one call comes in, I go and do all the tanks. I do
> reschedule
> > >> >> in conjunction on the chance of not receiving a call. This
> maximizes
> > >> >> the effective purpose of the DP systems. I now can float the
> pitch
> on
> > >> >> each piano and seldom do pitch changes on these pianos.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> I have found no quicker, reliable or efficient way for me to do
> this
> > >> >> task.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Keith McGavern
> > >> >> Registered Piano Technician
> > >> >> Oklahoma Chapter 731
> > >> >> Piano Technicians Guild
> > >> >> USA
> > >> >> _______________________________________________
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