Damppchasers

[Don Rose]

Dear Ken:

>     I am servicing a new Yamaha G2 in a church. Of course, you know
>that a church is like a desert in the winter when the heating system
>dries out the air completely. I installed a Damppchaser to protect the
>piano and provide tuning stability. I also made sure that the piano was
>kept closed when not in use and that it was covered with a good
>leatherette and cloth cover.

The cover needs to be floor length and water proof. The humidity control system must have
additional drier bars installed and the main bar must be 50 watts.
>
>     This is the third winter for the piano and there is no tuning
>stability. Yesterday, when I tuned it, the R.H. in the room was 29% and I
>had to raise the pitch 10 cents. On November 9, the last time I tuned it,
>the R.H. was also 29% and I had to raise the pitch 8 cents.

Dampp-Chasers are only part of the solution. Temperature must also be kept stabile

>     This is making me very sceptical about the effectiveness of the
>Damppchaser. Is it worth bothering with?

I find them very effective within the limitations. I never install on a small grand unless three
drier bars are used and I prefer the highest possible wattage. I also recommend that a humidifer
be used in addition to the Damp-Chaser.

There is a small center in Weyburn with a Steinway 6' which was going through extremes of 4%
to 84%. The pitch was all over the lot. After the humdity control system was installed there
was a dramatic change for the better. It is still unacceptable large
for me personally, but much much better (i.e. 40 to 50 cents change B.D. and 10 to 15 cents
change A.D.)

Good luck with churches. I also prefer to install the "beeping" low water light whenever dealing
with an institution. They often forget to fill it otherwise.

Regards, Don Rose RPT drose@maple.net