Coastal Dampp-chaser calibration

[Mike Spalding]

Wayne,

Do the pianos spend the winter in camp buildings?  Unheated?  Then the 
humidifier tank would freeze, so don't bother.  Just make sure there is 
a humidistat controlling the dehumidifier bar(s). 

Your post brings back memories of summers spent working at an Adirondack 
camp.  Closing up camp in the fall included "mouse-proofing" the cabins, 
consisting of poison, traps, and pepper (sprinkled liberally on all the 
bedding).  What does your camp do to keep mice out of the pianos?

Mike

Wayne M. Williams wrote:
> Hello:
> I mentioned this in another email in regard to the Damp-Chaser 
> product. I just tuning a Steinway grand and upright at a YMCA camp 
> that operates only two months a year, July and August. The camp is on 
> Lake Champlain in New York State, and the camp Director, a music 
> teacher, says the summers are very humid. Teh grand alreaddy has a 
> "heating bar". Do the painos, given the climate, warrent a complete 
> Damp-Chaser system?
>
> Wayne Williams
> Schroon Lake, NY
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "R Barber" <bassooner42 at yahoo.com>
> To: <pianotech at ptg.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 2:36 PM
> Subject: Coastal Dampp-chaser calibration
>
>
>>  The owner has double-paned windows, weather-stripped doors, drapes- 
>> generally equipped to protect his niche from the environment, but 
>> prefers open windows.  There is no central humidity control.  There 
>> is usually a 24-hour on-shore breeze, so the typical climate will be 
>> high RH, about 95% of the year.  RH ranges between 55-100% daily, but 
>> occasionally there is a breeze from the off-shore direction when RH 
>> drops to 20% or below, sometimes for a few days at a time.
>>  I've heard two votes for the wet, and I'm tending in that direction. 
>> Thanks for you input!
>> Richard Barber
>>
>>> My recommendation would be to know the typical range of relative 
>>> humidity (RH) the house (?) experiences. If the house is a old wood 
>>> frame, windows are often open, no central air or heat, then sure, 
>>> pick the "wet"-calibrated Dampp-Chaser humidistat to match the 
>>> outdoor environment. But many modern homes are well insulated from 
>>> their outdoor environment and RH ranges in them may have little to 
>>> do with outdoor RH ranges. Not only are modern homes well insulated 
>>> from the outdoors (heat AND humidity), but any home also has it's 
>>> own humidity sources - cooking, showers, etc.
>>>
>>> IMHO, if you are going to err at all, and being that you plan to 
>>> install a full system (are you sure its gets dry in the home?), I 
>>> would go with the "normal" humidistat. Another consideration might 
>>> be if the instrument is old with a sagging soundboard and 
>>> less-than-tight tuning pins, you might want the "wet"-calibrated 
>>> Dampp-Chaser humidistat to help the piano out a bit.
>>>
>>> Also, have you checked to see whether the home has a central 
>>> humidity control system?
>>>
>>> Many things to consider. At least the piano is getting a DC system - 
>>> always a good thing!
>>>
>>> Terry Farrell
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> Do you think a "wet"-calibrated Dampp-Chaser would be a wiser 
>>>> choice than the standard calibration for a client on a foggy coast? 
>>>> Installation to include string cover + undercover, complete 
>>>> Dampp-Chaser (not just rods), to cover off-shore dry spells.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Richard Barber
>>>> Santa Clara Valley, CA
>>>
>>>
>>>     * Previous message: Coastal Dampp-chaser calibration
>>>     * Next message: Coastal Dampp-chaser calibration
>>>     * Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
>>>
>>> More information about the Pianotech mailing list
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>> Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 
>> 269.10.22/922 - Release Date: 7/27/2007 6:08 AM
>>
>
>