[pianotech] Low humidity ok ?

[allan at sutton.net]

OK, that is a good practical test of the value of an external Humidifier in
that situation.

I have started this year to record RH conditions with a precise hygrometer
for each client. That helps in assessing problems and solutions.

Thank you Gerald

Allan Sutton, m.mus. RPT
www.pianotechniquemontreal.com


2010/6/20 Gerald Groot <tunerboy3 at comcast.net>

>  *Hi Alan,*
>
> * *
>
> *My hygrometer was registering in late January, 17 % RH and less before
> she put the humidfier in place.   Afterward, I was registering 35 % - 45 %.
> Dependant upon how cold it was outside and how much fire they had stoked in
> their pot belly stove.  I only tuned it in January so I don't know what the
> RH was in the summer but if it is like everywhere is in Michigan, it'll be
> all over the map.  When I returned to tune it each January, the piano was
> always a little sharp about 442.  This tells me it was getting more humidity
> than it was dryness.  *
>
> * *
>
> *There was a pot belly fire stove in the corner of the house within 6 feet
> or so of the piano which they used to heat the whole room.  No other heating
> units were installed in that room.  She chose and I accepted that as a wise
> choice in this case, to set the humidifier right next to the piano between
> IT and the stove.  It seems to have worked well for all of these years
> blasting pretty much full tilt all day long during the winter months.  *
>
> * *
>
> *I have another client that has base board heating that runs along side of
> each wall and of course also directly behind the piano.  I recommended that
> she place a piece of plexiglas the size of the piano behind it to at least
> try and divert the heat in that area.  The heat seems to now be diverted to
> the sides and upwards to the ceiling more so than at the backside of the
> sounding board.  Unfortunately, there is no other place to put the piano.
> That seems to have helped a lot so far.  At least, it is better than
> nothing.  *
>
> * *
>
> *Jer*
>
> *From:* pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] *On
> Behalf Of *allan at sutton.net
> *Sent:* Sunday, June 20, 2010 1:18 PM
>
> *To:* pianotech at ptg.org
> *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] Low humidity ok ?
>
>
>
> Ron, I add this to elements for my intelligence. A lot of air movement in
> forced air heating would dissipate my hypothetical "micro climat" around the
> piano anyway.
>
>
>
> Terry, the small external humidifier would still controlled by a humidistat
> inside the piano.
>
>
>
> Gerald, in your client's home, it is positive : is there forced air heating
> outlet near? What are the minimum and maximum values in that house around
> the year if not for the humidifier ?
>
>
>
> Allan Sutton, m.mus. RPT
> www.pianotechniquemontreal.com
>
>  2010/6/20 Terry Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com>
>
> Good point Ron. I forget that some people actually HEAT their homes.....
>
> Terry in Tampa (HOT Tampa!)
>
>
>
> On Jun 20, 2010, at 12:16 PM, Ron Nossaman wrote:
>
> allan at sutton.net wrote:
>
> Thank you Terry, That precision : "different pianos, different solutions"
> seems very appropriate to me.
>
>
> I pretty much agree with Terry. Big seasonal (or weekly) humidity swings
> are a major accelerator to aging, and stability is much more important than
> the absolute number.
>
>  Another question : Do many agree that a small external humidifier near
> the piano will help significantly in adding some humidity to every part of
> the piano when needed (soundboard and pinblock and action, in a grand
> piano), albeit as a second choice to whole room conditioning ?
>
>
> It depends on the heating system. With something like room contained
> convection or radiant heating, an auxiliary humidifier will, or can, help.
> With a forced air system whatever humidity you put into any given room is
> sucked out and distributed throughout the house. So unless your humidifier
> in building wide a forced air system is going through eight gallons or so a
> day, it's probably not going to help much.
> Ron N
>
>
>
>
>
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