<HTML><BODY style="word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; -khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><BR><DIV><DIV>On Feb 26, 2007, at 8:17 PM, Barbara Richmond wrote:</DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE type="cite"><P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><BR></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px"><FONT face="Helvetica" size="3" style="font: 12.0px Helvetica">I'd like your opinion (or anybody else's).<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Here in Central Illinois we go through some pretty large humidity swings.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>I serviced, for the first time, a Steinway B, in an majestic, though old, brick country house (high, high ceilings, hot water heat), where they do not normally use air conditioning in the summer.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>This piano has a DC system, installed by a guy who generally makes "big deal" out of a lot of stuff.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Anyway, it's a two humidifier system, under the beams; he attached plywood the same rectangular shape of the baffles to the beams.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Then the tanks hang pretty far below the plywood, the baffles hang between the tanks and the plywood.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Darn, why didn't I have my camera with me.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>It looks genuinely hideous and I still had to do a significant pitch raise, so I'm not sure how much this installation is really helping.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Then there is an issue with the keys in the summer.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>I would like to do an in-between the beams installation with undercover, and an added heater bar under the keybed.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>I'm also recommending an Edwards string cover.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>I think that the high humidity in the summer is the bigger problem.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>OK, so here's the question.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>If I switched to a one tank system and used an undercover, do you think it would do the job?<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>My not very good hygrometer said that the humidity level was at 28% when I was there last week, so it doesn't appear to be one of those horrifically dry environments (for winter). <SPAN class="Apple-converted-space"> </SPAN>Would you automatically put a two tank system in a B or would you only put two tanks in when dryness was extreme?</FONT></P> <P style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><BR></P> </BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV>Hi Barbara,</DIV><DIV>I've found some pretty interesting installations, too. If installers would just consult with Dampp Chaser before getting creative, things would work much more smoothly.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Dampp-Chaser was also sending out a large fold out of piano schematics and recommendations for a while. You might contact them. I believe it was free. I haven't seen the ones on the web site, but they are probably the same. Part of their extensive research involves the most effective installation, so they are the ultimate authority of what you should do.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The only issue I have a problem with with the two tank system with undercover is the difficulty involved in servicing it. It is so much of an issue, in fact, that it is too much easier to say, "oh, we'll do it next time." But if you change to a one tank system, I believe you will have to repurchase it. I don't believe a two tank system can be converted -- at least Dampp Chaser recommends you don't mess with the plumbing on a two tank system. Certainly any remaining warranty would be voided.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>Here in the Southeast, we have more trouble with high humidity than low. That really isn't the issue because the system continually cycles day in day out year around to average 42% (or whatever humidistat you choose). I installed a two tank system with undercover in a new B in a church 4 or 5 years ago now. It's an above the beams installation and I added a third dehumidifier rod (24" 25W) installed along one of the long beams. It also has a double padded instrument cover by Jill, and they keep it on the piano unless it is being played. That piano doesn't move. It is as stable as granite.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>The systems on my Bs here at the school predate the availability of the two tank systems and I installed them below the beams - at the time, that was the recommendation if you weren't using undercovers. I really need to add undercovers, but I just haven't had time to redo the installations to above the beam, so I haven't been able to get to that. But to compare the effectiveness of the single tank system with no undercover to the two tank system with undercover is to compare night and day.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I don't like the heater bar under the keybed. Too much risk of drying out the pinblock, and I have long legs. It burns. I think DC recommends against it, too. Since it is in their home, a Steinway B will be a showpiece as much as a musical instrument. I think the string cover might go over like a lead brick in that situation. Recommend they keep the piano closed as much as possible when not in use or being displayed.</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><DIV>I would use what is there and simply reinstall it per Dampp-Chaser's recommendation and add the undercover.</DIV><BR><BR><DIV> <SPAN class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; -khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><DIV>Jeff Tanner, RPT</DIV><DIV>University of South Carolina</DIV><DIV><BR class="khtml-block-placeholder"></DIV><BR class="Apple-interchange-newline"></SPAN> </DIV><BR></BODY></HTML>