Room Dehumidifiers vs. Dampp-Chaser

[Lance Lafargue]

 AGAIN, the room DH can be easily hooked to a hose and run through a wall,
out of the house.  There is no scum, etc.  The Room DH has a humidistat
just like the Dampp Chase does and will shut off when it gets too dry. 
Louisiana's heat index has been in the 110+ range with 90+ RH and my room
DH kicks on very seldom and keeps my shop (18'x24') at 48%RH (or whatever I
set it at).  Both have advantages and disadvantages.  The adding of water
is a hassle for the Dampp Chaser.  Would a room DH REALLY cost MORE than
TWO complete systems???  I don't know.
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: Vanderhoofven <dkvander@clandjop.com>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Room Dehumidifiers vs. Dampp-Chaser
> Date: Tuesday, August 19, 1997 12:56 PM
> 
> At 08:27 PM 8/17/97 -0700, you wrote:
> >I just mentioned to a customer, with measured RH of 72%, that a room
> >dehumidifier might be a useful alternative to Dampp Chasers for her two
> >grands, 7' and 9'. Since I'm mostly ignorant of dehumidifiers as well as
> >current Dampp Chaser systems, I said that I'd put the question to the
> >list.
> >
> >My concerns: although it would be easy to bring home a dehumidifier,
> >plug it in, no technician required, there would be a certain amount of
> >noise and a tray would have to be emptied(?); DC systems would be more
> >expensive, full system would require water tank to be filled (maybe get
> >both, empty dehumidifier tray into DC humidifier tank?).
> >
> >
> >-- 
> >Thomas A. Cole RPT
> >Santa Cruz, CA
> 
> 
> Dear Tom,
> 
> 72% RH is much too high for a piano where I live in Missouri, because I
can
> expect the RH to go down to 25% RH or lower during the winter time.  The
> difference in humidity from summer to winter ends up killing pianos
pretty
> quickly.  California may not become that dry during the winter-time, but
> even so 72% is pretty high.
> 
> Reasons to install a complete Dampp-Chaser Humidity Control System
instead
> of a room dehumidifier.
> 
> 1. Room dehumidifiers are not that cheap either.  A powerful room
> dehumidifier can easily cost several hundred dollars for one that will
> dehumidify a room big enough to hold a 7' and 9' grand.  
> 
> Yes, two complete Dampp-Chaser systems are less expensive than one room
> dehumidifier, but the cost is justified by the extra benefits.  
> 
> 2.  Room dehumidifiers are noisy and need to be emptied of water quite
often. 
> 
> Dampp-Chaser Systems are run silently.  The owner will need to add water
to
> the system occasionally (more frequently in the winter when it is dry),
but
> I would still think that this is less frequent maintenance than the room
> dehumidifier needs.  
> 
> 3. With a room dehumidifier, the owner will need to be constantly
checking
> the RH to make sure that the room dehumidifier doesn't keep on going when
> the room getting dry. 
> 
> The humidistat on the Dampp-Chaser system constantly controls the RH of
the
> piano automatically.  No need to worry or fuss about changing RH levels.
> 
> 4.  Room dehumidifiers are usually sold by Sears or other appliance
stores,
> and the piano technician usually does not make a profit on the sale of
such
> items.  
> 
> Dampp-Chaser systems are sold and serviced by experienced technicians,
who
> can expect to make some profit by recommending an exceptional product
that
> makes the piano hold more stable tunings and prolongs the life of the
piano.
> 
> 5.  A room dehumidifier actually needs more maintenance by the piano
owner
> than a complete Dampp-Chaser system does.  (My opinion)  The owner will
> need to constantly empty the water out of the tray.  The owner will need
to
> change the filters regularly.  The owner will need to take the
dehumidifier
> apart and clean the scum and scale out of the dehumidifier.
> 
> With the Dampp-Chaser system, the esperienced technician can expect to do
> some extra work, such as changing humidifier pads every 6 months, and
> changing the water every year or two.  But the technician can also charge
> extra for this service which the customer would prefer not to do.
> 
> Disclaimer:  I do not get paid anything to promote the Dampp-Chaser
> Electronics Co.  I am just a firm believer in the products they sell. 
From
> my own personal experience, the pianos that have a complete D-C System
hold
> tunings much better.  I don't like to change pitch up and down back to
> A-440 every 6 months for my regular customers because it puts unnecessary
> wear and tear on the pinblock.  A D-C system helps the piano stay at
pitch
> much better.
> 
> I hope this helps!  Why not contact Dampp-Chaser Electronics for their
> newest packet of information?
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> David A. Vanderhoofven, RPT
> Joplin, Missouri, USA        
> e-mail:  dkvander@clandjop.com
> 
> web page:  http://www.clandjop.com/~dkvander/
> #pianotech page:  http://www.clandjop.com/~dkvander/ircpiano.html
>