DC water treatment

[Ruth Phillips]

Hi Clyde and list,
I want to clear up a couple of things about the 
Dampp-Chaser humidifier treatment.
First, it contains nothing that interacts with heat, 
which would cause corrosion of metal parts.  
This is the main reason for the warranty.  For example, 
years ago when they recommended using 1/2 t. or 
something like that of bleach, a few people thought 
that meant using a cup would be okay, and totally
destroyed the strings.  Most humidifier treatments
are for cold-air use so that is not an issue.
Second, I've never heard anything about DC requiring
us to toss out their first treatment bottle.  The new
one is the same - ingredients identical - just a larger bottle.
They are just advising against using any products
which are not specifically formulated for heat-
based humidifiers.  As to price, I imagine this has
to do with the amount manufactured, as heat-based
humidifiers are not the norm, but this design is essential
to proper function in a piano.  I always tell customers
that it's a little expensive and they always tell me
it's no problem.  At 1/2 capful per filling, the bottle
should last a couple of years, so $5.00/yr or so to
keep the pads fresh,  and cut down the need for your
cleaning services - a real buy (and most tuners I
know, like those in my own business, do not relish the 
cleaning job).  Between distilled water and the HT,
the tanks stay really nice.  I think DC values the  
technicians' long-term contentment with both function 
and ease of use over everything, and their efforts are in 
that direction.
Ruth Phillips