Humidity Control

[Kenneth Sloane]

To All- I was in charge of several concert instruments that were kept in a 
storage room under precise environment control. However, the auditorium in 
which the instruments were used saw humidity fluctuations between approx. 
20% and 75%. Bringing the instruments (kept at 45%) into the auditorium 
almost always precipitated big changes in tuning and regulation. I 
preferred that the instruments be kept on stage at least a week prior to 
their use to acclimate. This probably negated the rational for keeping the 
instruments under humidity control while in strorage because they not only 
had to make the adjustment to the stage environment, they also had to go 
back to storage (and 45%) after their use. For the popular instruments, 
that meant going back and forth many times per year.     Ken Sloane

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--On Tuesday, March 13, 2001 6:00 PM -0400 John Ross 
<piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca> wrote:

> Hi List,
> We have storage box/ compartment, for a Steinway D, at the back
> of an unheated, except for circulated air, stage.
> What would be the best method of controlling the environment for
> this piano, which is frequently moved to the stage for recitals
> and such.
> 1) A full Dampp-Chaser system installed on the piano?
> I feel it would show to the audience.
> 2) Can a Dampp-Chaser system be installed to work properly in the
> box?
> 3) Just have a humidifier, room type, and a heater installed on
> the wall of the box.
> 4) Should the box be insulated. It is open at the bottom, as the
> walls are on hinges and casters, and it just folds back, once the
> top is raised. It takes up very little room when the piano is
> out.
> I was wondering how your Universities handle this problem.
> Thank you.
> Regards,
> John M. Ross
> Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada
> piano.tech@ns.sympatico.ca
>