extreme winter weather/DC effectiveness

[Dean May]

Marshall

 

You definitely need to try the undercover. I was very skeptical at first,
but after trying it on a troublesome piano I was impressed and now use it on
every install and push retrofits on previous installs. It really helps. 

 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of Marshall Connolly
Sent: Saturday, February 17, 2007 11:56 AM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: extreme winter weather/DC effectiveness

 

Hi Barbara!

 

I have installed more D.C. systems than my back would care to remember.  I
too, have been experiencing such drops in pitch in pianos WITH the system,
whose owners are quite attentive to the needs of the piano.  In
Massachusetts (near the Cape) I've been running around checking pads,
humidistats (on the older systems) etc., trying to trouble-shoot the cause
of this phenomenon.  My customers keep the pianos completely closed (grands)
when not in use, and still, I get calls to "check" the tunings I did in
September-December.  It's tough to charge them, even for a service call when
I can't pin-point the exact nature of the situation.

 

My only thought is that this winter has become (at least here) so cold, and
de-void of humidity, snow, rain, or something "wet" in the air, that the
systems are doing their best to compensate, but inadequate under such
extreme circumstances.  I have a room humidifier in the showroom (appx.
20'x25') and go through five gallons of h20 daily to keep the humidity level
at 40%.  I still can't achieve 42%, no matter how hard I try.  I have pianos
in the showroom with D.C. systems, and YET I still fill them weekly-- amid a
'somewhat' ambient climate (temp NEVER exceeds 67 degrees).

 

I have a large customer base (including universities, the local performing
arts center, and several school systems) and I have never seen a winter that
has been so rough on instruments.  Unless the pads haven't been changed and
the old ones are really crusty (hence, ineffective), it's probably climate-
not the system.  I can't speak to the issue of the under-covers- I've never
installed one.   Hmmmm, time to chat with Wally & Vivian Brooks to see if
they can get those!!!

 

This winter has become especially harsh on pianos--- and people.  I walk for
an hour each day.  I made the mistake of doing that when it was 12 degrees
in New Bedford, and ended up in the hospital with extreme bronchitis, and
dual ear infections!  

Maybe the folks at D.C. can give better recommendations, as for me, I'm just
sharing some equal confusion about this situation, and hoping that someone
will find a solution before I go broke trying to address it!!!

 

Stay warm-- but keep a BIG pan of water on the stove!  Humidity is our
FRIEND--- now more than any winter in my 25 years tuning/rebuilding.  If any
information becomes available, please email me at falcone1132 at tmlp.com.
Thanks, and have a wonderful day!

 

Sincerely,

Marshall Connolly, Jr.

Boston ChapterFrom: Barbara <mailto:piano57 at insightbb.com>  Richmond 

To: Pianotech <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org>  

Sent: Friday, February 16, 2007 10:47 PM

Subject: extreme winter weather/DC effectiveness

 

Howdy,

 

Hope you're all nice and cozy, it's been dang cold here.  I've got a
question for you DC experts, I would have called DC themselves, but I didn't
get home in time this afternoon.  

 

Early this past fall I regulated a 1920s S&S A and installed a full DC
system--but no undercover.  The piano is kept closed and covered when not in
use.  The church has AC, though to me it felt humid  (for some reason I
didn't have my hygrometer with me).   Anyway, before Christmas I tuned the
piano again and it was 17 cents low.   Today I tuned it again and it was 14
cents low. Yikes.  The weather here lately has been extremely cold (OK, you
nanooks of the north can laugh) and the church was incredibly dry--it didn't
register on my not very good hygrometer.  A couple weeks ago, the music
director called to tell me that tuning pins were slipping like crazy on the
harpsichord I worked on last December.  I thought today that the tuning pins
on the piano felt looser than in the past (or was it my imagination?).  AND
I noticed that the regulation was off, too.  Geeze.  Apparently the heat is
always on in the church--not one of those where it gets turned off and on,
and it has felt warm to me the times I've been in there.

 

So...you get the picture that the place is dry.  Here is the question--how
good a job should the DC system be doing in these circumstances?  Is anybody
else experiencing this?  The music director said he is filling the DC tank
at least once a week.  I even took a look to see if I had plugged things in
the wrong place.  Is there anything else I can do, besides put an undercover
on?  Can undercovers make a huge difference in a situation where there isn't
significant air movement, etc? 

 

I thought about recommending that the church look into a big April-Aire
system. 

 

Any suggestions are welcome.

 

Thanks.

 

Barbara Richmond, RPT

near Peoria, Illinois 

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