[pianotech] Wood stove - Rick Ucci

[James Johnson]

We have lots of wood stoves in our area but we don't have the high humidity 
in the summer.  A dehumidifier and a control unit is usually all we need. 
That way the piano is just about right when we enter the winter season.

I have found that most people with wood stoves aren't going to move their 
piano to another room or install a whole house humidifier.  If the piano is 
close to the wood stove, I have them put their hand on the side of the piano 
nearest the stove and then on the opposite side and if they can detect a 
difference in temperature (sometimes dramatic), I shake my head and say, 
"bad, bad."  They seem to understand when I tell them that the piano will 
expand and contract differently at each end because of the heat and that it 
will consequently go out of tune.  I realize that this is a gross 
understatement of the actually facts, but they accept what I tell them 
because it makes sense to them.  At least they will be more willing to move 
their piano further away from the stove.  In some extreme cases, I have 
suggested that they construct a screen with a foil surface to place between 
the piano and the stove to reflect the actual heat away from the piano.

Jim