Any amount of huge variations of humidity is not good for any piano. Here in Michigan, it varies from roughly 8 % - nearly 80 %. There is no way any piano will remain in tune regardless of how stable a tuning we put on it in those conditions. But yes, stability is important. A major factor in achieving stability is also stabilizing humidity levels one way or another. I do have a client that runs a room humidifier almost right next to the piano continually during the winter months. It is too close to the piano but, she has run it like this for 20 years. I have found no problems with the piano or piano parts such as sticking keys or rust from this but do not normally recommend running one so close to any piano. However, it has helped because it is better than nothing. Prior to this, her RH levels were all over the map and so was the tuning. After purchasing the humidifier unit, the tuning became stable and stayed that way. From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of allan at sutton.net Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 11:55 AM To: pianotech at ptg.org Subject: Re: [pianotech] Low humidity ok ? Thank you Terry, That precision : "different pianos, different solutions" seems very appropriate to me. Another question : Do many agree that a small external humidifier near the piano will help significantly in adding some humidity to every part of the piano when needed (soundboard and pinblock and action, in a grand piano), albeit as a second choice to whole room conditioning ? Allan Sutton, m.mus. RPT www.pianotechniquemontreal.com 2010/6/20 Terry Farrell <mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com> Do many of you agree that stability is much more important than maintaining a specific Relative Humidity level in the piano? More important, yes. And that too much humidity is worse than too little? Maybe yes, and maybe no. Both should be avoided. All depends on piano - old piano with marginal soundboard crown and almost-loose tuning pins, higher RH might work better for it. New piano that performs well at a lower RH, low RH may be just fine for that piano. In other words, with an adjustable humidistat (Moisture King) and one or two heat bars we can keep Relative Humidity at 30 % or even 25 % and that is good, much better than swings from 25 to 85 % RH for example ? Steady 30 or 25% is better than 25% to 85% RH swings for sure. Steady 45% or 50% is likely better than 30 or 25% RH. Steady is best. Mid-range RH is best generally. However, if the piano in question performs better at a higher or lower RH, then an RH adjusted in that direction may be beneficial. Terry Farrell On Jun 20, 2010, at 11:17 AM, allan at sutton.net wrote: Dear list members, Do many of you agree that stability is much more important than maintaining a specific Relative Humidity level in the piano ? And that too much humidity is worse than too little ? In other words, with an adjustable humidistat (Moisture King) and one or two heat bars we can keep Relative Humidity at 30 % or even 25 % and that is good, much better than swings from 25 to 85 % RH for example ? I found nothing in the archives about this specific question. I hope to hear you about this in Vegas and here on the list. Thank you. Allan Sutton, m.mus. RPT www.pianotechniquemontreal.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech.php/attachments/20100620/0ef86baf/attachment.htm>
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