James, With 30 modern pianos, I assume you have a competent piano technician either on staff or on contract. This person is best qualified to evaluate damage which has occurred during the last 6 months, because he/she knows the condition of the instruments, and the level of care they have received, prior to the humidity swings. As far as "the invisible damage that could have happened", it is pretty much the same list of normal age-related deterioration which happens to any piano in the upper Midwest, except it is accelerated due to the extremes of humidity you have experienced. Cracked wood, failed glue joints, corroded metal, and warped wood. Your humidity extremes have probably shortened the lives of your pianos, but I don't know how to determine how much life they have lost. A lot depends on how they were treated prior to the humidity events, and how well they will be treated in the future. In any event, your insurance is unlikely to pay for anything except existing damage. Latent or future damage will be difficult to claim. My best advice: Inspect for cracks, open glue joints, and warps while the humidity is at its lowest, and install Damppchaser systems on the pianos you care most about. good luck Mike Spalding RPT Fredonia, WI (the other side of Milwaukee) On 1/2/2011 2:26 PM, Mckeever, James I wrote: > > Hello, > > The University of Wisconsin-Parkside has had extreme humidity issues > the last six months. In the course of connecting utilities to our new > building, our air handling equipment has been shut down without > notice. During the summer, the humidity was 80% for at least five > weeks, and this fall it dropped to 20% for at least two weeks. The > damage to historic reproduction instruments is obvious—snapped strings > and soundboard cracks. > > But our 30 modern pianos are a problem. I have been told that damage > may not be apparent for a year or more, but the insurance adjustor > wants to settle now. We have 38 year old Yamahas and Baldwin > Hamiltons. Other pianos are a mixture of pianos newer and rebuilt from > the last 25 years. > > I am in need of statements from technicians concerning the invisible > damage that could have happened. I need to be able to propose a > settlement which will take into account future damage. > > Thanks for any assistance you can provide me! > > James McKeever > > Professor of Piano > > Chair, Music Department > > University of Wisconsin-Parkside > > Kenosha, Wisconsin >
This PTG archive page provided courtesy of Moy Piano Service, LLC