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Hi Barbara -<br>
Here are some of my useless suggestions:<br>
First, get yourself a good hygrometer. I was using the
"professional" one from Pianotek (#CMM880) which worked nicely
until it stopped working. I believe, however, that the specs Bob
has in the catalog are not correct. The company lists that unit as
accurate +/- 5%, not 3%. I (finally) replaced it with a somewhat
better model (Mannix EP8706) which IS listed as +/- 3%, plus, it is
"field calibratable", with the use of special salts. All
together with shipping it was around $170. A lot, true, but then,
instead of saying "It felt really dry", you could say,
"Yeah, it was 12%RH, <font size=1>(+ or - 3%) </font>, and I'm sure
of it because this thing here is really expensive". Of course,
you would have to remember to bring it with you. <br><br>
While I haven't yet employed the undercover, I have not doubt that they
can make some difference, however, I don't see how they, or Damppchasers
themselves, can help the finish, the block, the bridges, or the action,
when you have readings like 12%. Maybe a vinyl cover, in
conjunction with an undercover would help. <br><br>
Just out of curiosity, let me know how much the April-Aire system
costs.<br><br>
Good luck -<br>
David Skolnik<br><br>
<br><br>
At 10:47 PM 2/16/2007, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=2>Howdy,<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>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. <br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>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.<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>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? <br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>I thought about recommending that the church look into a big
April-Aire system. <br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>Any suggestions are welcome.<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>Thanks.<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2>Barbara Richmond, RPT<br>
near Peoria, Illinois</font> </blockquote></body>
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