<html><head><style type="text/css"></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Someone correct me if I'm wrong but a Heppa vacuum is one that has a Heppa filter in it which catches very small particles such as spores etc. We used them in the Power Plant that I worked in for vacuuming areas that were suspected to have asbestos and other small particles that could be harmful. Since it's not much different than a regular vacuum cleaner it shouldn't be a problem using it on a piano.</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Ron Boyd</DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">Milwaukee<BR><BR></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif">----- Original Message ----<BR>From: Israel Stein <custos3@comcast.net><BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org<BR>Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 8:55:13 PM<BR>Subject: Mold spore damage<BR><BR> <DIV>To the list,<BR><BR>I recently examined a Steinway L - nice instrument, recently restrung <BR>and refinished - that spent a couple days in premises that were <BR>flooded. There is no direct water damage to the piano - but it did <BR>spend some time in a very humid environment, standing on <BR>water-saturated floors in fairly warm weather before the owners were <BR>able to move it out of there to a storage facility. The most obvious <BR>damage is to the finish - it pretty much cracked apart (looks like <BR>semi-gloss water-based nitrocellusose) in long, parallel cracks. <BR>Other problems include some surface corrosion on the strings, and <BR>totally gummed up action centers.<BR><BR>They had flood damage technicians test air samples from the premises, <BR>and they found a high mold spore count (a particular mold specific to <BR>water damage). This requires that the premises and all contents be <BR>"hepa-vacuumed". Eventually I am going to see their report and <BR>perhaps even consult with them - but in the meantime, does anyone <BR>know anything about "hepa-Vacuuming", how it's done and what horrible <BR>things it might do to the poor piano (or not)?<BR><BR>Thank you,<BR><BR>Israel Stein</DIV></DIV> <DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: times new roman, new york, times, serif"><BR></DIV></div><br> <hr size=1>Tonight's top picks. What will you watch tonight? <a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/tv/mail/tagline/tonightspicks/evt=48220/*http://tv.yahoo.com/ ">Preview the hottest shows</a> on Yahoo! TV. </body></html>