humidity/CAUT

[Bdshull@aol.com]

List:

In addition to the factors Fred mentioned, there is the relationship of SB 
dimensional instability to piano age.  Many schools maintain a number of 
lease pianos.  My 17 lease Yamahas are far more influenced by humidity swings 
now, in their first year in use, than they will be in 3-5 years.  In the East 
Inland Empire of southern California, the humidity swings can be sudden and 
extreme anytime from fall to spring (if not New Mexico's 20-90%, certainly 
20-70%).  This is in the "stable," ocean-affected area of the greater LA 
basin, or south coast region.

Bill Shull
University of Redlands, La Sierra University, Riverside City College

<< The whole issue of how to quantify the effect of humidity swings,
 especially coupled with modern air exchange systems, is extraordinarily
 complex. I doubt we can get a truly firm handle on this, but it is clear
 that the range of .70 to 1.00 as multiplying factors does not adequately
 express the difference between the situation with reasonably good
 climate control (whether building wide or with dampchaser systems) and
 what happens when there is no climate control.  >>