Climate control systems in verticals

[Thomas D. Seay, III]

>On Tue, 22 Nov 1994, David Porritt wrote:
>
>> flange bushings.  Like you, Tom, I don't use damp chasers unless it is
>> truly an unusual circumstance.  (I had an Elementary school where the
>> music room was right next to the cafeteria steam table.)  It's probaly
>> been 4 years since I have had one in my hand.  Homes here with decent
>> climate controls just don't need them.
>>
>> dave porritt
>> SMU
>>
>Like you, Tom and David, I've tried to avoid those blasted contraptions,
>advising my clients to use room humidifiers etc. But now Dammpp-Chaser has
>started marketing directly to piano owners - complete with dealer
>endorsements. So several of my clients have been clamoring for this
>wonderful thing that'll keep their piano from going out of tune - and I'm
>having one hell of a time trying to explain the downside... Just
>installed them in three Steinway grands belonging to techers out of fear
>of losing their business... Seems that filling up a humidifier every
>couple of days is just too much trouble for them. Any ideas?
>
>
>Israel Stein

        Just to be perfectly clear on the subject, I'm not saying that
Dampp-Chaser systems should never be used; on the contrary, I think that in
certain areas where the humidity swings are extreme, they are probably
necessary and desireable (the Northeast comes to mind, from what
technicians have told me). I just don't use them here in Central Texas
because, based on my experience, they are generally not necessary.

        Israel, there is not much you can do when your clients specifically
ask for them to be installed, except to install them correctly and then
educate your clients as to how they work, the upkeep involved, and, more
importantly,  a realistic understanding of what they will do in terms of
keeping their piano in tune. Perhaps you could explain that dehimidifiers
don't really keep pianos in tune (technicians do that), but they * might*
help stabilize climatic conditions to *possibly* maintain tuning stability.

Regards,

Tom Seay
School of Music
The Unversity of Texas at Austin

t.seay@mail.utexas.edu