Dampp Chaser, Humidity

[Lance Lafargue]

The rods on the grand that Frank spoke of are probably 50 watt (most
powerful) rods.  They stay on for a very brief time, bring the humidity to
48 or 42 % depending on the RH setting on the H-2 used.  A unit installed
with a humidifier is certainly fighting itself.  At ALL times either the
humidifier or the dehumidifier is running.  That is why even in humid
conditions the tank needs filling.  The humidistat (lets say one set at
48%)has a range whereby it may not shut off the humidifier until it is
actually 49%, then it kicks the dehumidifier on.  Then the dehumidifiers
run 'till a little drier than 48%, so the humidifier kicks on.  It would be
ideal if the H-2 were more accurate.   In Louisiana I NEVER install the
humidifier portion of the unit.  Our humidity availability is plentiful,
thank you.  We experience VERY few days a year below 40% (an acceptable
level) and in the home/studio, even with the heat drying the air, again
there are few days TOO dry.  I feel that the trouble of filling the tank
year-round and constantly fighting the humidity level in the room is too
much.  I do feel and have seen for the past ten years the benefits of
preventing EXTREME high humidity from the piano.  Damp chaser may provide
an H-2 with an even higher setting (say 55%) for those who fear overdrying
and for those older pianos that have been in a sweatbox for decades.  I
believe this would be ideal.  Controlling the room would be acceptable and
desirable.  Most of my customers can't or won't.

I enjoy great tuning stability from the hundreds of pianos with DH I've
installed and have seen in institutions the effects of their use and
misuse.  Two pianos-identical-same room-same system-one plugged in-one not.
 The effects -rust, mildew, glue joint failure, pressure ridges, general
aging, wild tuning instability, etc. I'm sold.  I believe what I see and
will do what I can NOW even if no one has proven it scientifically to
everyone's satisfaction.  I do not believe that 48% H-2's with properly
positioned rods will harm a piano.  My customers have saved $ on tunings
and enjoyed better sounding pianos at the same time in the first three
years.  Yes, this may slow my tuning business some, but my customers see
the effects, and refer me because they trust me and I can sleep well at
night knowing that I'm doing what I can with the info and experience I have
now.  FOR ME it is more honest to do it because *I BELIEVE IN THEM*. No one
has proven to me that the refrigerator light goes off when I shut the door.
 I guess I'm just gullible. 
Lance Lafargue, RPT
New Orleans Chapter
Covington, LA.
lafargue@iamerica.net

----------
> From: Ken Eschete <keschete@bellsouth.net>
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Re: Dampp Chaser, Humidity
> Date: Friday, November 28, 1997 11:02 AM
> 
> tech@steinway.com wrote:
> > 
> > In our opinion, if the room can be succesfully kept within the range of
40
> > to 55 % relative humidity, a Dampchaser is not necessary.
> > 
> > Steinway and Sons suggests the use of the Dampchaser when the location
can
> > not be controlled within these ranges.
> > 
> > Mike Mohr
> > Steinway factory, NYC At 09:57 AM 11/9/97 -0500, you wrote:
> > >Hi:
> > >
> > >I hope the subscribers of this list don't mind a question from
somebody who
> > >is not a tuner or technician.
> > >
> > >I own two Steinway grands: a model D less than a year old, and a model
B
> > >about two years old. My question relates to the necessity of using a
Dampp
> > >Chaser system.
> > >
> > >On the model D, the dealer installed a Dampp Chaser system and it has
> > >always concerned me that the long rods are very hot -- you can't even
touch
> > >them for more than a few seconds.
> > >
> > >I brought this to the attention of the dealer's technician and he
moved
> > >them down a couple inches (thereby adding more holes to the piano
> > >woodwork!).
> > >
> > >But still they remain very hot.
> > >
> > >On the other hand, the Dampp Chaser wants a drink every week! So it
seems
> > >that the system is fighting itself.
> > >
> > >The final straw is that I just bought a couple hand-held hygrometers
(I got
> > >two different ones to, hopefully, make sure they were in the ballpark
with
> > >their humidity readings). In the room with the model D, the humidity
is
> > >consistently between 40% and 50%, which sounds good.
> > >
> > >In a nutshell, is a Dampp chaser necessary in my scenario, and does it
> > >appear to be malfunctioning since it is always very hot to the touch,
yet
> > >wants to be filled with water each week?
> > >
> > >Thanks very much for your comments.
> > >
> > >Frank Leister
> > >Mechanicsburg, PA
> > >
> > >
> > >
> Dear Frank,
> 
> Scientific study carried out at the CAL Lab at the Smithsonian
> Institution has measured the effects of temperature and relative
> humidity on furniture.  There findings have established that a range of
> RH between 40% and 60% should be maintained, and that it is most
> important to keep the RH constant, even if it is slightly above or below
> the recommended levels.
> 
> Personally, I follow the advise that it is better to control the room
> RH, and that you should be more concerned about too little moisture,
> than too much.  
> 
> I have not seen any independent scientific testing that proves the Damp
> Chasers actually control the moisture content of the wood in pianos.
> I invite anyone with evidence to present it.
> 
> Ken Eschete, RPT
> Professional Associate - American Institute of Conservators  (AIC)
> keschete@bellsouth.com