Improving a Dampp Chaser system

[Tom Servinsky]

Without argument, the wool string cover felt should be an essential item to 
complete the damp chaser system. We are in S. Florida where tremendous 
amounts of humidity exists, even with the best air conditioning systems. Add 
to that the salt that resides in the air. All of our pianos, are equipped 
with the damp chaser system, combined with the felt string cover.
Keep in mind that the premise on how the system works is more of a repelling 
effect than the normal dehumidifying effect of gathering moisture into the 
bucket.  The main problem with grand pianos is that  strings and soundboard 
are fully exposed to the elements ,AND with the lid up, the heat from the 
damp chaser system is not being contained. That's where the felt string 
cover comes in. Sort of like a house with air conditioning with the windows 
kept open vs. being able to close the windows. Controlling the environment.
With the felt cover in place you are essentially containing and creating an 
environment impervious to the surrounding environment. And the differences 
in tuning stability are enormous.
We are in the area that was hit by 2 hurricanes within 3 weeks of each 
other. Which means we had power outages for up to 1 month. All of the pianos 
with the felt covers didn't get a spot of rust where as all of the 
instruments left fully exposed are needing to be restrung.
Additionally I was amazed at the tuning stability that the pianos that had 
covers on vs. the ones which didn't. Again, the differences were night and 
day.
Point being, the wool cover is preventing much of the moisture from even 
getting to the essential parts of the piano. The damp chaser is the added 
bonus.
Obviously for many of you living in different parts of the country without 
these  types of problems probably won't agree with our findings. But use our 
location as a beta test site of extreme humidity situations and their 
effects on pianos.
I have pianos located directly ocean front which I have serviced for 22 yrs 
and still remain showroom condition inside as the day the piano were 
delivered. Pianos without the felt....strings breaking, hammers hard, action 
funky....the list on goes on and on.
Muting:
With the lid down there is a muting effect, however with the lid up, there 
is very little muting  to be notice.
We do add a fishing line and tie it around the nose bolts to prevent the 
string from sagging as we don't buy the Edwards String Cover and simply make 
our own ( Schaff part #29 String Cover Felt).
I hope this long winded reply sits well with ya'll.
Tom Servinsky
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brad Smith, RPT" <staff@smithpiano.com>
To: "'Pianotech'" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 5:22 AM
Subject: RE: Improving a Dampp Chaser system


> Hi Bob,
> String cover and undercover both.
> I did this recently, had the church ladies sew their own cover based on
> my design.
> Now, they protect the piano as if they built it.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Brad Smith, RPT
> www.smithpiano.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Hull [mailto:hullfam5@yahoo.com]
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2005 12:26 AM
> To: pianotech@ptg.org
> Subject: Improving a Dampp Chaser system
>
>
> List,
>
> A church customer of mine has their grand sitting
> right by a large return air vent in their Sanctuary.
> They have an older Dampp Chaser system which should
> probably be upgraded.  (newer model humidistat, smart
> heater bar and undercover).  This will protect the
> inside and the bottom of the piano but leaves the top
> open to the strong air flow across it.   Would you
> recommend a cover for the piano or Edwards
> String covers to complete the system?  Do the string
> covers limit the sound much when left in place?
>
> I have seen the effects of another church piano that
> sits in the draft of a return air and it has a crack
> in the soundboard that you can see through and the
> piano is not much more than 10 years old.
>
> Your comments appreciated -
>
> Bob Hull
>
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