60% RH in basement

[webb50@comcast.net]

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Hi,
Regarding the basement situation, I have a different point of view.  I =
agree that constant R.H. is good, but 60% is high enough to gradually =
allow rust, cell collapse in wood, glue failure etc. The damage that's =
being done will show up if the piano is ever moved to a drier =
environment. We see this frequently in old pianos that come here from =
Europe, where they never went out of tune. One winter in SE Pa. and =
soundboards open (their swollen fibers finally drying back down to the =
original dimension, and beyond, exposing damaged glue joints), pinblocks =
delaminate, action screws all loose as crushed wood in flanges dries, =
etc. The pitch stability at A440 is "artificial", held there by =
excessive moisture in the soundboard. I think it's better to stabilize =
the moisture at a lower level, let the pitch drop to where it will, then =
go over it as necessary to stabilize pitch at 440.=20
Ruth Phillips
  Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 08:11:48 -0400
  From: Greg Newell <gnewell@ameritech.net>
  To: Pianotech <pianotech@ptg.org>
  Subject: RE: room climate control

  Paul,
           This has been my experience as well. The temperature and =
humidity=20
  seem much more constant below ground level.

  Greg Newell


  >Glad you mention this.  I have serviced a lot of pianos in the "lower =
level"
  >of homes with humidity readings of 60%. The pianos tune well and hold =
for a
  >very long time.  There appear to be no signs of rust or corrosion; =
some of
  >them being there for several decades.
  >
  >Paul C
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