it is my opinion that gradual changes of humidity even if resulting in "extremes" do not damage a well made piano or at least the old ones that i own. if seasonal changes are gradual and maintained throughout a season i do not think they should cause damage. if they do there is something wrong with the way they make pianos today.
if you are trying to maintain concert tuning and regulation it is a different matter but then you would be tuning and regulating on a daily basis anyway.
a system that attempts to maintain controlled humidity will do more damage if it screws up.
Carol,
Thank you for the info about installing the Dampp Chaser on the back of the DKV upright and covering up the back of the piano. That sounds like a great approach and is consistent with others have suggested.
While I would be delighted to be able to maintain 50% RH in the house throughout the winter months, unfortunately I have to contend with ambient outdoor temps between 5 and -30 F throughout the winter season. At 50% RH, my windows (top-of-the-line energy-efficient triple pane) would totally frost over due to condensation. The reality is that I have to regulate the indoor humidity somewhere between 20% and 25% RH. This is a common practice in the area where I live.
Apart from my DKV piano, I have individual (simple) humidification systems for all of my other stringed instruments and they have all held up extremely well over the past decades.
. . . / Robert
From: "Carol Beigel carol@carolrpt.com [disklavier]" <disklavier@yahoogroups.com>
To: disklavier@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, 29 November, 2014 8:43:25 PM
Subject: Re: [disklavier] Thoughts on Installing Dampp Chaser on Disklavier Upright
Since this is an upright piano you are in luck. The complete Dampp Chaser system can be installed on the back of the piano and not inside. The humidifier tanks are nowhere near the electronics. A cover can also be installed over the entire back of the piano. My personal recommendation to protect your own health as well as any woodwork in your house is to crank up the whole-house system. 20% RH is way too low. Try for at least 50% RH.
Carol Beigel
Sent from my iPhone
On Nov 29, 2014, at 8:22 PM, ROBERT LEBLANC r_leblanc@... [disklavier] <disklavier@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
My house's relative humidity during the winter months is far from ideal for a piano. This is a result of having to keep the furnace humidifier turned down to about 20% to avoid condensation build-up on the windows.
To address the chronic low humidity levels, I'm considering having a Dampp Chaser installed on my Disklavier upright MX1Z. I would really appreciate hearing what others here may think about this.
I assume there's room inside the piano for the Dampp Chaser components. As for the Disklavier internal electronic components, I can't imagine exposing them to 'moderate' humidity levels should pose any significant problems.
Robert
-- Best regards, Spencer Chase 67550-Bell Springs Rd. Garberville, CA 95542 Postal service only. Laytonville, CA 95454 UPS only. Spencer@... http://www.spencerserolls.com (425) 791-0309