Pianos and Humidity

The Secret to Protecting Your Instrument

Who would think that a little bit of moisture could cause such big problems? But for a piano, humidity can pose a significant threat to its wooden components, its tuning stability, and even cause damaging warping and cracking.

The wooden soundboard of the piano is crowned. That means it bows inward, pushing the bridges against the strings. This bowing increases the ability of the soundboard to amplify and project the sound of the strings.  

If humidity around the soundboard increases, the water content transfers into the wood of the piano. That causes the soundboard to swell, and the crown to increase, which in turn pushes against the strings, making the pitch go up.  

Conversely, if the air around the piano is too dry, the moisture leaks out of the soundboard and the crown decreases, causing the pitch to lower. With changing relative humidity levels, the piano is constantly in flux.

The ideal environment in which to place a piano is on an inside wall of a closed room, out of direct sunlight, away from any heating or cooling vents, and at a constant 45% relative humidity level. Even with a standard humidifier or dehumidifier, maintaining these perfect conditions can prove challenging for most piano owners without the assistance of a system designed explicitly to keep a piano in its comfort zone.

Dampp Chaser Piano Life Saver System to The Rescue!

The Dampp Chaser Piano Life Saver System is a piano humidity control system specifically designed to keep the air that surrounds a piano at a stable relative humidity level.

The system is comprised of several elements:

• Dehumidifier. The unit is a heat bar installed close to the soundboard. It works to increase the temperature directly around the soundboard, so the relative humidity level is lowered, drawing moisture back out into the air.
• Humidifier. The humidifying unit includes a reservoir, a heat bar, and pads to wick water from the reservoir up to the bar so moisture can evaporate into the air. When the air around the soundboard is too dry the humidifier adds water so the soundboard can draw moisture from the air. 

It’s important to fill the reservoir every two to four weeks (depending on the weather) using only a mixture of water and a solution specially designed for the system. (This is critical because any other humidifier solution will contain chemicals that will ruin the piano humidity control system and void its warranty.)

Finally, the moisture-wicking pads should be replaced every six months to ensure the system continues to work properly.

• Control System. The control system includes a humidistat that constantly monitors the relative humidity around the soundboard.  It then turns on the appropriate system to keep the humidity level around the soundboard constant. That keeps the moisture content in the wood stable, so the crown doesn’t swell or contract. This will keep the strings more in tune, and the tuning pins will have to be turned less, keeping them tighter and keeping the strings in tune longer.

Additionally, the fewer changes that occur over the years, the less likely the piano will be to develop cracks in the soundboard.

• Monitoring System. This consists of a small panel of three lights installed under the piano keys where it can be easily seen. The green light indicates the system is powered on and working correctly. A yellow light signals that the reservoir is empty and needs to be refilled. The red light warns of a technical issue that a Dampp Chaser Service Technician should address.

A qualified technician should service the unit every six months. This consists of cleaning the system and ensuring optimal operations. A Kopp Piano Services combines this service with regular piano tuning which includes pad replacement, humidifier bar sheath replacement, and decalcification of the piano humidity control system.

For more information, and pricing, or to schedule installation, call A Kopp Music at (612) 963-6697 or schedule an appointment online.