Advice on piano humidifier

[solhaywood]

Hello everybody,

My tuner said my vintage piano is 'shrinking' due to very dry conditions in my house (central heating, etc.), and that I should put a container with water inside the instrument, behind the bottom panel. He also recommended me to get a plant with fleshy leaves for the living room, where I keep my piano, as it would release some moisture. I have followed both recommendations, but I wanted to know if I should get a proper humidifier, and if so, which one? I am afraid I am a novice!
I do try to keep the heating down in the living room, but my husband (who doesn't share my interest in pianos, old or new) keeps switching up it to 18º/20ºC for 3 hours in the morning and in the evening. The rest of the time the room is quite cool, and I am concerned about how those temperature changes may affect my piano.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.

[Colin Nicholson]

When your piano tuner was referring to 'shrinkage' - it is usually about the condition of the wrest plank (or pin block if you are in USA). The wrest plank is behind the cast iron frame, made from various sections of maple, and this is what the tuning pins are driven into. Over many years of a piano's life, due to tuning and changes in humidity & temperature, the tuning pins may become loose as the wrest plank & its holes start to shrink. General shrinkage may also refer to the soundboard, bridges and lack of downbearing on the strings - causing a poor tone, difficult to tune, and generally the piano not staying in tune for more than say a couple of months.

The temperatures you give are not too bad - its the overall effect of the humidity in the room thats the killer.

Firstly, I would recommend that you purchase a hygrometer - combined - thermometer; the hygrometer measures the level of humidity in your room - measured in percentage. Most on-line shopping websites sell them from around 10 - 15 pounds (UK). The more expensive ones are digital.

The humidity should be between 40% - 70% ...... ideally around 55%, and temperature around the 16-18 degrees celcius mark. Just sit the meter on your piano and let it do its job for a few days, then take some readings.

A humidifier is a sealed plastic tube, about 3ft in length, and has various slots cut out at the top. Inside are various filters. The tube is then submerged in a bath of water, dried off, then usually placed near the mechanism (top panel).

Depending on your meter readings, if the humidity falls below 40%, have a word with your piano tuner who can supply and fit a humidifier.

One thing to remember though - extra devices fitted to old vintage pianos may not save your piano from any previous conditions.

In the warmer months, and during wet spells - you then allow the humidifier to dry out, so it now acts as a dehumidifier.

Dry conditions may also cause brittle wooden parts, wobbly keys, centre pins to fall out, poor hammer spacing...... these can be remedied - but loose tuning pins is more expensive to put right.

Hope that helps

If the

[Barrie Heaton]

I am not a great lover of room humidifiers as they spray small droplets of water into the air and if you don't keep the filters clean you can cause problems health wise.

Temperature change are not your problem as Colin as pointed out its the humidity that is the killer, I would fit a piano life saver. A life saver only controls the humidity in the piano and no spraying of water is involved, so your partner can turn up the heat again with in reason.

If you have a grand you may need an under blanket as well. visit the piano life saver site for more info and a list of local installers around the world

Barrie

[solhaywood]

Thanks so much for the above replies. My tuner said that the piano (which dates from the 1920s) is structurally sound; he only mentioned shrinkage when putting back the lid that covers the keyboard, which felt too tight. That was on the 19 of March. I just hope the instrument hasn't suffered irreparable damage since I acquired it (February), as the keys feel wobbly and the sound is a bit rough (although it is still in tune). Unbelievably I seem to be the third owner of this piano, which spent 60 years in Scotland and 30 in the Middlands: I am horrified at the thought of ruining it when my intention was preserving it.

I have ordered the thermometer-hygrometer from Amazon; I will talk to the tuner about the piano saver, although I will need some time to save the money for it (the piano saver website says that the upright system cost about $500).

Thanks a million once again; this forum is great and you help lots of people.

[Colin Nicholson]

It sounds like the opposite of shrinkage then? .... more like expansion. It is quite common for an old piano to suffer from wood expansion when in cold & damp conditions, and it can take longer than 6 months for wood to shrink - but it never shrinks back to its original shape & size.... like a wooden front door - some light sanding may be needed where the keyboard lid (fallboard) slots into its rebates on each inner cheek.

The piano life saver is the ultimate choice, and comes with the lot - including a piano heater (dampp chaser) [spelt with 2 'p' s] .... however, depending on the maker's name of your piano, and its internal condition, they may not bring your piano back to new! .... and wobbly keys may still need to be rebushed. However, see how the readings go, and have a word with your tuner.

[solhaywood]

Hello, and sorry for bothering people in this forum again!

I recieved today the thermometer-hygrometer and placed it on top of the piano: the humidity mark went down to 43% straight away (and that with the central heating off), so it looks like I do need a device to protect my piano. Since the piano life saver is so pricy and it will take me some time to get the money for it, I was wondering about a temporary make-do. Has anybody got a view on this inexpensive piano humidifier (which I could use till I get the proper equipment)?

http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/P ... Humidifier

Many thanks.

[Colin Nicholson]

A humidifier is a sealed plastic tube, about 3ft in length, and has various slots cut out at the top. Inside are various filters. The tube is then submerged in a bath of water, dried off, then usually placed near the mechanism (top panel).

This was the device I mentioned above earlier in the post. Depending on who you contact, I think F&N (Fletcher & Newman) are trade only, but some other websites can get them, or your piano tuner. It should come with 2 X 'U' brackets aswell - simply drill 2 small holes into the back of the panel for each bracket.

I wouldn't rely on the first reading (day 1) the minute you open it out of the box - leave it a few days, and if no change, best to order one.

[Barrie Heaton]

Hello, and sorry for bothering people in this forum again!

I recieved today the thermometer-hygrometer and placed it on top of the piano: the humidity mark went down to 43% straight away (and that with the central heating off), so it looks like I do need a device to protect my piano. Since the piano life saver is so pricy and it will take me some time to get the money for it, I was wondering about a temporary make-do. Has anybody got a view on this inexpensive piano humidifier (which I could use till I get the proper equipment)?

http://www.chappellofbondstreet.co.uk/P ... Humidifier

Many thanks.

Stick a 2-3 litre container of water in the bottom the Piano-Humidifier you referred to above, place that in the top of the piano behind the top door. However, you can get them off the UK Piano Page and are cheaper see link or get your tuner to fit one

As to the Life Saver you are looking at £400 for an upright one fitted you can not install one yourself has to be a registered installer

Barrie

[vernon]

All humidifying apparatus has to be serviced and kept topped up.
My experience is that this diligence does not endure.How many pianos,tuners, do you come to with dry humidifiers or empty buckets in the bottom?
The best remedy is indoor plants.
You don't forget to water them otherwise they let you know and they suspire moisture into the atmosphere without droplets etc

[solhaywood]

Hello and thanks ever so much for the above replies. I have acquired some plants and they have improved humidity levels in my living room straight away. I might still considering getting a piano humidifier installed if, after the rainy weather, humidity levels in my living room fall dramatically. I am keeping and eye and will do anything posible to save my 1920s Art Deco piano. The humidifier might be necessary, as my 1980s house seems to get so dry.

I am so grateful for the help I have got from this forum.