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Why Pianos Need The Piano Life Saver
The most important part of good piano maintenance is keeping the humidity as constant as possible. Because tuning instability and physical deterioration are the obvious results of continued humidity extremes, the installation of a Piano Life Saver System is the best way to ensure the piano is protected from the devastating effects of humidity changes.
The Piano Life Saver System consists of one or more Dehumidifier rods to lower humidity, one or more Humidifiers to add humidity, and a Humidistat which senses whether the wooden parts of the piano are too moist or too dry. Through a cycling action, the Humidistat is calibrated to create a separate environment within the piano, producing a range of humidity which, in turn, provides a stable moisture content in the wooden parts. This constant cycling action stabilises pitch and protects the piano from deterioration. Used in conjunction with the System to combat extreme air movement in the room, a Grand Undercover or Vertical Backside Cover may be mounted on the piano to further stabilize the pitch. In particular, Covers are recommended for use with the system when the piano is located in a church, institutional or commercial building
Humidistats
The Humidistat controls the Humidifier and Dehumidifier and comes with a 10-ft. power cord. Since 2006, new Dampp-Chaser Systems include either a model H-5 Humidistat or a model H-D Humidistat. Both Humidistats may be used in a grand or a vertical piano. The H-5 model is included in Systems that both humidify and dehumidify. The H-D model is used in Systems which only dehumidify.
All Humidistats offered in the U.K. are provided with three different calibrations to maintain pianos at the following levels of relative humidity:
HOW DOES THE SYSTEM WORK?
The Piano Life Saver System is made up of basic components which work together to control the humidity levels within your piano, maintaining the recommended relative humidity, no matter what the external conditions are.
HOW THE COMPONENTS WORK TOGETHER
Through a cycling action, the Humidistat is calibrated to create a separate environment within the piano, producing a narrow range of average humidity. When the Humidistat, located less than an inch from the soundboard, senses that the wood is dry, it turns the Humidifier on. Then, when the Humidifier has provided enough moisture to the soundboard, the Humidistat turns off the Humidifier and turns on the Dehumidifier. The Dehumidifier carries away moisture from the soundboard on air currents until the Humidistat senses that the soundboard is dry. The System again switches to the humidifying function. The cycle continues day after day, year after year, protecting your piano from external conditions.
BENEFITS TO YOUR PIANO
Installed out-of-sight inside the piano, the System combats both dry conditions and highly humid conditions, keeping the humidity level in the piano consistent continuously.
THE PIANO LIFE SAVER SYSTEM . . .
These systems must be installed by a qualified piano technician. Please look at the area map below to locate your nearest qualified technician.
The Piano Life Saver System is completely silent and installed on the underside of your piano.
The Piano Life Saver System as seen from beneath a Grand Piano
Dehumidifier: When the Humidistat senses the humidity level is too high, the dehumidifier carries away moisture on warm air currents until the Humidistat senses that the humidity level is appropriate.
Humidifier: When the humidity is too low, the humidifier adds moisture to the air inside the piano until the Humidistat senses that the RH level is high enough.
Watering Tube: When the yellow light blinks, the water tube permits you to easily add water to the System.
Humidistat: This is the brain of the System. It senses whether the micro-climate within your piano is optimal and automatically switches the System to function as a Dehumidifier or Humidifier to protect your piano from damage caused by changes in humidity.
3-Light LED Panel: The panel features a green light marked POWER to indicate the System has electrical power and a yellow light marked WATER which blinks when the Humidifier needs water. If the System includes the optional Smart Bracket on the Humidifier tank, the red light marked PADS will blink when the pads are no longer wicking water, indicating they should be replaced.