What is a Humidity Control System? Do I Need One?

Do I Need a Humidity Control System and What Is It?

We recommend installing a dehumidifier humidity control system in your piano and here are the reasons why…

Pianos are composed of thousands of glued wood and metal parts. When humidity rises, wood absorbs moisture and swells, causing the piano to go sharp and keys to stick. When it dries out, the wood shrinks, leading to a flat pitch, loose tuning pins, and costly cracked soundboards.

We service pianos in South Florida and New Orleans. The climates in both areas are similar (tropical). You do not need the full humidity control system with a humidifier, only the dehumidifier portion. This is less expensive and there is no maintenance with the dehumidifier only system.  

Why a piano dehumidifier humidity control system is ideal.

While you can use a room or whole-house humidifier/dehumidifier, controlling an entire room isn't always practical and can be expensive.

• Targeted Environment: A piano-specific system (Piano Life Saver System by Dampp-Chaser) moisture creates a micro-climate directly inside or under the piano itself.
• Automatic Regulation: These systems automatically remove moisture when it is too damp, keeping the relative humidity consistently around 42% to 45%.
• Preserve the Instrument: By eliminating constant wood expansion and contraction, your piano will hold its tuning far better, the action will feel more responsive, and you can significantly prolong the instrument's lifespan.

Important Considerations

• Maintenance: There is no maintenance needed with the dehumidifier system. Just keep it plugged into the wall 24/7!
• Professional Installation: You should not attempt to install these systems yourself. Because they involve electrical components inside the instrument, it is essential to hire a qualified piano technician to install and service the unit properly. We are Certified Installers.  
• Warranty: A 5 year warranty is included and the lifespan of these dehumidifier humidity control systems is around 30 years.

The dehumidifier system cost a few hundred dollars but this is minimal compared to the extra lifespan given to your piano, not to mention less repairs needed on your piano. Contact us if you have questions or would like to like to schedule the installation of a humidity control system.  

‍