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In my experience, consistent hygrometer readings are often indicative of a faulty hygrometer. In just about every instance that I have done data logging, the rH fluctuates on a basic daily cycle, interrupted by "humidity events" which create a spike or a dip on the graph. A flat line reading means that your equipment is probably shot.

Hello
No I believe the pipes go all around the place, within the floor but the heat is very low , so no problems with blood, and no too high dfampness as with the older systems (that desagregeates pianos )

I have no idea of their name in English, they are thers since 10 years to the most.

"Satinette" is a thin fabrics (silk or artificial silk) , the soundboard is allowed to breath, I would not use a plastic sheet

Ok - It looks like I should probably invest in a few high-quality hygrometers with data logging.

Olek -

Re: low floor heating - I think I know what you are talking about - the kind of heating system where the heat actually comes up (radiates) through the floor. I've heard of that I think.

Also, thanks for the tip on the material for behind the upright - I didn't think about whether or not it should be able to breathe. Why is breathability important?

OK. Nobody seems to like my idea.

What about just getting a good AC unit for summer, and then a powerful indoor humidifier with a built-in hygrometer that I can connect to a water line for winter? Preferably one that is easy to clean? Do those exist? I just don't relish the idea of filling a humidifier every day and cleaning it twice a week for the next 20 years....Isn't there anyone else out there like me who wants to make this process easier?

I think you should talk to an HVAC dealer about your situation.

Wow - yes that seems reasonable BDB. I just put HVAC into a google maps search and got a number of results. Apparently, sometimes they are called "plumbing and heating" companies.

I am unsure, but probably to avoid condensation : mold on the wood.

Those heated floor date from the 70 I guess and the first ones destroy really fast the pianos because of extra dry low part of the room (bad for the health too)

So when I have noticed those real "low heat" floors that are installed today, I was expecting damage, and in fact I find very stable instruments... the heat is not perceived it is the room temperature I guess, no more.

standard hygrometers (not the cheapest ones )once verified (it is relatively easy with some saturated salt baths) are accurate enough for our use , in my opinion.
Jurgen probably sell some of them

Radiant heat.

Thank you , yes I heard that term used also...

Really surprising as the conditions stay good all year long (my only source of information is the piano, as you can imagine)

I heard that it can be coupled with some equipment deep in the ground, that catch some heat from under to help reduce the heating bill.

I have seen one all the pipes within a floor , before the material is poured in. I hope the pipes are well resisting to time, and something is done to avoid calcium deposits. I guess so.

The original systems where synonyms of premature death for pianos (and vein trouble for humans) glue joints fall apart, mostly , tuning lowering half step systematically, etc...

Heat Pump

If you want a brand. Just research online which is most efficient.
You really just need to get off the ball and call some heating/AC companies. They will give you a quote.
It isn't "and then I can add a humidity control unit". It's talk to the heating/ac guy and tell him you want one in the forced air unit.
Don't make a mess out of it. Just do the heating/ac for the house, right.
Then it will save you money on utility bills.
You don't want to be opening a door to the room and the room be blasted with extreme humidity or dryness. You don't want to keep fooling with this. Waste all your time obsessing over it. Just do the house right in the first place.

And no Marty.... "Heat Pump" is not cute.

Ron, I wasn't trying to be "cute." Isaac was trying to come up with the words for the system. It is called a Heat Pump. I have one with my own HVAC system.

It is the same as Malkin providing the term "Radiant Heat" when Isaac needed the English phrase.

I am sorry if I have offended you in any way.

[color:#3333FF][b]Data Logger[/b][/color]

This unit will track temp. and RH. The program CD is included for your computer at no extra cost, according to the website, but some similar companies charge as much as $99, just for the software. I have no experience with the company.


As someone else has said, it is likely that your hygrometer has a problem, if it reads the same inside your piano as outside in the room in winter. [I am assuming that you have a humidifier with a water tank inside your piano.]

A college nearby has a medium sized auditorium which has an expensive pipe organ and a Yamaha 9' grand. They installed a humidity control system for the building at construction. It has never been good or sufficient. I have repeatedly asked the school to have the room tracked by the installing HVAC company and to provide printed proof of performance. The company has never done it and always says, "it's working." When the piano is always sharp and flat with the seasons, I don't need the graph to tell me the answer. If the company could have shown a graph that proved a stable humidity to plus or minus 5%, I would have been very surprised. That would have been reasonable performance and probably would protect both the organ and the piano.

In light of this experience, my opinion is that many whole-building systems don't approach the necessary tight range of humidity which a piano needs to stay stable. Also, here in the South, removal of summer humidity is the challenge: The system must involve dehumidification systems, plus the heat-pump based cooling - both systems running and eating lots of electricity. On the other hand, a Piano Life Saver with the back cover will meet the need with relatively low power consumption.

As a side note, large plants in a room can improve the eveness of humidity in that given room in winter - plus they look nice. This would help you in your New York winter environment even more than here in the South.

Seems like there may be some interesting options here - Anyone ever heard of this company?

http://www.habitatmonitor.com

Thanks for the responses everyone - I haven't had time to look into HVAC systems or call contractors yet, but it's still on my mind.

I've been very busy trying to find a grand piano that I like over the last week or so. It's exhausting!

The only thing I have ever heard of called a heat pump is the AC unit I mentioned in my first post. It is awful. I'd hate for anyone to buy one of these and take the salesman's word on it. They are awful for heat. Inefficient. Even then, at about 45 degrees they stop working completely. They aren't bad air conditioners though.

I haven't heard of anything else called a: heat pump. What was described. Closest I can think of is in Iceland. But they have lots of geothermal.

I didn't mean to be offended by you. Just mentioning that name. Please don't. I'd hate to see the OP get confused.

Ok - now I'm totally confused. I don't have any clue of what you are trying to say. You obviously misread my reply to Olek's post. I offered an apology if you were offended by some strange connotation which I don't understand.

Enough, already.

I think they thought your "Heat Pump"
suggestion was a joke re:geothermalheating.

Not everyone knows what a heat pump is..
I sure didn't until we moved south and got
and HVAC.

It was nothing more than helping a fellow poster, who posts in a language which is not his primary, with the term for what he was trying to describe.

And yes, it refers to geothermal heating and cooling. And no, it has no effect on the RH in a structure. Other equipment is used to address those needs.

With the climate in Minnesota, it is very helpful in using geothermal energy in conjunction with a traditional HVAC system.

I know you were helping...

We call the heating element
in the HVAC's "heat pumps"...
we don't need geotheraml in FL.