I have searched the archive and I am a bit confused:

Having had issues with tuning stability and just having had a great regulation, voicing and tining done (2 days solid work) I have just bought a hygrometer.

Low humidity is not usually a problem in the UK but we have had some srange weather lately.

Humidity today has hovered around 32% to 34%. Temperature a coolish 22 degrees centigrade. I have water dishes on the radiators.

The piano is in a very large room and although I am willing to buy a humidifier I am worried about the efficacy and noise.

For what is normally a limited duration of low humidity do I really need one?

What is an acceptable (as opposed to ideal) maintainable humidity level? I have seen a variety of figures quoted. Is 33% drastically low?

Thanks

Adrian

It's a steady rate of relative humidity that you want, not wide fluctuations. You don't want 60% all summer, than 35% all winter. If you do this to a good piano you shold be shot. Get a console humidifier with a humidistat. It will cycle on and off, and the noise level is'nt that bad.
The idea amount of relative humidity suggested by most manufacturers and wood specialists is between 40%-50%.
I keep my room at 45% year round. My piano also has a full DC 7 part system. The piano stays uncannily stable all year round.

Thanks Curry. I had better buy a humidifier then.

I am not super concerned about the present piano (though it is stupid to wrieck it). I had not woken up to this issue at all until I arrived on this forum. I want to make sure that I get the envoronmentright for teh next piano as it will be a major investment and I may as well start now.

Thanks

Adrian

Never too late to learn. You will avoid tuning instabilty, action problems, soundboard and bridge issues, and will definitely prolong the life of your piano.