Pianotech

Have you  found that installing the fabric undercover to the DC systems has been worthwhile  or rather has it  substantially  improved efficiency of the system ?   martin.
www.snowpianos.com

------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------

I'm jumping on this one. I won't install them on grands without an undercover anymore. I can't remember when I first started installing them, but they made a big difference at our college. Once, I was going to check the pads/wicks on a system in a church and the humidity was high that day. When I opened up a crack in the undercover I was shocked at how much heat came out. It definitely holds the heat in, dehumidifying the piano instead of the room. I've never taken measurements on anything, but that might be worth doing, particularly when the humidifier is on. I'm now curious. If I do take some measurements over time, I'll let you know. I'd have to take an undercover off a piano to compare, though, and am not inclined to do that. As far as uprights, I've never tried one. No scientific data here, just my experience, but I think the heat they hold is worth noting.

I've gotten good at installing them to look very smooth & have put them in for other techs who hate working with them. When I taught our chapter how I install them, I got some good pictures for a slide show but haven't taking the time to make the video yet. If I do that soon, I'll post it.

Curious to see what others have to say...?

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 14:51
From: Martin Snow
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

Have you  found that installing the fabric undercover to the DC systems has been worthwhile  or rather has it  substantially  improved efficiency of the system ?   martin.
www.snowpianos.com

------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------

I completely agree with you Maggie. The under covers make a HUGE difference. I'm very interested in seeing what you put together, if you do find the time. Best!

------------------------------
Kevin Fortenberry
Registered Piano Technician
Temple, Texas
806-778-3962
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 15:31
From: Margaret Jusiel
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

I'm jumping on this one. I won't install them on grands without an undercover anymore. I can't remember when I first started installing them, but they made a big difference at our college. Once, I was going to check the pads/wicks on a system in a church and the humidity was high that day. When I opened up a crack in the undercover I was shocked at how much heat came out. It definitely holds the heat in, dehumidifying the piano instead of the room. I've never taken measurements on anything, but that might be worth doing, particularly when the humidifier is on. I'm now curious. If I do take some measurements over time, I'll let you know. I'd have to take an undercover off a piano to compare, though, and am not inclined to do that. As far as uprights, I've never tried one. No scientific data here, just my experience, but I think the heat they hold is worth noting.

I've gotten good at installing them to look very smooth & have put them in for other techs who hate working with them. When I taught our chapter how I install them, I got some good pictures for a slide show but haven't taking the time to make the video yet. If I do that soon, I'll post it.

Curious to see what others have to say...?

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 14:51
From: Martin Snow
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

Have you  found that installing the fabric undercover to the DC systems has been worthwhile  or rather has it  substantially  improved efficiency of the system ?   martin.
www.snowpianos.com

------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------

On grands, I only install with an undercover as well. On my own piano, DC with floor length breathable arty cover(no undercover in this case). Piano is extremely stable.

The purpose of the undercover or floor length cover, is to slow down air movement (drafts). Actually, since what the DC is doing is trying to influence the few molecules thick "barrier layer" of air next to the soundboard, slowing air movement makes a lot of sense. The micro climate we need, to have effective DC performance, doesn't have a hope of happening if the air is constantly changing in the piano.

Its the same with heating or cooling the house, the bigest bang for the buck will come from cutting down air exchanges (drafts). Insulation only really starts performing well when the drafts are cut way way down.

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2019 08:52
From: Kevin Fortenberry
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

I completely agree with you Maggie. The under covers make a HUGE difference. I'm very interested in seeing what you put together, if you do find the time. Best!

------------------------------
Kevin Fortenberry
Registered Piano Technician
Temple, Texas
806-778-3962

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 15:31
From: Margaret Jusiel
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

I'm jumping on this one. I won't install them on grands without an undercover anymore. I can't remember when I first started installing them, but they made a big difference at our college. Once, I was going to check the pads/wicks on a system in a church and the humidity was high that day. When I opened up a crack in the undercover I was shocked at how much heat came out. It definitely holds the heat in, dehumidifying the piano instead of the room. I've never taken measurements on anything, but that might be worth doing, particularly when the humidifier is on. I'm now curious. If I do take some measurements over time, I'll let you know. I'd have to take an undercover off a piano to compare, though, and am not inclined to do that. As far as uprights, I've never tried one. No scientific data here, just my experience, but I think the heat they hold is worth noting.

I've gotten good at installing them to look very smooth & have put them in for other techs who hate working with them. When I taught our chapter how I install them, I got some good pictures for a slide show but haven't taking the time to make the video yet. If I do that soon, I'll post it.

Curious to see what others have to say...?

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 14:51
From: Martin Snow
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

Have you  found that installing the fabric undercover to the DC systems has been worthwhile  or rather has it  substantially  improved efficiency of the system ?   martin.
www.snowpianos.com

------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------

Thanks Jim,, worded very nicely. 
effective DC performance, doesn't have a hope of happening if the air is constantly changing in the piano. 

We used to use a cigarette to chase down drafts in a house. Now I use a stick of incense. Follow the smoke. 

Anybody else use Moisture King?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
209-770-4312
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2019 10:18
From: Jim Ialeggio
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

On grands, I only install with an undercover as well. On my own piano, DC with floor length breathable arty cover(no undercover in this case). Piano is extremely stable.

The purpose of the undercover or floor length cover, is to slow down air movement (drafts). Actually, since what the DC is doing is trying to influence the few molecules thick "barrier layer" of air next to the soundboard, slowing air movement makes a lot of sense. The micro climate we need, to have effective DC performance, doesn't have a hope of happening if the air is constantly changing in the piano.

Its the same with heating or cooling the house, the bigest bang for the buck will come from cutting down air exchanges (drafts). Insulation only really starts performing well when the drafts are cut way way down.

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2019 08:52
From: Kevin Fortenberry
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

I completely agree with you Maggie. The under covers make a HUGE difference. I'm very interested in seeing what you put together, if you do find the time. Best!

------------------------------
Kevin Fortenberry
Registered Piano Technician
Temple, Texas
806-778-3962

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 15:31
From: Margaret Jusiel
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

I'm jumping on this one. I won't install them on grands without an undercover anymore. I can't remember when I first started installing them, but they made a big difference at our college. Once, I was going to check the pads/wicks on a system in a church and the humidity was high that day. When I opened up a crack in the undercover I was shocked at how much heat came out. It definitely holds the heat in, dehumidifying the piano instead of the room. I've never taken measurements on anything, but that might be worth doing, particularly when the humidifier is on. I'm now curious. If I do take some measurements over time, I'll let you know. I'd have to take an undercover off a piano to compare, though, and am not inclined to do that. As far as uprights, I've never tried one. No scientific data here, just my experience, but I think the heat they hold is worth noting.

I've gotten good at installing them to look very smooth & have put them in for other techs who hate working with them. When I taught our chapter how I install them, I got some good pictures for a slide show but haven't taking the time to make the video yet. If I do that soon, I'll post it.

Curious to see what others have to say...?

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 14:51
From: Martin Snow
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

Have you  found that installing the fabric undercover to the DC systems has been worthwhile  or rather has it  substantially  improved efficiency of the system ?   martin.
www.snowpianos.com

------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------

I'm resurrecting this old thread to ask a question.

In an effort to reap the benefits touted above I ordered a slew of under/back covers to install on pianos with existing DC systems. However, I see from the instructions that "the cover will not easily fit over a 48" rod" which of course is what I have in all the grands here. Has anyone tried shortening a DC rod? Any other ideas?

------------------------------
John Pope
University of Kentucky School of Music
Lexington, KY
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2019 11:10
From: Keith Roberts
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

Thanks Jim,, worded very nicely.
effective DC performance, doesn't have a hope of happening if the air is constantly changing in the piano.

We used to use a cigarette to chase down drafts in a house. Now I use a stick of incense. Follow the smoke.

Anybody else use Moisture King?

------------------------------
Keith Roberts
owner
Hathaway Pines CA
209-770-4312

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2019 10:18
From: Jim Ialeggio
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

On grands, I only install with an undercover as well. On my own piano, DC with floor length breathable arty cover(no undercover in this case). Piano is extremely stable.

The purpose of the undercover or floor length cover, is to slow down air movement (drafts). Actually, since what the DC is doing is trying to influence the few molecules thick "barrier layer" of air next to the soundboard, slowing air movement makes a lot of sense. The micro climate we need, to have effective DC performance, doesn't have a hope of happening if the air is constantly changing in the piano.

Its the same with heating or cooling the house, the bigest bang for the buck will come from cutting down air exchanges (drafts). Insulation only really starts performing well when the drafts are cut way way down.

------------------------------
Jim Ialeggio
grandpianosolutions.com
Shirley, MA
978 425-9026

Original Message:
Sent: 10-23-2019 08:52
From: Kevin Fortenberry
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

I completely agree with you Maggie. The under covers make a HUGE difference. I'm very interested in seeing what you put together, if you do find the time. Best!

------------------------------
Kevin Fortenberry
Registered Piano Technician
Temple, Texas
806-778-3962

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 15:31
From: Margaret Jusiel
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

I'm jumping on this one. I won't install them on grands without an undercover anymore. I can't remember when I first started installing them, but they made a big difference at our college. Once, I was going to check the pads/wicks on a system in a church and the humidity was high that day. When I opened up a crack in the undercover I was shocked at how much heat came out. It definitely holds the heat in, dehumidifying the piano instead of the room. I've never taken measurements on anything, but that might be worth doing, particularly when the humidifier is on. I'm now curious. If I do take some measurements over time, I'll let you know. I'd have to take an undercover off a piano to compare, though, and am not inclined to do that. As far as uprights, I've never tried one. No scientific data here, just my experience, but I think the heat they hold is worth noting.

I've gotten good at installing them to look very smooth & have put them in for other techs who hate working with them. When I taught our chapter how I install them, I got some good pictures for a slide show but haven't taking the time to make the video yet. If I do that soon, I'll post it.

Curious to see what others have to say...?

------------------------------
Maggie Jusiel
Athens, WV
(304)952-8615
mags@timandmaggie.net

Original Message:
Sent: 10-22-2019 14:51
From: Martin Snow
Subject: Piano Life Saver....undercover

Have you  found that installing the fabric undercover to the DC systems has been worthwhile  or rather has it  substantially  improved efficiency of the system ?   martin.
www.snowpianos.com

------------------------------
Martin Snow
South Burlington VT
617-543-1030
------------------------------