Piano Life Saver System: Active value for your piano
The biggest enemy of your piano or grand piano is not the time – it’s the fluctuating humidity.
Dry heating air in winter (often below 30%) removes moisture from the wood, while humid, humid air in summer (over 65%) causes it to swell. This constant “working” of the wood is the main cause of the most common and most expensive problems on an instrument.
As your master piano technician, it is my job not only to treat symptoms (such as an upset), but to fight the cause and to actively protect the value of your instrument.
The problem: why moisture is so dangerous
The core of your instrument – the soundboard, the vocal stick and the action – is made of wood. These components are sensitive to the indoor climate.
- For dryness (heating air): The wood is dwindling (pulls together).
- The string tension drops drastically, the tuning “falls” off.
- danger: There are enormous tensions in the soundboard, which can lead to cracks – one of the most serious damage to the piano.
- In the wet (summer air): The wood swells (expands).
- The tuning “rises”, keys can start to jam.
- danger: The vocal stick that holds the vocal vertebrae becomes “soft”. The vocal position decreases over the years irreparably.
A normal air humidifier for the room is often imprecise and does not fight the wet periods.
The solution: a stable microclimate in the instrument
This is exactly where the “Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver System” comes in. This system is not installed for the room, but directly inside your piano or grand piano.
It is a fully automatic climate control system that works like “air conditioning” for your instrument:
- A precise hygrostat (humidity sensor) permanently measures the climate in the instrument.
- If the air is too dry, the humidifier (humidifier) will activate.
- If the air is too humid, the dehumidifier (heating rod) is activated.
The system thus creates a stable oasis (approx. 42-45% relative humidity) directly on the sensitive components – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, regardless of their indoor climate.
your advantages
Installing a Piano Life Saver System is perhaps the best single investment in the value retention you can make for your instrument.
- Stable tuning: The piano keeps the tuning dramatically better and longer. The intervals between tunings remain constant and the sound is more reliable.
- Protection from cracks: The system is the best insurance against soundboard cracks caused by drought.
- Protection of the vocal stick: It prevents the tuning stick from “softing” when it comes to moisture and thus ensures the vocal position for decades.
- Precise action: Mechanics also benefit from stability. The feel of the game remains more constant, as the felts and axes swell and shrink less.
Professional installation by the master
As a certified specialist, I install the Piano Life Saver System invisibly and discreetly in your piano or grand piano (usually under the keyboard or in the underbody on the grand piano). The system works absolutely silently and is low-maintenance. Only the water has to be refilled (depending on the season), which reminds you of a small lamp.
Protect your instrument sustainably
An air conditioning system is the most urgent recommendation, especially for high-quality instruments, locations with underfloor heating, stoves or in old buildings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Piano Life Saver
I have underfloor heating. Does the system make sense then?
Yes, then it is highly recommended. Underfloor heating generates an extremely dry, rising heat that is pure poison for pianos. The Piano Life Saver System is the only effective solution to combat this permanent drought stress directly on the instrument.
Is a normal humidifier in the room not enough?
Unfortunately no. A room humidifier is often imprecise and only fights the drought. However, it cannot reduce moisture in summer. The Piano Life Saver System, on the other hand, works as a closed circuit in the piano and can moisten and dehumidify both. It is the only solution that guarantees a stable “comfort zone”.
Do you see the system or does it make noise?
no. The system is installed in such a way that it is completely invisible from the outside. It also works absolutely silently. The only thing you see is a small, discrete light indicator that shows the status (green = OK, yellow = refill water).
How much maintenance does the system need?
The effort is minimal. All you have to do is fill the humidifier tank (depending on the room climate and the season). The light will show you when the time comes. Once a year (ideally in the course of the piano tuning) the humidifier pads should be changed – I’ll be happy to do that for you at the service.
You will find more answers on the Frequently Asked Questions page.