I feel I must take issue with Jonathan Holmes' reply concerning the
Dampp-Chaser.  This is a total humidifier/dehumidifier system which
I have seen work miracles in helping to maintain constant temperature
and humidity in a piano.  What he describes sounds like a heater bar,
and in no way describes the Dampp-Chaser, so I have no idea what he is
talking about.

I live in Vermont, which has one of the most intolerant climates in
the world for pianos.  In the course of tuning I see ravaged pianos
of all ages, too dry in the winter and too wet in the summer, plus a
temperature which swings from one extreme to the other in a matter of
minutes.  Although I can't always sell a customer on the system, those
that have it call me back less and when I do tune, and the tuning is
much easier.  What's the saying?  "You can't tune properly until the
piano is in tune!"

I had a Wurlitzer spinet when I first moved to Vermont.  Before moving
I had just had it tuned the usual twice a year.  After moving I could
not keep it in tune longer than two or three weeks (I think other
tuners will know what I am talking about in regards to spinet tunings,
and Wurlitzer is a bear).

I finally changed tuners and she recommended the Dampp-Chaser.  Well,
it immediately settled the piano down and I had trouble remembering to
call her out, it had stabilized that much.  At one point I had gone two
years between tunings and it was off by only a fraction.  She was
amazed and so was I.

I am sold on Dampp Chasers and would not have a piano that did not have
one installed.  Remember that this is a specific brand, and not some
group of generic drying devices.

Ana Gerard