We have already written about, so to say, not classic or mainstream dehumidifiers when clarifying how does the Peltier dehumidifier work. Now, it’s time to write more about another unusual type of unit. If you have a piano, you might have already gotten many notes and advice regarding how to maintain it and increase its longevity. All piano players and owners know how pricey and complicated repairs can get, so why not prevent trouble instead of fixing it?
What Is A Piano Dehumidifier?
If you’re not familiar with the concept of extreme humidity, you must live in a pretty dry climate! Over the past few decades, people with respiratory issues such as asthma and allergies, homeowners with mold on their walls, and instrument owners who take care of antiques all got well acquainted with excess moisture in the air.
Dehumidifiers are small house gadgets that balance your air’s humidity to an optimal level. This prevents respiratory issues, mold, mildew, as well as degradation of your wooden furniture. Once you get one and experience all the small, yet noticeable changes in your household that add up to create a completely new lifestyle, you’ll never go back.
Are dehumidifiers good for pianos and are they expensive to run? Of course! Dehumidifiers are great for all types of instruments – most are made from wood and contain metal that rusts. Not only does the sound quality of your music depend on the materials your instrument is made of, but it also depends on how well preserved those are. In addition to that, instruments are often pretty costly, which is why we want to take great care of them.
What’s The Perfect Humidity?
When it comes to your piano, you might want to keep the room at about 43% – this level of humidity is just perfect for the components. Most of the time, anything above 40% and below 50% does a great job too!
However, if you keep the piano in your living room or somewhere you spend lots of time, you might want to adjust the 43% to something that fits you better – just make sure that you’re still within the given interval.
How To Choose The Perfect Dehumidifier?
This is a fantastic question! Many wonder whether they need a special type of dehumidifier for their piano or whether they can freely use the one they’ve been eyeing for some time now. Our main advice would be – get a dehumidifier that checks all the boxes! Most of the time, you won’t find dehumidifiers marketed purely as piano dehumidifiers. You just need to know at which humidity level to keep your device running.
We suggest you actually look into dehumidifiers in general, since you’ll find out lots of important info about the gadgets. We’ll share some in the next few paragraphs, but we also want to say that many people decide to go for a more unconventional choice – a rod dehumidifier (such as the “Piano Life Saver”). Such a rod fits directly into your piano, so if you decide to buy this product, make sure to read the manual carefully and consult your piano’s manufacturer as to whether this is a good option for you.
We’re actually in favor of regular dehumidifiers since the rod model is more of a backup, rather than a primary choice. (Click here to find out more about “choosing a dehumidifier“)
What To Look For In A Piano Dehumidifier?
First of all, you want to look into the capacity of the tank. If you’re not getting a dehumidifier with a pump that drains it continuously (more of a hassle to install), you need to make sure the tank size is large enough to fit your needs.
You should also look into some of the more automatic options found in dehumidifiers. The most famous functions one can look for are the automatic turning on, automatic turning off, as well as timers. Certain gadgets have working styles that make the dehumidifier work at particular intervals, making sure you always arrive home to a properly balanced humidity.
Although looks should not be your primary concern, it’s important to see whether your dehumidifier has wheels and something that you can use to carry it upstairs and downstairs. Portability is very important, especially if you don’t have a dehumidifier with a drain, and you’ll have to carry it around to empty it.
Last but certainly not least, you should look into the energy certificates of the dehumidifiers that you’re buying. We do not want our energy bills to skyrocket after we get this helpful device.
How Much Does A Dehumidifier For Piano Cost?
When we talk about dehumidifier prices, we have to understand that price ranges vary significantly depending on how “heavy-duty” the device is. You should know the square footage and the humidity of the room you want to put the gadget in, and then you can find out how large the tank is supposed to be!
How much does a piano dehumidifier cost? The prices vary – there are $30 models, as well as $500 models. In the end, you should make a list of things that are important to you and make sure you don’t make many compromises when it comes to your wishes. You don’t need to splurge on fancy features you don’t need, though.
How To Install Piano Dehumidifier?
Piano dehumidifiers are installed differently depending on which type you get. If you have a rod dehumidifier, you’ll have to install it inside the piano. In this case, we strongly suggest you check out the dehumidifier manual, as well as consult your piano manufacturer.
If you have a regular dehumidifier, there are many resources you can use to look into the installation. Not only do you have the manual that you can investigate, but you can also see tutorials and videos online that show you exactly how your dehumidifier works. The installation is usually really effortless. You simply have to plug the device in, possibly remove some protecting foil from the device itself, and then you simply make it work.
Dehumidifiers with a pump need to be connected to a hose that will continuously drain, so make sure you read up on the topic before you do the installation. In these cases, you might need a handyman.
Check out other related topics that you might find interesting
Why dehumidifiers blow hot air?
Best dehumidifier to stop condensation in 2022.
How much water should dehumidifiers collect?
