Piano Industry Specialists
Piano Industry · Gauteng
Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver
Piano Industry is an official international distributor of the Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver. We supply and install it on uprights and grands in Johannesburg, Sandton and Gauteng. The system sits inside, under or behind the piano and holds the air around the soundboard near 45% relative humidity, so the pitch drifts less with the seasons and the wood is under less strain. We assess the piano first and fit a system only if it will help.
- Highveld winters are very dry. Summer storms push humidity the other way. That swing is what pulls a piano out of tune.
- The system humidifies or dehumidifies on its own. It does not replace tuning.
Why humidity matters
A piano is built of wood, felt and steel. Wood moves with the air around it. When humidity rises, the soundboard swells and the pitch goes sharp. When the air dries, the soundboard shrinks and the pitch falls. What harms the piano is not one humidity reading, but the constant change.
On the Highveld that change is severe: dry winters, thunderstorm humidity in summer, and rapid swings in spring and autumn. Tunings do not hold. Over years the same movement stresses glue joints and tuning pins, and it is hard on felt.
How it works
The Piano Life Saver is fitted out of sight. It does not try to condition the whole room. It keeps a stable microclimate around the soundboard and action.
- A humidistat reads the air next to the piano.
- A humidifier adds moisture when the air is too dry, from a small water reservoir.
- A dehumidifier carries moisture away when the air is too damp.
It holds the piano near 45% relative humidity, day and night. You refill the reservoir with water as needed. We can check the system when we next service the piano.
What it does for the piano
- Tunings last longer, with less seasonal pitch drift between visits.
- The soundboard and case swell and shrink less.
- There is less rust on strings and pins, and less mould on felt.
- Tone, touch and resale value are easier to keep.
- Fitted properly, it is quiet, automatic and out of sight.
On the coast, a dehumidifier-only system is often enough. It helps keep rust off strings, tuning pins and other metal inside the piano, and mould off felt and other parts. In tricky rooms — very dry, very damp, or with sharp swings — an Undercover can be fitted as well. It adds extra protection against humidity swings.
It does not replace professional tuning. It protects the last tuning, and the piano, between visits. If climate has been forcing extra tunings, a stable system often means you can tune less often. You still need a technician.
A fine grand is often worth hundreds of thousands of rand. A concert grand can run to about R5 million. The Life Saver is a small cost next to that. It is there to protect the instrument as an investment.
Why install through Piano Industry
Piano Industry is an official international distributor of the Piano Life Saver, listed by Dampp-Chaser for South Africa. We size the system, install it, and service it. Uprights and grands, all makes.
The system has to be the right size for that piano. We look at the instrument, say whether it is worth doing, and fit it if it is. The same workshop then looks after both the piano and the system.
What it costs
Prices include VAT. The system is fitted after an assessment. Travel is extra outside Gauteng. Pads and liquid are extras. Which grand system you need depends on the length of the piano; we confirm that on inspection.
| System | Fits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Upright | All sizes | R15,450 |
| 5-part grand | Baby and small grands | R15,000 |
| 6-part grand | Medium and large grands | R15,900 |
| 7-part grand | Concert grands | POA |
| Dehumidifier only (2-part) | Coastal and other damp rooms, where humidifying is not needed | R8,700 |
| Undercover | Extra protection against humidity swings, in tricky environments | POA |
We will not fit a system that will not help that piano.
Pads, liquid, guarantee and spares
We supply the replacement pads and Piano Life Saver liquid. Pads are replaced about once a year, at a tuning. A bottle of liquid lasts about two years. Contact us to order more. It is easier if we fit the pads when we are already at the piano.
The system carries a five-year guarantee. A well-kept installation often runs for many decades. Spare parts are available, so if something fails later the cost is usually a part, not a new system.
The manufacturer’s care page, including how to add water, is on pianolifesaver.com/care-maintenance. Their watering video is on YouTube.
Questions
Will it keep the piano in tune?
No. It does not replace tuning. It reduces the humidity swings that pull a piano out of tune between visits, so each tuning lasts better.
Is it visible, and can it damage the piano?
Fitted correctly, it sits inside or under the piano. The risk is a poor fit, which is why we install it.
Does it work on uprights and grands?
Yes. The layout differs. We match the system to the instrument.
Do I still need a technician?
Yes. If climate has been forcing extra tunings, the system often lets you stretch the interval. Pads are still changed at a visit.
How do I order pads or liquid?
Contact us. We supply both. A bottle of liquid lasts about two years; pads about once a year. If we installed the system, it is simpler if we fit the pads at the piano.
What if a part fails after some years?
There is a five-year guarantee. After that, spare parts are available. The usual cost is a replacement part, not a whole new system. Many installations run for decades.