(or since I live in a very dry climate, where will Music Sorb find humidity to desorb?)
Music Sorb Pouches and cassettes are delivered for practical shipping purposes holding 30% humidity. Music Sorb for Pianos is formulated perfectly to maintain humidity in a closed area between 40% and 60%. So once you open the package, it immediately begins to adsorb humidity from the air to try to reach 50% humidity. So if you live in such a dry area that the humidity indoors where you open the package is below 50%, then you may need to precondition the units. See also how to measure correctly the RH and our advice about hygrometer-accuracy-test.
Two things you need to know to preserve the perfect humidity range:
- Music Sorb adsorbs and desorbs (You may want to read about the science behind Music Sorb.) in such a way as to maintain a humidity range of 40 to 60%, but it does not contain much moisture upon delivery…approximately 30% humidity right out of the package. Thus if your piano humidity or instrument case is below that level, there is no way Music Sorb can find humidity in the air to adsorb enough moisture and then emit or desorb humidity since it is essentially empty. Simply it does not have enough moisture to desorb. If you had opened the plastic wrapping in high humidity, Music Sorb would have “filled its tank” by taking in enough humidity out of the air to desorb to the correct humidity levels.
- And so, you need to activate Music Sorb. Alternatives to the video above are mentioned below. We recommend following the video instruction.
Activation or Pre-conditioning Alternatives:
Instead of placing the Music Sorb units directly into the instrument case or piano while the humidity is near low (or below 40% RH), we suggest that you place the Music Sorb set on a cabinet or shelf in the bathroom just before you shower to let the Music Sorb adsorb humidity from the shower steam which Music Sorb will release (or desorb) when you have placed it into the instrument case or piano. In other words, you are loading up Music Sorb so that it may release moisture. How long you need to let Music Sorb adsorb depends of the atmosphere in the shower room, but you can feel when Music Sorb has adsorbed considerable moisture because the Music Sorb becomes heavier from the water it contains.
But it will not feel wet! Music Sorb never feels wet, nor should it since wetness could harm your piano or wood instrument. Obviously, you don’t have to shower. You can put a teapot on the stove and let it steam over the set of Music Sorb. Quicker and easier? Just don’t overdo it. (See below)
Important Warning: Blink! Blink! Blink!
Do not put Music Sorb under running water or in water as it will destruct. Just let it precondition itself while you have some extra dampness in the air so that it can balance out the humidity in your piano or instrument case. It is important that you do not put Music Sorb on a wet spot in the kitchen if you use the teapot. If you see water collecting on the counter from the steaming pot, it is too much. You could also wrap a damp bath towel around Music Sorb as long as you wring out the towel well before wrapping the Music Sorb. In other words, humidity is fine; water is not. If you have a sauna, pour water on the hot rocks. Or if you have, not a Turk bath, but a sort of Turkish bath (humor), well…you see the steamy possibilities.
Finally:
Once you place the heavier Music Sorb back in your instrument case or piano, everything is automatic. If this is a grand piano, of course keep the top closed when you are not using it in order to maintain the humidity level. Likewise keep your instrument case closed whenever possible…both when the instrument is in the case and when it is not. PS: If the humidity showing on your hygrometer never gets above 40% RH, you may want to shower again someday, even if you personally don’t really need to. OR probably you should see the hygrometer accuracy test.
