12/08/2025
From Garage to Global – Our Origin Story
In 1947, our journey began not in a corporate office, but in a humble Florida garage. Our founder, Allen Foote, inspired by the tropical climates he experienced during WWII, invented the very first Dampp-Chaser dehumidifier and, together with his wife Edna, assembled the initial 100 units by hand. By 1950, they relocated the growing business to Hendersonville, NC, and that’s where we continue to thrive today.
From that first garage-built gadget, Dampp-Chaser has grown into a trusted name protecting pianos and other valuables from humidity across the globe. Today, millions of our products are in use worldwide, safeguarding instruments from moisture damage.
(Fun fact: “Dampp-Chaser” has two P’s because Allen thought a unique spelling was needed to trademark the idea of chasing away dampness!) We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and it all started with one family’s passion in a little garage.