Do not place objects on top of the piano: Piano Care Tip #10

Posted on May 26, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

Do not place objects on top of the piano

A heavy object may cause poor tone or noisy vibration if placed on the piano. A vase of flowers may look attractive on the piano, but if it should spill water and enter the piano, serious damage can result. Water will rust the metal parts of the piano and damage the hammer and action. Avoid costly accidents and never place anything except sheet music and/or a metronome on the piano.

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Put your piano where it sounds best: Piano Care Tip #9

Posted on May 25, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

Placing your piano where it sounds best may sound obvious, but requires some thought nonetheless.  Sometimes, it requires some rearranging and creativity as well!

The piano should be placed in a room where the sound will be evenly distributed. A room where all the sound gathers in one spot will produce sound lag and echoes. The best room for your piano is one in which its sound will reverberate to produce pleasant, full-bodies tones without harsh echoes.

Here is another great article on properly placing your piano to maximize it’s sound potential!

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Avoid Sudden Temperature Changes: Piano Care Tip #8

Posted on May 16, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

When a cold room is warmed suddenly, moisture will condense on the piano strings and other metal parts, causing them to rust. Felt parts will absorb moisture, dulling their action and resulting in unclean sound. Be especially careful about sudden temperature changes when moving your piano into a room in a cold northern climate or into an airtight room in a concrete building.

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Beware of Excessive Dryness: Piano Care Tip #7

Posted on May 12, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

Just as Piano Care Tip #6 says to be careful about excessive moisture, excessive dryness can also cause problems, and reek havoc on your pianos!

Too much humidity is a problem, but excessive dryness is an even more serious one, especially where heating or cooling systems are used to create artificially dehumidified rooms. Used in naturally dry climates, the piano has enough natural moisture to prevent excessive drying. However, if the air becomes too dry, the wooden and felt components will shrink. In extreme cases, the soundboard, joints, and other laminated sections may even come apart, even though they have been glued together carefully. Slight distortion of the parts may cause noise, and the tuning pins may work loose, making it difficult to keep the piano in tune. To avoid excessive dryness, it is best to keep some kind of leafy plant or a humidifier in the piano room.

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How to Protect Against Excessive Moisture: Piano Care Tip #6

Posted on May 11, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

Here are a few general tips for proper care:

On cloudy or rainy days, close all windows in the piano room. Also, be sure to close the top board each time after playing. The piano’s thick cloth cover absorbs moisture in damp or rainy weather and should be taken off and dried on clear days. Be especially careful about excessive moisture if you live in one of the following places:

• Along the coast or in a rainy or humid region.
• In a valley, in a house facing hills, or in an area with poor drainage.
• In a concrete building not more than one or two years old
• In an area where air exhaust are directed into a room or in a dark, dank room facing north.

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How Humidity Affects A Piano: Piano Care Tip #5

Posted on May 10, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

Felt, cloth, leather, and the precision wood parts – some of them machined to tolerances as fine as 1/100mm – used in such critical parts of the piano as the action, are extremely sensitive to humidity. Too much humidity will result in dull hammer action, unclean tones, rusting of internal parts, and sticking keys. Before this happens the piano should be repaired.

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Proper Conditions Mean Better Sound: Piano Care Tip #4

Posted on May 9, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

Proper ventilation is also important. Generally speaking, a relative humidity of between 50 and 60 percent is ideal for pianos. The use of materials such as wood, felt, and cloth in piano construction means that many parts are quite delicate. If not properly cared for, they can be damaged easily.

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Avoid Heat (Piano Care Tip #3)

Posted on May 6, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 2 comments

Keep the piano away from sources of heat such as radiators or hot air registers. They may damage the finish and internal parts causing tone and balance to deteriorate. Make sure that no radiant heat or hot air draft strikes the piano directly.

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Avoid windows: Piano Care Tip #2

Posted on May 5, 2011 in Piano Care Tips | 0 comments

Try not to place the piano near a window. Its cabinet is made of wood and must be protected against direct sunlight, humidity and sudden changes in temperature. Windows which open on the out-of-doors offer the least protection. If you must place the piano near a window, use a heavy curtain over the window for protection.

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