Buying a piano is an exciting thing for any music lover who studies the Piano.
However, the Piano is a complex musical instrument with strict requirements on the environment; many people are often due to the lack of piano knowledge and lead to serious consequences.
The effect of temperature and humidity on the piano
Why do changes in temperature and humidity affect pianos? Because pianos are made of wood, glue, wire, wool, and several other materials that absorb moisture more than other materials, there isn’t an optimal amount of moisture that can be said to benefit every part. It is important that the wood and glue joints are not too dry as they require more moisture.
On the other hand, for metal parts, a small amount of moisture is required, otherwise, it will cause oxidation or rust, and when the moisture in the air rises above a certain level, the moving parts usually stick.
But the worst thing about wood or metal is a sudden or severe change in humidity, which can cause the soundboard to crack or split, or to form condensation inside the piano, usually on the strings.
Changes in humidity are often responsible for many other disadvantages: white spots on the piano’s surface; the need for more frequent tuning, out of tune due to expansion and contraction of the soundboard; cracking and opening of joints, soundboard, stitching, lid, a crack or division in a leg or other structural member.
What causes temperature and humidity changes that can affect the piano?
Often the biggest problem with pianos is when their owners don’t have any concept of extreme or rapidly changing humidity conditions inside the home.
For example, because a piano has entered a home with high humidity, it feels humid and hot, so the keys and action parts are glued on the piano, and the strings are covered with rust.
On the other hand, if the humidity in your home drops to 10 or 20 percent in the winter, you’re more likely to find cracks in the soundboard. No piano can be stored in such conditions for a long time.
So try not to park your piano in direct sunlight, near radiators, aquariums, bathtubs or showers, heaters, etc.
Why is the Piano out of tune?
The tuned Piano will be under a lot of tension. (the average medium-sized Piano has about 230 strings, each with a tension of about 165 pounds, and all of the strings have the equivalent tension of 18 tons!)
As pianos experience climate change, wood expands, and contracts. As this happens, the tension on the piano string changes (and hence the pitch).
Low Humidity, low pitch
The Piano’s soundboard shrinks during periods of low Humidity, and the strings have less tension, so the pitch sounds lower.
High Humidity, high pitch
At high Humidity, the Piano’s soundboard expands. There’s more tension on the strings, so the pitch sounds higher.
Humidity fluctuations can not only throw your Piano out of whack, but they can also wreak havoc on its structural integrity.
Minor damage due to fluctuations in Humidity includes a “stick key” that reflects slowness and loosening of screws.
More serious damage that can occur may include problems such as corrosion of the strings, Glue Joint Failure that causes loud buzzing, Code Bridge cracks, cracked soundboard, and loose tuning pins.
So piano maintenance should try to keep the piano temperature and humidity balanced.
MOISTURE-PROOF:
In general, please be sure to close all the windows of the piano room in cloudy or rainy weather. Be Sure to close the LID after each play.
In a dark and humid environment, the cover can be put on to prevent water from the air. However, the cover should be dried in good weather. The precision of the wire-striking mechanism made of wool felt, leather, and wood is very high, the permissible margin of error is limited to 1 / 100mm.
These components are very sensitive to changes in Humidity, and Humidity too high will lead to slow action, Piano dull, metal rust, and key failure, etc.
The optimum temperature is 20-25 °C, and the Relative Humidity is about 40-70%. When the relative humidity is more than 75%, a moisture discharger and a moisture absorbent can be installed in the Piano.
ANTI-DRYNESS:
1. Winter use heating, air conditioning, furnace room should pay special attention not to blow the hot air directly to the Piano, should try to stay away from the heat source.
Because some rooms in the winter, its relative Humidity will fall below 20%, on the piano protection is very adverse.
2. Use A humidifier.
3. You can put a pitcher on the Piano.
4. Keep broadleaf plants in your room.
5. Avoid drastic temperature changes and have adequate ventilation.
If it is very cold outside to move the piano into the house, should open the doors and windows in advance, let the temperature in the house after the Piano into the house, gradually warming up.
The optimum temperature for a piano should be about 22 degrees.