From our experience as piano specialists we have compiled this short guide which we hope will help you look after your piano so that it will serve you well for many years to come.
/Stability is key
Pianos are sensitive instruments. The performance and stability of your piano are affected by fluctuating room conditions, as well as time and general use, and will eventually require servicing/reconditioning to continue to perform optimally. Whilst we cannot expect anyone to recreate lab conditions in their home, there are a few basic things you can do to minimise the premature development of problems so that your piano will serve you well for years to come.
/Where to put your piano
This is the single most important factor to consider. Choose a suitable room with good air flow and where the temperature won’t change drastically on a daily basis. Generally, living rooms, bedrooms or studies are good options. Summerhouses and conservatories are never suitable for pianos.
Do not put your piano up against a radiator, unless you turn it off permanently. If you have underground heating, you will have to isolate the piano by installing an insulation mat or, if possible, disabling that section of heating. Also try to keep away from windows where they might receive direct sunlight, because aside from being a heat source, sunlight is also a source of radiation (UV light), which can cause colour fading and even complete discolouration to the casework. If the only available space is by a window that lets in direct sunlight, try to keep blinds/curtains shut or consider installing UV/IR film on the window (we have not tried doing this ourselves but it should work in principle).
NOTE: As a general rule, room temperature should be between 15°C and 28°C, and relative humidity between 40-60% for your piano to stay maximally stable. If you suspect the conditions, namely humidity might be outside this range, consider purchasing an inexpensive humidity/temperature gauge such as the one pictured.
If you notice your piano goes flat and out of tune within the first few weeks/months, this may be an indication that it is drying out. This is not necessarily an issue of low humidity, but the combination of both low humidity and high temperatures.
/Tune Your Piano Regularly
Due to the tension in the strings, all pianos naturally go flat, i.e. the pitch drops. Additionally, pianos go out of tune, since some strings will lose their tension faster than others. A piano that is out of tune produces an unpleasant sound and this is the main reason why you should have your piano tuned around once a year, but possibly more frequently as this depends on the stability of your piano.
It is also important to maintain your piano at ‘concert pitch’ (A=440Hz) or slightly above, because that is the pitch the piano was built for, so that’s when you will achieve the optimal tone. The lower the pitch, the more unpleasant the tone and more awkward when playing with other instruments. Also, if left to drop significantly below pitch, strings are more likely to break when you eventually do a pitch raise, i.e. bring back up to concert pitch.
/Moth prevention
One of the most serious problems your piano could suffer from is moth damage. Common clothes moths (Tineola bisselliella) love the felt inside pianos as they are ideal breeding grounds. That’s where they lay their eggs, and once hatched, the larvae feed on the felt components (including hammers). If left unaddressed, a moth infestation can render your piano practically worthless, as replacing the damaged parts often costs more than the value of the piano.
If you know there are moths in the house, then you should definitely ask your tuner to check your piano on a regular basis, and deal with any infestations ASAP.
If, however, you have not detected any moths, you may want to get some pheronome pads to place around the piano. They will catch male moths if there are any, but will not tell you anything about possible eggs/larvae inside the piano.
Preventive measures
Whilst natural deterrents (lavender, cedarwood) work in principle, the effects wear away very quickly and they do nothing about existing infestations. It is much preferable to use non-naphthalene moth balls (child and pet friendly, legal in the UK, and smell nice too), by placing 2 or 3 inside the piano, in a place where it won’t interfere with the mechanism. This works particularly well in uprights.
In any case, the most important thing is to be aware that moth damage is a very real risk, so check the piano at least once a year, and make sure it doesn’t go unplayed for too long.
