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Indoor Climate & Acoustic Pianos
Indoor climate directly influences a piano’s tuning stability and overall health. The recommended climate for a piano is 67-74 degrees Fahrenheit and 40%-50% relative humidity. Fluctuations in these measurements cause components to expand and contract, which negatively affects tuning, interferes with action regulation, and degrades overall performance. A consistent indoor climate is essential to your piano’s well-being, providing an environment in which the instrument can thrive and be enjoyed for years to come.
Maintaining appropriate indoor humidity levels is a particularly common environmental challenge in the Charlotte area, especially in older homes with crawl spaces or insufficient insulation. Indoor heating can exacerbate dryness in the winter, and while air conditioners usually remove moisture from the air, they may struggle to keep up with Charlotte’s very humid summer months.
High humidity can cause:
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Sharp pitch
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Premature warping or cracks in wooden components
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Heavy-feeling action with sluggish or sticking piano parts
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Rust and oxidation on strings, increasing risk of breakage while reducing lifespan and tone production
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Discoloration or rusting of piano hardware
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Moisture damage to cloth and felt components
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Mold growth in piano
Low humidity can cause:
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Flat pitch
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Premature warping or cracks in wooden components
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Loose-feeling action
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Glue joint failure as adhesives dry out
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Cracking of certain finishes
Gathering Data
To address tuning stability and other climate-related issues, start by gathering the appropriate data. While your piano technician may take readings at each appointment, a data logger, such as the Thermoworks NODE Ambient + Humidity model, can record temperature and humidity levels over the course of weeks, months, or across seasons for a more complete picture. This data is essential for identifying trends and determining the best solutions for climate stability.
Addressing the Home or Venue
Solving indoor climate problems at their source is the most effective option for your piano’s health and tuning stability. First, evaluate your piano’s location. Pianos should be placed in a climate-controlled area away from direct sunlight, windows, outside walls, and sources of heat or cold air. Eliminate obvious culprits by closing windows, relocating nearby space heaters, and redirecting HVAC vents away from the piano. Or, consider having an insured professional piano mover relocate your piano to a more climate-stable area of the home or venue.
There may also be issues to address within the home or venue itself. Consider inquiring with an environmental or HVAC expert to diagnose the source of humidity problems. Many issues can be addressed through crawl space encapsulation, crawl space vapor barriers, or humidifiers/dehumidifiers. While portable humidifier/dehumidifier units are less expensive, they often require more maintenance, can drastically increase utility bills, and in the case of humidifiers, can sometimes contribute to mold or mildew problems. For these reasons, many users find a crawl space or whole-home, integrated humidity control system more practical and effective.
Protecting the Piano
It is also important to consider protection measures for the piano itself. While particularly crucial in homes or venues where comprehensive climate control solutions are not feasible, almost all pianos will benefit from one or more of the following:
Lid Closure – Keep the piano’s lid completely closed when not in use.
Piano Life Saver System – A Piano Life Saver system, installed directly onto your piano by a piano technician, can help mitigate the effects of humidity swings. Please visit bradfantpianos.com/pianolifesaver for more information.
Undercover (grand pianos only) – An undercover can help stabilize humidity levels around the piano’s soundboard by creating a “micro environment” under the piano. Undercovers are especially effective when used in conjunction with a Piano Life Saver system.
String Cover (grand pianos only) – A string cover can help minimize humidity exposure to critical components such as strings and tuning pins, which may rust or corrode at a faster rate if exposed to high humidity levels.
Piano Cover – The destiny canvas quilted cover offers an extra layer of protection, and is designed with breathable materials that prevent heat and moisture buildup, helping maintain a more stable temperature.
Maintenance Schedule – Adjust your piano’s maintenance schedule for more frequent service if needed, ideally as a temporary measure while resolving climate problems.
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