3 Great Ways for Taking Care of Your Piano
- October 7, 2024
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A piano is a hearty and treasured possession for many people. It provides you and your family with great music and lifetime enjoyment. However, they are the most ignored and receive little or no consideration from their owners regarding care and maintenance. Like any other instrument, a piano also requires periodic servicing and proper maintenance to keep performing outstandingly year after year.
A piano is a remarkable blend of materials like wood, metal, buckskin, and wool and creates a unique sound that none of the instruments can duplicate. Piano maintenance requires a moderate amount of attention, which, if not given, can cost you a lot at a later stage. So, keep the following factors in consideration for taking care of your piano and extending its longevity-
Humidity Level
The humidity level is the most crucial factor governing the life of your piano. The wood used in pianos is susceptible to humidity fluctuations as high humidity levels cause the wood to swell. In, contrast, lower humidity levels cause sticking keys and cracks in the soundboard. Moreover, the changes happening to the wood in your piano drastically affect the tuning. A piano performs best under conditions that are neither wet nor dry. So, using an air conditioner in humid summers and a humidifier to balance high and low humidity extremes is advisable.
Cleanliness
It is easy to go into the market and spend money buying your favorite thing, but maintaining it takes a lot of effort. Regular cleaning helps keep your piano’s exterior, making it look shiny and new, like on its first day. But, there is a correct way of doing so. Just feather-dust the piano first and wipe it with a soft cloth. If you wish to use a damp cloth, ensure it is a microfiber cloth dampened very lightly. Wipe the wet cloth in the grain’s direction and wipe excess moisture with a similar dry cloth. For cleaning any part inside, contact a qualified technician.
Tuning and Voicing Adjustments
The tuning of a piano gets highly affected by humidity levels. Per the expert recommendations, a piano should be tuned at least every six months to keep up the perfect sounds. If piano tunings are neglected for too long, the piano may fall significantly in pitch and get expensive to rectify. Moreover, a piano also needs a periodic service called voicing to adjust the hammers’ density, which compresses as they hit the strings. The pianos have to be said, probably at the same time it is tuned, to maintain the piano’s tone. After all, an out-of-tune piano or an unresponsive touch can discourage even novice musicians.
Lastly, be careful where you place your piano in your house. Never place a piano in front of a window or near a heater vent or an active fireplace, as it can cause major instability in the piano’s tune. Keep the climate regulated and the temperature ideally maintained. Also, don’t forget to hire a professional piano mover whenever planning to move your piano from one place to another to keep your piano safe and sound.