How To Care For Your Piano
Tuning and Maintenance:
Your piano should be inspected,
prepared, and tuned before it comes to your home. After acclimating to its new surroundings, I should come out to tune and inspect the piano making sure it is in
perfect playing condition, adjusting for any changes that may have taken place
because of moving or humidity. It has been my experience that regular tuning and service when the
piano is new will greatly increase the tuning stability and long term
performance you will receive from the instrument. I suggest having your piano tuned three
to four months after my initial service call, then again four to six months
later. After that, almost all manufacturers
suggest a minimum two times a year to keep your piano in good shape. Following
these simple instructions will bring you years of happiness and good service
with your piano.
The Finish:
In almost every case, lightly dusting the
piano will be all that is needed. A soft cloth such as cotton is best. For more stubborn smears, light rubbing will
usually remove the spot. For sticky things like chocolate from little fingers,
try a light bit of non-ammoniated glass cleaner sprayed on a cotton rag.
(Please do NOT spray the piano!) Please
contact me if you require more help. I
do not suggest more aggressive cleaning methods in the home.
Inside A Grand Piano:
Light dusting can be accomplished
easiest with a soft bristled paintbrush. Two to three inch length bristles work
nicely. Brush while using a vacuum for best results. Use caution, taking care not to press too
hard. Consult your piano technician for more specifics.
The Location of Your Piano:
Direct sunlight on your piano or
direct airflow from a heating or cooling vent is not an ideal location for your
piano. I suggest selecting a place in
your home that minimizes strong sunlight or air currents. Pianos are happiest
when the humidity
in your home is in a range from about 40% to 55%. Manufacturers cure the wood used in pianos
and build pianos to function best in that range. The expert preparation process
is based on maintaining that humidity standard in your home. It is very
important to maintain a benign environment for your piano at home. When the piano is not kept within those
suggested ranges it is extremely likely that problems will arise as your
humidity fluctuates. Consequently, non-warranty issues such as buzzes, rattles,
sticking keys, and case parts rubbing then become very common.
Humidity under 30% can cause actual damage to your
piano. Since humidity fluctuations are outside the manufacturer’s control, your
warranty cannot cover such issues. Please be aware it is your responsibility to
maintain appropriate conditions.
If you
have concerns about your ability to control your home’s humidity, a discussion
about piano humidity systems is suggested in order for you to protect your
investment.
If I have previously tuned your piano, a card was
placed inside your piano with my contact information. It also has some
technical notes on the back including the date the piano was tuned.