All the materials used in the construction of the piano, including felt, fabric, leather and of course wood, are extremely sensitive to fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Wood breathes, stretches and bends in response to fluctuations in temperature and the amount of moisture in the air – humidity. As the wood stretches, the tension on the strings also changes, causing the piano to go out of tune.
Larger fluctuations in humidity or temperature therefore affect tuning. However, if the humidity changes are extreme, the soundboard may also collapse (crack), requiring restoration or even replacement of the instrument.
Place the instrument in a suitable place
Avoid proximity to doors and windows, as opening the door or window may inadvertently damage the instrument. If possible, place the piano in a room where your pets do not have access.
Make sure the piano is separate from vents, heaters, fireplaces, open windows, open doors, direct sunlight and underfloor heating (in this case, we will place an anti-thermal foil under your instrument).
We do not recommend placing it in a basement or garage or any other room where you cannot ensure a constant temperature between 18-23 ° C and a constant humidity between 40-60%.
This can prevent damage, as these are all potential sources of sudden changes in humidity and temperature differences.
However, even with these precautions, weather changes can affect indoor humidity. The ideal humidity in the piano room is 40 to 60%. On a rainy day, the humidity can reach up to 90%, and on a dry winter day in a heated house it can drop below 20%.
Humidity and temperature control
Instrument owners can prevent these problems by controlling humidity and temperature. We advise you to install a humidity and temperature meter – hygro-thermometer in the room with the instrument. It costs a couple of €, but by controlling the temperature and humidity it can save your instrument from collapse.
Most piano technicians recommend a relative humidity indoors in the range of 40% to 60%, which should be as constant as possible and a temperature between 18-23 ° C.
Too much humidity in the room
The cause of increased humidity can be the building itself, but moisture is also created daily by cooking, showering, breathing, drying laundry, green plants, etc.… Too much moisture in the room can cause mold, so it is important that:
- Ventilate the room several times a day for a few minutes with the window wide open (not folded).
- Rooms such as the kitchen and bathroom, where there is more moisture, need to be ventilated even more often to remove moist air after showering, e.g.
- Do not dry laundry indoors.
- Do not place the furniture or the instrument close to the wall, so as not to obstruct the air flow
- If there is still too much moisture in the room, despite the above measures, we advise you to set a dehumidifier in the room.
Too little humidity in the room
Dry air in the room also has a negative effect on our health – it often scratches our throats, itchy nose, dry eye, fatigue and headaches…
If there is not enough moisture in the room, the room must be additionally humidified. We can help ourselves from occasional drying of laundry in the room, opening the door between the rooms in the apartment, with pots of water that we place on the radiator – never on the instrument!
Especially in the winter months, we recommend using a humidifier, as on a dry winter day, the humidity in a heated house can quickly drop below 20%. In a room with a piano humidifiers by spraying mist are not recommended.
Ventilation of rooms
Frequent but short-term ventilation (3-5 minutes) is recommended to achieve a comfortable and healthy indoor climate. We air on the “draft”. This means that we open all the windows and doors in the floor or apartment at the same time
When ventilating a room where a piano is located, we recommend that you close the piano cover and cover it with a piano cover (if you have one) before opening all windows and doors.
IMPORTANT:
- Install a hygrometer in the instrument room
- If necessary, install a humidifier (if there is not enough moisture) or a dehumidifier (if there is too much moisture) and an air conditioner
- room temperature from 18 to 23 ° C – constant,
- relative humidity from 40 to 60% – constant,
- the minimum distance from the radiators is 1 meter,
- the instrument must not be exposed to direct sunlight or drafts,
- To secure woolen internal parts, it is advisable to place a moth repellent inside the instrument.