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Integrity Piano Service
Kenneth Farrington, RPT
P. O. Box 548
Naugatuck, CT 06770
(203) 888-7848
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Essential Piano Facts—Why Does My Piano Need Tuning?
Does moving a piano make it go out of tune? No, the physical move will not affect the tuning of your piano, unless it has major structural problems.
What about playing the piano (or not playing it)? How much your piano is played actually has very little effect on the tuning.
What is the number one reason pianos go out of tune? The top reason pianos need tuning is due to fluctuations in the amount of moisture (humidity) in the air. The increased humidity in the summer time makes the soundboard swell and press harder on the strings, making them tighter and causing the pitch to rise. In the winter, the air in your home dries out, and the soundboard releases the extra moisture, causing the pitch of the piano to fall. Each time your piano responds to this cycle the strings in each section of the piano change by different amounts, leaving the piano a little more "out of tune."
How often does a piano need to be tuned? Pianos need tuning at least once or twice every year because of the seasonal humidity fluctuations and their affect on the tuning.
Is tuning all that a good piano needs? Regardless of the piano's quality or age, tuning is only a small part of the complete service a piano needs. How much other servicing (repair, reconditiong, or regulation) is needed does depend on the age, quality, and amount of use, but all pianos need regular complete maintenance of some kind.
How can I keep my piano in tune longer? Be sure to closely monitor and regulate the humidity in your home to keep it around 42% year round. Unfortunately, this is nearly impossible to achive with room or house climate control alone. Installing a Piano Life Saver System is the best way to protect your piano from humidity extremes and keep it in tune longer. A climate-control system has the added benefits of protecting the expensive wood components from splitting and cracking, shortening the life of your piano.
Does the location of the piano within my home make a difference? Location is critical to the piano's well being. Knowing that humidity extremes are the piano's worst enemy is a good place to start. A bad location can severely shorten the piano’s “useful life.” AVOID: direct sun, damp basements/garages, heat vents/radiators, wood stoves, open windows and doors. Contrary to the popular advice, an outside wall CAN be a good place for a piano—as long as you avoid the problem spots just mentioned, especially sun, windows, and heat registers.
You can also visit the Resources for Piano Owners page on the ptg.org website.