Piano Care Recommendations

Humidity:  Pianos perform best when kept at a relatively consistent humidity level year round.  In the Northeast, the ideal level is between 35% and 50% RH (Relative Humidity).  We recommend the use of two digital hygrometers to measure the RH of the piano room throughout the year.  The best way to maintain consistent RH levels for your piano is to use a humidifier during the dry winters, and a Dehumidifier and/or Air Conditioner during the humid summers.  A DamppChaser unit that is properly installed and operated helps maintain constant humidity in a piano year round, but cannot fully correct situations that are extreme – the room with the piano should still be kept as close as possible to the 35% – 50% RH range even if you are using a DamppChaser.  Large fluctuations in humidity or exposure to humidity extremes outside the recommended range can be harmful to pianos and may void warranty coverage.  Please contact our Service Department to discuss the importance of humidity regulation and the ways in which you can protect your instrument.

Tuning:  Your complimentary tuning is valid within 3 months of delivery.  Newly strung pianos (including new pianos and newly rebuilt pianos) should be tuned 3-4 times the first year.  Most pianos should be tuned at a minimum of twice a year.  Pianos that are used for performance or for recording will need to be tuned more often.  Please contact our service department to schedule all tunings and maintenance.

Temperature:  Pianos are damaged by extreme heat as well as extreme cold.  Ideally, a piano is kept in a room in which the temperature is normal and constant (around 68° F).  The temperature should never be allowed to fall below 45° F and should never exceed 90° F.

Piano Care Placement:  Pianos should never be placed within close proximity to direct heat sources, including radiators, base boards, forced air outlets, fireplaces, woodstoves, space heaters or any other heating mechanism. Additionally, direct sunlight harms a piano’s finish (causing it to bleach and crack), while the heat that it causes destabilizes the piano interior. Therefore, if a piano must be placed in a spot where there is direct sunlight, a window shade and/or a piano cover is essential.

Interior:  Keep fluids away from the piano.  Juice, soda, even water spilled into a piano can do severe damage.  Never touch the bass strings.  Residue from hands and fingers causes corrosion, which can cause the bass strings to buzz and to lose clarity and power.  Remove dust with a bellow or with the exhaust from a vacuum cleaner.  If you live in a city, grime may accumulate over the years.  Only a specialist should clean the interior of a piano.

Keyboard:  The fallboard should always be open to allow free circulation of air around the keys.  Keys should be cleaned only with a soft cloth, dampened very slightly with water or club soda (or Windex if the keys are really dirty).  Never put fluid directly on the keys.

Furniture:  Nothing other than music should be placed on a piano.  Photos, plants, and desk lamps that are placed on the piano can damage its finish.  The piano exterior can be dusted with a lambs-wool duster (available in many hardware stores).  To remove smudges, use a soft clean cheesecloth or an old clean cotton tee shirt (with the seams removed).  Ten percent de-natured alcohol in water or Windex may be used if necessary.  Do not rub across the grain and do not apply fluid directly to the piano.