Piano Moisture: Lesson 1

Shield your piano from moisture. During my past two years of piano servicing in St. Augustine, I have become increasingly aware of the naivety of our community with regard to proper care for one's valuable asset. A well-built piano, regularly serviced and properly cared for, can last in excess of 100 years and actually increases in value. It is my intention to share with each of you many ways to help you preserve that investment.

Piano Moisture: Lesson 1

Moisture is the single-most destructive element affecting a piano.

Too much moisture can cause swelling of all wooden parts including:
  1. separation of the veneer from the case
  2. separation between laminations, structural supports, and case
  3. swelling of the soundboard. causing:
    1. cracks in the soundboard
    2. cracks in the bridges due to increased tension of strings
    3. raising the overall pitch of your piano strings
    4. separation of soundboard from case
  4. warped keys
  5. warped hammer shanks
  6. warped stickers
Other parts which are subject to moisture include wool bushings (there are over 1400/piano) that swell causing sluggishness of action and keys; rust on strings, tuning pins and all metal parts; and hardening of felt.

Related Articles:

Piano Moisture: Lesson 2 - Preventive Maintenance
Roaches, Rodents and Rug rats

by Ric Smith
President/CEO
Sterry Piano Company

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