Tuesday, November 30, 2021 by Anita Byers | Your Home Piano

The temperature is getting colder outside and our heat has been turned on. How does this affect our acoustic pianos? In our area, the relative humidity is very low during the cold winter season, and very high during the spring and summer.  

Keeping the humidity level around your piano as constant as possible will help it to stay in tune longer and help keep your piano from humidity change damage.  

Here are steps to take to protect your piano this winter.  

MAINTAIN THE HUMIDITY IN THE ROOM.

The best humidity level for a piano is between 40-50% relative humidity.  Levels below 35% will excessively dry out the wooden parts of the piano and levels over 50% will cause rust and corrosion damage to the metal parts of the piano.  

If you do not know the humidity level around your piano, I suggest you purchase a hygrometer.  This inexpensive little gadget sits right next to my piano so I can keep a close eye on the relative humidity.  I shoot for 45% in my piano room in the winter which is achieved by a room humidifier—it is good for your nasal passages and skin – it's also good for your piano.   

In addition you could have a Dampp-Chaser humidity control system installed on your piano. It includes a dehumidifier and a humidifier system. I have this system on my piano and also use a room humidifier in the winter as recommended by my piano technician.  

PLACE YOUR PIANO IN THE PROPER LOCATION.

Make sure to keep your piano away from areas that are too hot or too cold. Avoid placing your piano near opened doors/windows or near a heating source or vent. Also never allow direct sunlight to touch your instrument. It can damage the interior and ruin your piano’s finish.  

An ideal temperature is around 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Like humidity, keeping as constant a temperature as possible is key.   

TUNE YOUR PIANO.

Timing your tuning around the change of seasons can help your piano maintain a more consistent sound and tuning stability through the winter season.  

These three steps will help your piano sound beautiful all year long--especially in the winter!