Do temperature and humidity really affect the tuning of my piano?
So you’ve just moved your new (or new-to-you) piano into your house/apartment. Congratulations! A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
You’ve heard many different things about the ideal environment for your piano. And you wonder, “what affect do temperature and humidity really have on my piano? And how should I set up my space for the health of my instrument?”
An excellent question! The reality is that relative humidity and temperature both directly affect the stability and longevity of a piano.
With humidity, all materials that a piano is made of (i.e. wood, leather, felt, and metal) are directly affected by changes in humidity. Wood, in particular, swells and shrinks according to relative humidity. With metal, humidity levels that are two high will cause oxidation and tarnishing. (Mario Igrec, Pianos Inside Out, 87).
Temperature, on the other hand, sudden changes in temperature will have immediate effects on a piano’s pitch.
So, what is the ideal environment for a piano to have a long, stable life? Most pianos made for American and European markets are made to be in an environment of around 40-50% relative humidity. (Mario Igrec, Pianos Inside Out, 85). Temperature-wise, a piano should be ideally kept between 65-75 degrees F.
An excellent tool for measuring humidity/temperature for your piano’s environment is a electronic hygrometer (Like one you could get from Amazon).
If you find your piano’s environment does not meet above humidity range, you could do one of two things. If the humidity is too low, simply install a piano humidifier (also from Amazon, ranging greatly in price) until the humidity rises to the proper level. If the humidity is too high, you could install a dehumidifier until the desired range is reached.
Another option for environmental control would be to have a piano technician install a Dampp-Chaser Piano Life Saver system. This system detects the humidity of the piano and adjusts accordingly to achieve the proper range. With this system, you are left with a wonderfully cared-for piano with no maintenance on your part! (Maintained by the piano technician, if you like).
If you are confused about the specific environmental needs of your piano, we at Marcum Music Services are happy to come evaluate an advise solutions according to your needs. We are always a phone call or text away.
Bobby Marcum
(404) 780-3340