A piano may have various uses, but it is at the same time one of the most intricate and detailed musical instrument and so its performance depends a great deal on the maintenance it receives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quality Stringed Instruments in the Arkansas River Valley since 1974.
The first and foremost thing is to place it in a well ventilated area. Pianos must be stored in well ventilated places to preserve smooth operation of its various key-striking apparatuses. Of a special note, it is helpful to open the piano lid on clear days with low humidity levels to ventilate its internals since it'll help improve elasticity of the sound board, the component responsible for diffusion of piano's resonance.
Solid floors are desirable to receive the piano's best in terms of volume and sound, and placing the piano about 10 to 20cm away from the wall in consideration for ventilation contributes in sound quality.
Due to the fact that having heating devices in the vicinity of the piano can cause disfiguring and/or discoloring of its exterior, the fact that highly combustible piano exteriors are always susceptible to fire, and the fact that use of gas or petrol furnaces that emit large amounts of liquids cause malfunction of piano's internal pieces and may cause extreme rust to form from precipitation on its metallic components, avoiding the use of such devices is extremely recommended.
Abrupt changes in external temperature can cause disfiguring of wooden components and splitting and cracks in painted areas. Such changes caused by actions similar to opening windows on cold winter days in particular affect copper wires, causing expansivities of copper and steel wires to misalign to make copper wires sound like drums. High temperatures or excessive dryness may cause disfiguring of wooden components, cause adhered pieces to fall, and may even make tuning impossible in extreme cases. Therefore, sustaining an appropriate temperature (17 to 22°) is highly recommended.
The many use of woolen materials in pianos may act as a habitat for moths. To prevent, warp naphthalene and similar products in napkins and locate them inside the piano, being mindful not to hinder the operation of its internal apparatuses. Also, please note that rat or cockroach excretes on piano wires, springs, and other metallic parts to cause malfunction.
Placing heavy or unbalanced objects on top of the piano may result in external damage. Avoid flower vases or fish bowls in particular since coming in contact with water from dropping such on the piano is critical. Lastly, do not place objects subject to resonance from piano's sound on top of the piano for they will cause the piano sound itself to distort.
Excessive humidity cause various wooden parts to expand or obstruct mechanisms from operating smoothly, causing inconvenience in use. Also, adhesives for felt fabrics can result in failing to result in suppressing the piano from generating high harmonic sounds. To prevent such mishaps, maintain a stable and appropriate humidity level of 50% to 60%.
Two tunings per year is desirable, and it is recommended to provide periodic inspection and adjustment to prevent sound discrepancies that occur due to seasonal and adjustment changes so that the optimal state can be maintained.
Avoid direct sunlight. 
