Why is humidity control important to my piano?

Being made of wood, your piano is greatly affected by humidity.  Seasonal and even daily changes in humidity cause wood, felt and leather components in your piano and piano action to change dimension (swell and shrink), affecting tuning stability and touch. Extreme swings in humidity can eventually cause catastrophic failure of glue joints and cause wood to crack. Controlling the humidity within your home is an important step toward preserving your instrument.  Another option is having a humidity control system installed on your piano – don’t assume your piano needs one because of your geographical location – let the piano and your RPT technician let you know if a system is required.

While not eliminating the need for regular piano maintenance, stabilizing your piano’s environment will allow for more stable tunings by reducing pitch changes your piano may experience through the seasons.  Maintaining a correct stable environment will go a long way to preserve your piano investment for a lifetime of enjoyment.

How often is regulation needed?

Several factors contribute to this.  The intensity and number of hours your piano is played, and climatic conditions are all determinants. A piano kept in relatively consistent conditions which are neither too wet nor too dry, and at consistent temperature, will require less adjustment

The quality of the instrument itself also can affect frequency of regulation.  High use performance pianos may require frequent regulation due to the higher demands placed on them.  Only you and your technician together should decide how frequently your piano needs regulation.

How often should my piano be tuned?

Every manufacturer recommends a minimum of twice a year.  More often if the piano is subjected to heavy use, i.e., music schools, teaching studios, concert and recital halls, church sanctuary, restaurants, etc.  Tuning is only one factor in piano maintenance.