Frequently Asked Questions
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1. "I just got a new piano. Once it's in its new location, how long should I wait before I have it tuned?"
2. "Does moving a piano within the same room or from one room to another in the same house affect the tuning?"
3. "What can I do to help my piano stay better in tune?"
4. "Does placing an open bowl of water on the inside of the piano help it to stay better in tune?"
5. "How long can I expect a tuning to last?"
6. "I just bought a used piano. Can you recommend any good movers?"
7. "When / how often should I have my piano tuned?"
8. "What's the best way to determine the value of my piano?"
9. "How much would it cost to have my piano rebuilt or refurbished?"
3. "What can I do to help my piano stay better in tune?"
4. "Does placing an open bowl of water on the inside of the piano help it to stay better in tune?"
5. "How long can I expect a tuning to last?"
6. "I just bought a used piano. Can you recommend any good movers?"
7. "When / how often should I have my piano tuned?"
8. "What's the best way to determine the value of my piano?"
9. "How much would it cost to have my piano rebuilt or refurbished?"
5. "How long can I expect a tuning to last?"
6. "I just bought a used piano. Can you recommend any good movers?"
7. "When / how often should I have my piano tuned?"
8. "What's the best way to determine the value of my piano?"
9. "How much would it cost to have my piano rebuilt or refurbished?"
7. "When / how often should I have my piano tuned?"
8. "What's the best way to determine the value of my piano?"
9. "How much would it cost to have my piano rebuilt or refurbished?"
9. "How much would it cost to have my piano rebuilt or refurbished?"
It doesn't take long for a piano to acclimatize to its new environment. Two or three days is sufficient.
Not usually, unless there are pronounced differences in the humidity within the room or between rooms. As long as the piano can be moved smoothly the tuning shouldn't be affected. Avoid jarring the piano over tiled flooring - the vibrations can affect the tuning stability.
Place your piano against an inside wall; the temperature shifts will be less pronounced there. Also try to keep the humidity levels in your home as consistent as possible (usually around 42% relative humidity in the room where the piano is housed). Avoid placing your piano in one of the 3 major "danger zones":
1. In front of a window;
2. Over or against a vent;
3. Against an (uninsulated) outside wall.
1. In front of a window;
2. Over or against a vent;
3. Against an (uninsulated) outside wall.
No, and there is always the danger of the water spilling on the inside of the piano, and water can cause severe (and often irreparable or expensive) damage to the interior mechanics and strings (so be careful if you have any potted plants on the top lid!). The presence of water close to copper and steel can also produce rust, particularly in the strings and tuning pins. If you use a room-specific humidity system, place the source as far away from the piano as possible so that the moisture will not be as concentrated around the instrument. Use a digital hygrometer to measure the moisture content around your piano; around 42% relative humidity is best. The best solution is to invest in some form of humidity control designed specifically for pianos, such as the Piano Life-Saver system. Visit http://www.pianolifesaver.com for more information.
This depends on a number of factors: relative humidity, piano condition and placement, and time of year. If your piano has been reasonably well-maintained and has held up well after servicing in the past, it should hold its pitch for at least a few weeks before some of the strings may start to "creep" out of tune. How often (and how aggressively) a piano is played can also affect how quickly it will go out of tune.
Dorcy's Piano Moving
Precision Piano Moving and Storage
At least once a year is best, since humidity changes are what affect the tuning stability of a piano more than any other factor. Unless your house or your piano has a dedicated humidity system, avoid having a tuning performed in the transition period between seasons; you may notice that your piano goes out of tune again very quickly because of the humidity changes. Some pianos will hold a tuning better than others, and may not need to be tuned as often. Ultimately it is a matter of preference; if the sound that your piano is producing is grating on your ears, it's probably time to have it tuned again.
A piano's value is as a musical instrument and not as a piece of furniture, which is why its worth doesn't increase with age. A quick way to determine the relative value is to perform an Internet search for pianos of similar style and age. A qualified piano technician or piano dealer can also help you to determine the approximate age, condition and resale value of a used piano.
A new set of hammers costs about $800 to install; a new set of tuning pins and strings costs about $1500 to install. The cost of those two services alone would buy a new entry-level piano, so if you're thinking of having major repair work done on your piano, be sure that you're willing to invest the time and money it will take to rebuild it. The cost of a complete rebuild can run into five-figures and take weeks of work, which is often only worth the investment if the piano has significant sentimental value.
