water damage

[Dennis Johnson]

        It is timely that this topic was just recently up because I have a
another question. How long does it take the water to pose a longer-term,
high risk potiential of serious problems such as to not merit other
significant work (i.e. an action upgrade)? If the water, lots of water,
gets into a piano but only for minutes, and is aired out right away should
we still just let it retire gracefully?
        I have just been given the go ahead to put a new action in one such
worn out Yamaha in a major hotel downtown that unfortunately was sitting
under a bad water pipe. The maintenance crew got on it immediately however,
they tipped the piano up to drain out the water, and set up fans to dry it
out. That was one year ago. Now it is completely dry and I have not seen
any joints separating, but I obviously have mixed feelings about accepting
this request for a complete action job. This piano is used 8 hours daily in
a premiere restaurant and I have tuned it every month for 10 years. They
will not buy a new piano as I recommended, at least for another several
years. Anyone have some last minute advise on this one? They want me to
start ASAP, so I must decide this week. Actually, I was recommending a new,
better piano even before this water damage. Thanks.

Dennis Johnson
St. Olaf College
johnsond@stolaf.edu