can damp enviornment ruin piano?

[C. Mike Swendsen]

>I have been asked by a insurance claims adjustor to look at a piano that was
>in a basement where some floodin occurred .  Although the piano did not
>actually get wet the owners are claiming the new piano has been completely
>ruined by being in the damp enviornment for a few days.  Apparently they have
>had someone in the piano business look at the piano and he said it was
>ruined. Is it possible ? If I do look at the piano what should I look for and
>what might I expect to find ? Can there be damage to glue joints that will be
>undetectable?  Thanks for all your help.
>
Just being in a damp environment for a few days is not likely to cause any
serious problems.  Of course, dampness can cause action sections to stick
and possibly steel/iron to start rusting.  If the piano's environment is
usually dry though, this shouldn't be a real problem.

I've seen situations where dealers or dealers technicians have decided that
if they stretch the truth a little (or a lot) they can get the insurance
company to spring for another sale and then they buy back the "damaged"
piano for scrap value and resell it if they can.  Situational ethics can
damn someone as easily as outright theft.

If water didn't get on the instrument itself, glue joints shouldn't be
affected at all.  But, do check the key bushings etc. to make sure that they
haven't cone unglued, I have seen steamy wet rooms that have released the
glues there.

 Best of luck
 Mike Swendsen
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>                                                                           H.
>Russell Schmidt, R.P.T.
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>                                                                   Lexington,
>Ky.
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