How weather affects pianos

[Farrell]

And how do these people that request *extra* tunings feel about humidity control - whether it be whole house or installed on/in the piano?

Terry Farrell
  
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clyde Hollinger" <cedel@supernet.com>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 9:08 PM
Subject: How weather affects pianos


> Paul,
> 
> Most of the pianos I service that have been stable in previous Februarys are
> flat this time around, some severely.  Too cold too long, and it makes a
> difference.  If I tune them to A-440, they'll be sharp next February, if we have
> a normal winter, which explains why I float the pitch (in case someone wants to
> have a go-around on that subject again).  I leave them a little flat, but they
> won't be flat when the weather returns to normal.  (They won't be in tune,
> either.)
> 
> Also, I have gotten requests for *extra* tunings from clients who normally have
> their pianos tuned in mid to late summer.  The change in the tuning between a
> humid season and an exceedingly cold and therefore dry piano climate becomes
> more than they can stand.
> 
> Regards,
> Clyde
> 
> "Paul Chick (EarthLink)" wrote:
> 
> > Terry, Clyde, Others
> >
> > Tell us what you see these weather conditions doing to the pianos you just
> > tuned.  We experienced temps dropping from the mid 30's to -17 degrees, and
> > temps stayed 10 degrees or lower for about 3 weeks. Now they are moving up
> > to the low 30's again. Furnaces run almost constantly and the humidity
> > plunges.  There has been a rash of sticky keys, tight actions, knocks and
> > squeeks, tuning drifts-many needing pitch raises. It's like you haven't
> > tuned the piano for years.  You mention temp changes of  20-25 dgrees.  With
> > that would come some humidity changes.  I'm curious to know how this affects
> > the pianos in your area.
> >
> > Paul Chick
> > Southeastern Minnesota
> 
> _______________________________________________
> pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives
>