Is storing pianos in the cold bad?

[John Ross]

I would suggest some plastic sheeting, below the piano.
Cement floors hold moisture, that can 'leach' into the piano.
I don't think leach is the right word, but it is all I could think of. :-(
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: KeyKat88 at aol.com 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 9:19 AM
  Subject: Re: Is storing pianos in the cold bad?


  Greetings,

               We live in a city row home. I have an unheated garage in the back, where I have some uprights that I can work on seasonally, Now... I am a 5 year rookie, and I havent noticed any damage after keeping pianos there, some for more than 3 years. My tuning teacher in Canada, said that she stores pianos in her barn. I never asked about consequential damage, figuring if it were all that bad she wouldn't do it. I also know a used piano dealer that stored this way.

  I, as a rookie, dont see the harm, unless there would be leaking roof or alot of moisture, then, you'd have to be concerned with rust and glue issues. When I was in music school, the only place I had to practice was a former "smoke house" in the back, here, next to the same garage with no heat. It was hell on the tuning, I had to turn on an electric heater to practice,  but I have had that piano for 20 some years, and about 10 of those were in the smoke house (former owner of this home sold smoked meat) and now that piano is IN a heated area here now and I do not see any damage. Again, it was OK for me, but I guess it could cause harm if the time were too long, I dont know. I have had luck with it, anyone else?

  Julia
  Reading, PA

   In a message dated 2/14/2008 2:07:43 AM Eastern Standard Time, mconnell1 at instruction.com writes:
    My friend has a few unrestored pianos in his garage - a 1925 M and some circa 1900-20's Chickerings and Baldwins. He lives in Michigan, so we are talking below zero weather on occasion. I wondered if this isn't bad for the old glue, but I've never read anything. I suggested at least bringing the actions indoors. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thank you. 





------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy Awards. AOL Music takes you there.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20080215/36aed585/attachment.html