How-to fix a piano

[GalvinBrown]

How-to fix a piano after it was rained on We got a piano after it had been rained on we'd like to know if it is fixable so we can keep it.?

[Gill the Piano]

Get a tuner/tech in to look at it. There's no way to assess damage without actually seeing the beastie in person! Keep the lids opened up (the top and the one ver the keys) to let the air get to it to help it dry out. Did the water get IN it or just on the box? If the keys aren't sticking and the works are unaffected then you may just need a good polisher. Get it looked at by a professional.

[MiselStics]

Humidity causes wooden piano parts to warp or swell and is often the culprit behind sticking keys

[Colin Nicholson]

Try and avoid a sudden change in environment from wet to very warm & dry - and allow your piano to dry out in cool conditions - no central heating. If the mechansim is OK, then you may have just some lifted or damaged veneer to cope with?, and the edges of the fallboard/ top board may need lightly planing if they have swolen badly.
If all else fails, I have a good copy of "Singing in the rain"........

[winstonterr]

Hi,
I have a baby grand piano that is on a carpet (is that the culprit?) and about 6 to 8 keys, they don't come back up when I play that note. I have had professional tuners come tune it and fix it and overtime it just happens again. For example, a high F won't come back up/takes a long time to when I play that note.Are there easy fix that I can do?

[Colin Nicholson]

To Winstonterr......

Nothing to do with your carpet.
Your "piano room" may have a high level of humidity (damp) - so any easing or re-easing of the keys will eventually come back and haunt you.

To find out whether its the keys themselves sticking, or the mechanism (action)- if you know how to remove the action safely, work the hammer from the undercarriage - put your finger under the piano part just above the key and work it there - this will eliminate the key for now. If the action works fine on its own, it will be the key. If the hammer/lever return slowly - you'll need to get your tech guy out, and some re-pinning may be needed. If the key itself is sticking, again, get your tech guy out - the action needs to be removed from the keys if they stick near the key chasings (centre bushings).

However, check the humidity in your room & buy a hygrometer - some chemists sell them, or try this website. Reading should be about 40 - 70%. If the room is cold, this may also cause damp.....

[joe]

If water has got inside action you will have to be patience till it dries out no point repairing it till that has happened the length of time is dependant on your environment go to your local shop and hire a piano or keyboard say for 6 months then get the best tech in your area to look at problem,personally if the piano was soaked i would write it off