[pianotech] water damage, again

[Farrell]

Hi Barbara,

Whereas it's difficult to see exactly what you are describing in the photos, but between the description and photos (separated ribs and major-cracked bridge) I would be very leery of saying one single positive thing about this piano and its experience with water. IMHO, this piano has the potential to completely self-destruct within the next year or so. Also IMHO, you are correct that not much more can be reliably said without the passage of many months.

Sorry to not offer anything more definitive, but the only thoughts swirling in my little head are very negative.

Terry Farrell
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Barbara Richmond 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 3:47 PM
  Subject: [pianotech] water damage, again


  Greetings,



  I received a call a couple weeks ago from a woman who reported that a pipe broke in their house and water poured into her Samick grand piano (twenty years old--if I could just find my atlas).  We made an appointment (for this morning) and I thought it would be a clear cut <condemn the piano> thing.  Well...I've never inspected a flooded piano before.  The piano played, no sluggishness, I couldn't see any trace of water stains on the action or keybed.  There was rust on the leg hardware in the keybed on the treble side (photo1).  There is some rust at the coils. (photo 2)  The only place the piano looked <clean> (no dust) was the straight side of the soundboard.  Underneath there was a rib separated (photo 3) and then at the bass cut-off, it looked like there was some possible damage (a wedge of split wood that was loose), but I wasn't totally sure (photo 4) because the soundboard work (rib gluing) looks sort of sloppy in general.  The owner said that there had never been any soundboard repairs or any other repairs done on the piano.   There's a spot in the treble bridge with problems, but I don't know if it had anything to do with the water (photo 5).  And this soundboard problem goes the entire length of the board (photo 6).



  There were places on the case and dampers where I could see water spots, but all the dust seemed intact.  Wouldn't pouring water displace it?  Hmm.  I asked again about the amount of water.  The owner called her nephew who said  the front lid was open and water went into the piano.  When the flood service team came in, they put a bucket under the piano to catch water that was draining out of the instrument.  She described a large bucket with 3-4 inches of water in it.  It seems odd to me, but maybe not being able to see stains or whatever from the water is normal.  Can someone enlighten me here?



  I explained to the customer that it can take time for the effects of water damage to manifest themselves in full.  She said she wanted it to be settled as soon as possible...of course.  



  How does one, if it is possible, predict what might happen to the piano?  Would you recommend strings, block, bridge repair, and a DC system? The action is functioning normally now; could there be a delayed freeze-up of action centers?



  Thanks for your comments.



  Barbara Richmond, RPT

  near Peoria, IL


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