[pianotech] water damage, again

[Greg Newell]

Perhaps I can try that again. I wonder if they meant the fallboard when they said front lid. It might be action damage that you’re looking for. Key bushings, keyframe glue joints, discoloration on keybed etc. is where I’d look first but I bet you’ve done that already.  It’s likely you’ve done all you can in preparing them for what might show up in the future. I’m sure you’ve carefully documented the conversation … right?

 

Greg Newell

Greg's Piano Forté

www.gregspianoforte.com

216-226-3791 (office)

216-470-8634 (mobile)

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Greg Newell
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:50 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
Subject: Re: [pianotech] water damage, again

 

Barbara,

                I wonder if by “front lid” they don’t mean the

 

Greg Newell

Greg's Piano Forté

www.gregspianoforte.com

216-226-3791 (office)

216-470-8634 (mobile)

 

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf Of Barbara Richmond
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 3:47 PM
To: pianotech at ptg.org
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

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090120/8efbb835/attachment-0001.html>