dorms

[Richard West]

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Don and All,

The third time has to be the proverbial charm.  Thanks for your patience
and, once again, I'll ask for your thoughts on the attachment (if it is
readable).

Richard West

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Suggested Ideal Piano Maintenance Program
(Steps to keep an accoustic piano working well throughout its lifetime)
by Richard West, RPT, Staff Piano Technician
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE


It is impossible to give a precise timetable for piano maintenance and repairs due to the fact that the hours of use, and environmental factors vary from instrument to instrument.  The following are general guidelines, but they apply to all pianos.  This is maintenance that all pianos need but, unfortunately, don’t always get.  

The timing varies according to how heavily played the piano is, the degree of humidity variations and the expectations of the player (pianists expect more from a large concert grand and less from a small vertical piano).  If a piano is played more than 3 hours/day, the timetable will probably have to be compressed. The required maintenance may have to be done earlier.

Placement of the piano is important.  It should be kept away from direct sunlight, air vents, and high traffic areas.  

A piano should never be a table (no plants, drinks, decorations, books, etc.). 

The piano finish should be cleaned regularly with “Endust” (WARNING: never spray material from an aerosol can directly onto a finish; spray Endust on a clean rag and then apply.  NEVER spray toward the piano strings of a grand piano.  If the spray falls on the strings it may ruin them.  String replacement is possible but expensive)  Polishes are not necessary and may actually harm the finish.    

Moving pianos should be done by someone who is trained.  

Washing hands is not only good personal hygiene but good for the piano; clean hands keep piano keys free from dirt and grease.  Clean the keys regularly (weekly or monthly) to keep dirt from building up.  To clean the keys, use a mild dish soap diluted with water.  Wring out the cleaning cloth well before using.  

The First Year - Tune the piano 3 or 4 times (Many piano dealers provide the first 2 tunings for free).  Have a technician tighten the action screws and plate screws, stabilize the strings (tap down the string coils on the tuning pins, and seat strings to bridges), and check the regulation.  Install internal humidity control device (Dampp-Chaser unit) to control humidity changes.

Costs:  
	tuning@ $______/tuning			$__________
	tighten screws/stabilize strings	$__________
	check regulation				$__________
	Dampp-Chaser unit (vertical piano)	$__________
		“		   (grand piano)	$__________ (longer grands are 										more expensive


The Second Year - the piano should be tuned two to four times annually depending on humidity conditions and use. If there is minimal humidity control (as in schools and churches) avoid tuning in August (high humidity) and late January/February (low humidity).

Cost:								
	tuning						$__________ per tuning

Third Year - File hammers, and travel/space/align to strings

Costs:							
	hammer work					$___________
	tuning						$___________per tuning

Fourth Year - tuning

Costs:							$____________per tuning

Fifth Year - tuning, complete regulation, file hammers

Costs:

	complete regulation				$____________ (grands are more 									expensive to regulate)
	tuning						$ ___________ per tuning

Sixth through Fourteenth Years - tune every year, file hammers every other year, regulate every 5 years


Fifteenth Year - replace hammers, regulate, tune

Costs:  							$____________

Sixteenth Year - check regulation, tune

Costs:							$____________

Seventeenth Year through Twenty-Fifth Year - tune every year, file hammers every other year, regulate every 5 years.

The lifetime of a good vertical piano is 25 to 50 years depending on construction, use, and conditions in which the piano was kept. Although parts replacement is possible with older verticals, the costs often outweight the benefits. 

A twenty-five year old grand should be restrung with soundboard bridge stabilization.  After 25 to 35 years all new action parts and strings may be needed.  Between 35 and 50 years a grand could need complete rebuilding with a new pinblock, soundboard, action, and refinishing.  In theory a grand could last over 100 years depending upon construction and design, use, and conditions in which the piano was kept.  Rebuilding is usually limited to well-known, brand-name, high quality instruments.

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