Its been a while since my last entry , obviously Ive been busy. My last entry the temperature was still ranging in the high 20s, up to 30 degrees. Bear in mind I spent that last week prepping 28 pianos in one school. Well, that weekend it plummeted down to 12 degrees , all in one hit , and started to rain stair rods for 3 or four days ; this is not good news for a piano tuner!!! I was reflecting that when I qualified and was sent out on the road , working for a local piano company , we were still very aware of seasonal changes , which were very easy to predict. I cant really remember when the seasonal change started fade , but say within the last 15 years, during this time seasonal change has no longer been such a problem , it has been replaced by something far more troublesome! Unseasonable changes! Well folks, its like this. Its not so much changing weather , its the unpredictability of it , how little attention we pay to our living conditions , and therefore how well our pianos behave . There are some simple rules ; We and our pianos, furniture etc like a broad range of 45- 65 per cent relative humidity and moderate temperatures. Youll note the order of importance I have put those , as its stable humidity which is the crucial factor. In the UK , we do not pay any attention to keeping houses , and buildings , in healthy order . Bunging on the heating, at the slightest hint of colder weather , is not the answer. For instance. If you have a dampish room and all you do is turn the heating on , the water will evaporate . But if you dont ventilate the room at the same time , it will recycle , forming mould and also have a cooling effect (just how fridge operates), thus making your heating work over time and the room will always feel clammy and cool. Tuners and technicians often become quite expert in room air conditioning and related building problems , by the very nature of our work. We have at our disposal an arsenal of knowledge , equipment and know how to deal with weather related problems , so be respectful and listen hard to free advise often given by me and my colleagues. Next to playing rock and roll or Rachmaninoff , a couple of hours of poor climate control can knock a tuning out moderately and , or ,cause sticking components! So, dont blame your tuner/tech. Buy a, Min, max humidity/ temperature gauge. learn how your house ticks. Keep your humidity levels stable by simple measures ; like ventilation when damp. Humidify when it is dry , typically when the heating is on for long periods during the winter months. Humidity and temperature are not related , but interact all of the time, and every circumstance those interactions can quite different effects. With a little knowledge , and some inexpensive equipment , you can easily change the quality of your living conditions . Happy playing
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 12:56:48 +0000
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