Certified Piano Technician in London
Various factors can lead to a piano falling out of tune. If you require tuning services in London, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a certified piano technician
What Causes a Piano to Fall Out of Tune?
Firstly the temperature and humidity of the room can have an effect. A rise and fall in temperature will cause the metal parts to expand or contract. Bear in mind the huge iron frame and the strings which are made of steel and the bass strings wound with copper.
A change in humidity can also have an effect on the piano. Dampness can cause the wooden piano parts to rot upsetting the touch, cause strings to rust, and weaken adhesion to the glue, and in extreme cases melt the glue.
Dryness can cause the soundboard to split and seize up the wooden parts as they shrink.
A piano that is well kept will have been tuned to concert pitch (A440) every 6 months, and in a room kept at a temperature of between 20-23C and humidity of between 40-70%.
A piano that has been moved a great distance (i.e. from one house to another) will need tuning a week after it arrives at its new home. Brand new pianos or newly restored pianos may need about 2 -3 weeks to settle down and may need about 4 tunings in the first year.
I have over 26 years’ experience in this line of business and have built a solid reputation for providing my clients with a reliable and friendly service. As an independent piano tuner, I am able to offer a level of flexibility and can offer weekend appointments by arrangement.
Additional Factors Leading to Piano Tuning Issues
The age and overall condition of the piano can significantly impact its tuning stability. Older pianos often exhibit quicker tuning instability due to the weakening of strings and the wrest plank, which is the wooden plank behind the frame housing the tuning pins. A weakened wrest plank can result in loose tuning pins and rapid tuning fluctuations. Similarly, newly strung pianos may experience frequent tuning changes until the strings settle
How long does it take to tune a piano?
The time required to tune a piano typically ranges from 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on the piano’s condition. In cases where a piano needs a significant pitch raise or hasn’t been tuned for over two years, the tuning process may extend to about 2 hours. To learn more about our piano tuning services in London, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Richard Petch today