Far and way the most detrimental effects on the piano are caused by improper humidity levels. High levels over time result in rusty strings, swelling wood parts, sticking action parts. Low humidity causes the wood to shrink, leading to loose glue joints, wobbling action parts, etc. However the worst effects result from the wild swings in relative humidity between Summer and Winter. These cycles over the course of a few years can lead to cracks in the soundboard, loose ribs, loose screws, warped hammer shanks, etc.

Keeping a consistent relative humidity can not only extend the life of your piano, it will also help keep the tuning more stable. Even small expansions and contractions in the soundboard have very noticeable effects on the tuning.

Pianos manufacturers season the wood in their pianos to be stable around 45% relative humidity. The closer we can keep our pianos near this level, the longer our pianos will last.

The Dampp Chaser humidity control system for pianos is a fantastic way to help protect your investment and keep your tunings more stable. Installation generally only takes a few hours.