The piano is an exquisitely made instrument capable of providing many hours of enjoyment for anybody, whether a budding hobbyist or a skilled player. However, the mostly wooden construction of this instrument means that measures must be taken to prevent damage from changes in humidity and heat.
In sunny and humid Singapore, the tropical climate can wreak havoc on such an instrument, causing damage such as wood warping, discolouration, and mould. As the piano is an instrument that can cost up to five digits, it only makes sense to take measures to protect and maintain your investment to ensure it stays in good playing condition.
Keep your piano clean
Singapore’s weather conditions and moisture often create a perfect environment for dust to stick and mould to grow. This can affect the condition of your piano, with mould eating into the wooden parts and causing unsightly green-black blotches. Keeping your piano clean reduces the chances of dust and mould accumulating on the instrument, which can cause hard-to-remove grime and damage the wood.
Install a dehumidifier
With humidity levels in Singapore often exceeding 80%, investing in a dehumidifier for the room can do wonders to protect your piano from swelling, rusting, and warping from the moisture in the air. Too much humidity can even do irreversible damage, such as the finish on your piano cabinet cracking and the metal parts rusting.
By maintaining the optimal humidity levels (40 to 50%), you can prolong your piano’s lifespan, enabling you to spend many more years enjoying and playing before the need for any serious repairs rears its ugly head!
Keep away from direct heat
As wood and metal tend to expand with heat, take precautions to keep your piano relatively cool and away from direct heat sources such as direct sunlight.
In direct heat, a piano’s strings can go out of tune from the constant expansion and contracting due to the varying temperatures and eventually lose their ability to stay in tune for prolonged playing periods.
The wood underneath the varnish can also do the same, causing swelling and cracks in the finish – an irreversible side effect of keeping the piano in direct heat. A ruined finish looks unsightly and compromises its resale value for when you eventually look to replace your piano.
Conclusion
To sum things up, a piano is made out of mostly wood and metal. This can prove tricky to maintain and susceptible to the elements, particularly in the tropical climate of Singapore. However, with the proper methods, you, too, can ensure that your piano stays in great condition for many years.
Despite these precautions, your piano will still need regular, professional maintenance. These come in the form of tuning, polishing and parts replacement and often need specialised tools and expertise. In these cases, do turn to Mun Kai Piano Company, which has over sixty years of experience in various dealings such as grand piano rentals and used pianos for sale. On top of piano servicing, sales, and rental, we also offer spare parts, accessories, and any other items you may require to make the best of your piano at home. To learn more about our piano tuning cost in Singapore or other information, feel free to contact us today.
