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OK, my understanding is that a piano needs to be at or near a relative humidity of 42% and a temperature range of 65-85 degrees. Is this true?

If so, I have a slight problem.

My church's rehearsal piano (a Yamaha P22) has been subjected to some rather extreme conditions. This past week the temperatures during the day were around 75F. When we came in this morning for service, the inside temperature was closer to 40. The heating system had broken! We moved the piano into another area that was heated. Can I expect anything to happen to the piano?

Thanks for your help,
Isaac Bruton

Go to the Dampp Chaser web site at www.dampp-chaser.com for more information on temp and relative humidity. It is not beneficial to have extremes of temperature and/or relative humidity. The biggest reason pianos go out of tune is the effect relative humidity has on the soundboard and bridges. Until the heating system is repaired leave it in the heated room you moved it to. Wait until the original location warms up again after the repaired system does its thing. You do not want to move it back to a location that is cold. The piano should have no long term problems from this event. You may want to get in tuned after it is moved and sits in its old original location. The P22 is a very solid piano and chances are it will not even need pitch work after the move.

The tuning may well go "off" but since this is a one-time problem, not a recurring situation, I wouldn't expect any permanent damage beyond the need for a tuning.

Regards,

Rick Clark

Rick
What did you do with Joy?

I know you don't have a basement to hide the body in.