Where is the worst place in the house for your piano?

A. Next to a wood stove.
B. In the sun.
C. Over a heat register.
D. On an outside wall.

Hint #1:  The answer is not D.  On an outside wall.  Maybe this was more true when your grandparents were young and didn’t have much insulation in their homes, but unless there is a very noticeable temperature difference and condensation forming on the wall, go ahead and put the piano on any wall that works.

Hint #2:  It’s not A nor C next to a heating/cooling source.  While these places are not ideal for tuning stability or wood preservation, pianos still last in good shape for many decades.  

So now you know, the answer is B. In the sun.  Direct sunlight damages the finish of the piano.

(These photos were taken from opposite sides of the same piano. Can you guess which side had been exposed to the sun?)

Fully refinishing a piano is very expensive, costing thousands of dollars and months of time. 

Since we are heading towards mid-winter, the sun is lower and reaching further into your south facing windows, so you may want to check and see if the piano is in the sun around mid-day and maybe provide some shade.

Hopefully, your piano can be in a place where it can be a part of your holiday gatherings.  I’m writing this the day after enjoying a Thanksgiving holiday that included eleven people singing and playing together around the piano!

It’s a wonderful season for the sparkling sound of a finely tuned piano.  Call, text or email any time.

Best wishes to you and yours!

Amy Zilk, RPT