Why Balanced Humidity Matters for Your Piano's Health
Emanuel P Loiacono • July 9, 2025
As a piano technician, I often get asked: “Why does my piano go out of tune so quickly?” One of the most common—and overlooked—culprits is fluctuating humidity.
Pianos are made primarily of wood, and wood reacts dramatically to changes in moisture. When humidity rises, the wood swells; when it drops, the wood contracts. These shifts may be invisible to the eye, but they can wreak havoc on your piano’s tuning, action, and longevity.
A well-maintained piano isn’t just about regular tunings—it’s also about creating a stable environment where your instrument can thrive.
If you’re unsure whether your piano’s environment is right, I am happy to help assess your space and recommend solutions. Keeping your piano comfortable means keeping your music beautiful.
This is Kitty! Every Monday, she greets my wife at her piano lesson with our wonderful client and talented teacher, Natale Farrell at www.pianoeveryday.com. We’ve officially crowned Kitty as our Pet of the Month—because, honestly, she’s just too cute not to be. She always makes her presence known and adds a little extra joy to every visit!
This Mother's Day, we pause to honor the women whose love and guidance create the rhythm of our lives-our mothers. Just as a well-tuned piano brings harmony to a song, a mother's steady hand and heart bring harmony to a home. At Atlanta Piano Tuning by Ear, we believe that music is one of the purest expressions of love —and many of us owe our earliest musical memories to the moms who signed us up for lessons, waited patiently during practice, and clapped the loudest at recitals. Whether they were musicians themselves or simply champions of our passions, mothers helped us find our voice-note by note. To all the moms who encouraged a love of music, who taught us patience, and who reminded us that even the smallest note has value: thank you. Your care keeps our lives beautifully in tune. A heartfelt tribute to my mother, Phyllis Your unwavering support and boundless love have made everything in my life possible. I am endlessly grateful for all you’ve done—and I love you more than words can ever express. Thank you, truly, for everything. Love, Manny
It is important to keep your piano's room room climate-controlled. This is why. Climate-control will ensure that the piano is not exposed to extreme temperatures or humidity levels, which can damage the wood and other components. Tuning your piano regularly to keep it sounding its best. Tuning your piano will also help to protect it from damage that changes in temperature and humidity can cause. Checking humidity levels in your home is important. If the air is too dry, it can cause the wood in your piano to shrink, causing the piano to go out of tune. If it is too humid, felts will swell and notes will stick. So use your air-conditioning in the summer, close windows and doors near the piano, and keep heat vents closed that are near your piano.
HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON...PASSOVER AND EASTER...TO ALL OF MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND CUSTOMERS!
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How is a piano like a car???? To maintain your car, the oil should be changed periodically. If not, your car will stop running, or run poorly. To maintain your piano, the piano should be tuned either once or twice a year. If not, the piano will play poorly...unisons will not match. The piano has wooden parts which expand and contract with changes in temperature. This expansion and contraction effects the strings and pin block, the sound board and the bridge. As your piano tuner, I not only TUNE your piano but check all of its parts to prevent a major problem from occurring. How is your piano like a car? Your car needs a good, reliable, experienced, honest mechanic. So does your piano:)
Regular piano tuning improves sound and longevity. Learn why from a piano tuner in Cumming, GA. Call Atlanta Piano Tuner By Ear at (770) 643-8863 today.
A word from the wisdom of Beethoven, one of the masters of music. What is Beethoven's most famous quote? Don't only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets, for it and knowledge can raise men to the divin e.
