Here are some of the basics:

	•	Scheduled Tuning: Schedule your piano to be tuned at least 2 times per year. Ask for a “touch up regulation” at each tuning visit.
	•	Regulation: The inner playing mechanism, called the "action" of a piano, is an amazingly complex and sensitive machine. Like any other machine, it needs to be kept in adjustment so that it works the way it was meant to work when it was built. Each key on your piano has over 25 points of adjustment which need to work together to produce the sound you hear when you play just one note!

In order to compensate for wear, compacting of cloth & felt, and changes in wooden parts due to humidity, periodic adjustments must be made. Keeping the correct relationship between every part will prevent unnecessary wear, and will make the action "feel right" - that is, each key will function smoothly and evenly throughout the whole keyboard. No more sticking keys, uneven feel, notes that don't do what you want them to do, pedals that don't work properly, squeaks, clicks, rattles, buzzes and so on.

	•	Full Regulation: Have a “full regulation” every 2 to 5 years. You’ll be amazed at the way your piano “should” have sounded each time you do this.
	•	Avoid "home repairs" on your piano: Let the experts take care of your prized investment! Although it may appear easy to fix yourself, an innocent mistake can be costly. Let a technician do it - they have the right tools, replacement parts and expertise to do the job right the first time.
	•	Pay attention to the environment:
		Keep your piano away from:   • Heating registers   • Radiators   • Fireplaces   • Air conditioning vents   • Extreme fluctuations of temperature and humidity levels: This can do major damage. Keeping a piano away from an outside wall was probably necessary in poorly insulated older Victorian homes, but should not be a problem these days. Avoid direct sunlight on your piano - it can damage and fade the finish, or even create horrible tuning problems. Use curtains or blinds for your safe piano environment. Try and keep the temperature and humidity levels as consistent as possible in the room where you have your piano.

Install (hang up) a temperature/humidity gauge in your piano area (hygrometer) to keep this in check.Visit Darrell’s Music Hall to purchase one. Click here to view one of the hygrometers that we have in stock. Note: Seasonal swings in relative humidity are the piano's greatest enemy. Swelling and shrinking of wooden parts affect tuning and keyboard touch, while extreme swings can eventually cause wood to crack and glue joints to fail. Pianos are happiest in a relative humidity level of 40 to 45 percent. If you don't have a central humidifier/dehumidifier, consider getting a room humidifier for the winter, and a room dehumidifier or air conditioner during the summer months. There's even such thing as a special piano humidifier/dehumidifier that can be installed in your piano. Ask your Darrell’s piano technician about this today.

	•	No Liquid on Piano: Keep plants, vases, drinks, or anything to do with liquid off the piano. Condensation can ruin the finish, and spillage of liquids into the inner mechanism can result in irreversible damage.
	•	Prevent Scratches: To prevent scratches on the finish, never place objects on your piano without a soft cloth or felt.
	•	No Furniture Polish: Don't use furniture polish to clean your piano. It can soften the finish if overused, and the silicone & oils present in many household brands can even contaminate the wood, despite what the labels may say. Ask Darrell’s about the right polish to use when it’s time to dust your piano.
	•	Feather-dust First: Dust is abrasive, so wiping it first can cause scratches, then wipe with a soft, damp cotton cloth, wiping in the direction of the grain. Then, wipe up any excess moisture with a similar dry cloth.
	•	Keep your keys clean: No Cleaning agents! Do the same thing as above to clean your keys, but use separate cloths for the blacks and the whites.
	•	Use only special polishing products: These are available through Darrell’s Music Hall, and they are made specifically for piano finishes. We’re glad to help, so as usual, just stop in and ask for advice! You can even just give us a call.