As they say in real estate: "location, location, location!"
Most people don't realize how important where they place their piano in their home can be to the long term care of their acoustic piano. In order to get the best sound and longest life out of your piano, here are the top things to consider:
Heater Vents
Since acoustic pianos are made primarily of wood, extreme changes in temperature are the enemy. Expanding and contracting wood pieces inside the instrument will effect the tuning. So never place your piano directly in front of a heater (or A/C) vent.
Exterior Walls
For the same reason as above, it is best to place your piano on an interior wall where the temperature is more likely to remain stable. If your house arranged in such a way that this just simply isn't possible, plan to have it tuned and serviced more often.
Near a Window
Natural light seems like a good idea, but windows can be drafty. And perhaps more of a factor is the direct natural light will damage the finish of your piano, aging it quicker. Be sure to protect the outside of your piano as well as the inside.
Humidity
In our local area (northern midwest), humidity is generally not a huge factor as it generally stays within a piano-friendly range. However, if you like running a humidifier to make it feel like the tropics or you live in (or move to) an area where high humidity is a concern, you'll want to invest in a dehumidifier for the room your piano is in or a humidity control system. 45%-70% relative humidity is the ideal range for a piano. Extreme changes in humidity can cause the wood soundboard to swell and shrink, pulling the instrument out of tune and making it near impossible to hold a tune once serviced.
Against a Wall
A lesser known fact is how close your vertical piano is placed to the wall will effect the sound. This does not apply to grand pianos as their sound comes from the top of the instrument. For vertical pianos, though, the soundboard is on the back of the instrument. If you are limited on space, you most likely will place the back of your piano against an interior wall (away from heater and A/C vents and windows as suggested above) and think, "good enough." However, if you pull your piano just 3-4 inches away from the wall, the sound waves will have more room to bounce off the wall and create a fuller, more true to your instrument sound, rather than muffled, muted, or blah. Trust us, you'll be glad to know this tip!
Next time you move your piano, whether to a know location in your home or to a new home altogether, keep the tips above in mind and have it tuned and serviced within about 2 weeks after doing so for optimal sound and overall care.
