Many of us have a much beloved family piano at home that has been passed down through the generations, but have you ever wondered what the real lifespan of the average piano is?
The factors that contribute to your piano’s lifespan include:
Was it set-up properly?
The piano’s first year is absolutely crucial to a long lifespan. In the case of a grand piano the wood of the piano has gone through quite the ordeal, having just been shaped and pressed into an entirely new shape and shipped on its side. It’s no wonder it needs some additional TLC before it can settle,. Even with an upright piano it will still need attention as will need to adjust to its new environment. A new piano will require 3-4 tunings, regulation and voicing in its first year to ensure that it stays properly on pitch for that first year, and thereby remain stable more easily for the rest of its life.
Maintenance and care:
A piano, much like a car, requires regular maintenance, the most well known is of course piano tuning. Tuning your piano at least once a year in a home (more tunings will be necessary if your piano sees frequent use) is not only important to keep your piano sounding good but will prevent your piano from falling out of pitch.
Should a piano fall out of pitch it will require a pitch adjustment. This is a 30 min – hour long procedure that involves pulling the strings back up to tension. This is by no means a piano tuning, rather it is the foundation that your tuner builds on in order to get your piano into the best possible condition to stay in tune after the final tuning. This process does place a fair amount of extra strain on your piano’s frame, especially if your piano is older and hasn’t been tuned in a while. Strings that have settled into the improper pitch can be prone to snapping, regardless of how careful the tuner is.
Regulation and voicing are also important factors. Regulation is the service which a technician performs on your piano where each individual key is set to perform its best and uniformly. Over time the felts of your piano will become worn and compressed due to the constant movement and changes in temperature and humidity. Some that are used more frequently will wear more than the others. Voicing is the gentle manipulation of the felts surrounding the hammer heads to produce an even tone throughout the piano. Regulation should be done periodically. Usually every three to five years.
Environment:
Being made of wood and other natural fibres makes the piano susceptible to changes in heat and humidity. If your door has ever swollen and gotten stuck in its frame you can imagine why this might be a problem for an instrument that is comprised of 80% wood.
Placing the piano in the sunlight can not only bleach and dry out the wood but cause damage to the mechanism. Excessive heat can cause the finish and veneer to swell and bubble.
Humidity can wreak havoc on a piano, not only causing parts to stick but the strings to corrode and rust. High humidity can also cause the piano’s pitch to go sharper
With proper maintenance a piano can last 30-50 years. But the regulation and voicing might not be enough after a while as parts will begin to wear and break and will need to be replaced. A good quality piano’s life can be extended with some refurbishment of the mechanism, strings and hammers.
After all this time the question then becomes: Is it time to replace the piano?
The sad fact is that many antique pianos are no longer worth having as a piano. They may look pretty as many antique pianos have stunning, intricate detailing, but not be playable. Overdamper pianos are particularly difficult to repair and find replacement parts for. This may not be the case for all antiques and some may even have unique features such as a honky tonk rail that you won’t find on a modern piano.
We strongly recommend that you ask your piano technician whether the piano is still worthwhile to refurbish or if it’s better to make an investment in a newer piano.