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My parents bought my baby grand for me, and I live in their house. Problem: My father insists on opening the windows which are less than a few feet away from my piano. AGHH! I try closing them but he just gets angry and tells me to leave it alone and that "fresh air is good for it." I'm worried, I'm angry, I love my piano. Is this just me being fanatic? I've already stressed a lot about my cats getting into the piano/cat hair floating everywhere, but I've searched it up and opening windows seems to be a big no-no. I don't know what I can do since my parents are the ones who actually payed for this piano, but I'm going to start screaming. (and yes the window is currently open right this second) We live in a pretty humid environment so we normally keep the windows closed and it hasn't been a problem, but the past few days have been much cooler (about 70-74 F) and pretty dry. I'm frustrated and feeling helpless? Comments? Suggestions? AGH

That sounds very frustrating! I hope that you'll find a solution. It is very wonderful and exciting that your parents have bought a baby grand for you, and of course it's important to take care of that gift.

I think you should also post this at the Piano Forum which is more about pianos as instruments.

I think almost everyone will agree with you, and you could print out the responses and show your father.

I think the three problems with open windoes are:

1. Much more difficult to control the humidity. Big humidty changes can cause big damage.
2. Higher probability of dust inside the piano.
3. Sun damage...if the window is open I'm guessing the blinds are also open.

Any of these has the potential to cause serious damage even if the piano was 20' away from he windows.

Keeping a window open, by itself, shouldn't hurt the piano too much - it's the change it temperature and humidity that really affects pianos (from experience with our own). Considering that humidity levels can change from day to day (sunny, dry to cloudy, rainy), keeping the window open would probably result in the piano feeling much greater fluctuations in humidity levels. And, if a baby grand is anything like my ancient upright, that means you'll end up tuning it, and retuning it, and retuning it. . . etc.

Cat hair seems to be a problem even if a window is closed. Birds, on the other hand. . .

Since I doubt you're suggesting that the OP should try to change the weather and the open window allows the weather, dust, and sun to "come inside"...?

Thanks for the feedback! I've printed a bunch of very professional looking information, including these responses. I doubt it made an impression, but I closed the windows anyways. : ) The sun actually isn't a problem due to the location of the piano/windows. It's in the back. Oh..I'm not really that great in geography and such but I'm getting this bad feeling now that in the winter (doesn't the sun move or something?) it will rise somewhere else? Crap. Uh. I can't remember. I guess I'll have to find out...


snaaap. And you're all so right. I'm thrilled and *so* thankful my parents were kind enough to make such an expensive purchase.

Would putting a piano cover while the windows are open help perhaps? Some members in the Forum might have comments about this. I'd be curious as to what they think based on experience.

You could explain to your father that having that window open is going to dramatically increase the cost of keeping that gift in tune - as well as cause stress on it which can damage it over time. I'm sure he doesn't want to devalue his investment. Maybe tell him that if he wants this piano to sound nice when you play it, he is going to have to pay an awful lot for tuning or keep the window closed. Presumably your parents have some appreciation for music, so they'll be disappointed to hear it sounding lousy. I'm a bit sneaky - I would reach in there and detune a couple of strings to accentuate the effect. Of course, I know how to get them back in tune again!

The air quality in many homes is many countries is atrocious -- often times worse than outside or even on board a jet with re-circulated air. It is important to human health that you open windows and air out your living spaces at least once a day. You are so fortunate to have a family that is taking care of you on so many levels. If I had to choose between losing my health and dying prematurely or having my piano age faster, I would definitely choose for the human health above the piano's depreciation.

You might want to consider keeping the lid of the piano closed with the music desk on top and installing a Dammp Chaser in your grand piano to increase the stability of humidity on your soundboard (improving tuning stability and reducing stress on the instrument) as windows are opened and closed in your home.

We have our grand piano located next to French doors that are opened (and left open!) on a regular basis and it has great tuning stability and has not shown any signs of problems after years of doing so.

Make sure that windows are not left open overnight to avoid any extreme humidity changes and/or formation of dew that could damage strings and joints. Remember that when windows are open while playing that you may be considered to be producing noise pollution and unnecessarily bothering your neighbors.

I don't see why a cover should help. It is potential humidity changes which are the problem, and the underside of the soundboard will not be covered - even assuming that the cover is completely moisture-proof.


The climate in Amsterdam may be different from the climate in ... where are you located, emmov? So Journey's good experience may not be so relevant.

Here are two practical suggestions.

1. Persuade your parents to get a Dampp Chaser and an undercover for the piano, and keep the lid closed while you are not playing. This will create a microclimate around the piano, and protect against opening windows. Of course, this costs money.

2. Get a reasonably decent hygrometer ro measure the humidity near to the piano, and take regular readings several times a day. You can get ones that log regular readings automatically. Also, make notes of when the windows are open. Study of this data will show whether the wiondows are causing a problem or not. If they are, you will have concrete evidence to show your parents.

Reading through this thread I can't help but think of all of those pianos sitting in those little practise huts up at Interlochen.

Funny you should mention that !! When I was a staff accompanist at Interlochen that's pretty much all I had to practice on. Wretched old spinets sitting in stone huts with concrete floors and no screens, air conditioning or heating. It is amazing what you can put up with when there is no other choice !! But, of course, that's part of the overall charm of the place !!

How about opening mac ?

Here's what Jim Frazee (Technician's Forum) has to say on the subject:

btb,

"It's entirely possible that the temperature swings in a New York apartment could severely/adversely effect the piano. Many buildings in NY have such extremely high heating systems not controllable by tenants that many people are forced to leave windows open all the time, even in the cold winter months. Also, if there was no humidity control in the room, the piano would possible by exposed to extremely low humidity levels."