1. How often do I need to have my piano tuned?

     

     ~This depends on a variety of factors including how often the piano is played, how often it is moved, what level of performance is required of the piano, the amount of temperature and relative humidity change throughout time within the piano's environment, whether the piano is in a church, school, or performance hall setting or in a residential home, how often and how well the piano has been tuned and maintained in its past, and more.  Talk with your piano technician about setting up a beneficial and regular maintenance plan for your particular piano in your specific situation. 

  Generally Flemmer Piano Services recommends 2 tunings per year for most in-home pianos, once in the winter and once in the summer, or once in spring and once in fall.  A good time to schedule a tuning is about 2 weeks into the season change as the temperature and humidity levels are changing.  If a more cost-effective maintenance plan is desired, one tuning per year can suffice for a minimum level of service.  For churches, schools, piano instructors, music schools, performance halls, restaurants, and assisted living homes more regular tuning is required, usually 4 or more tunings per year are recommended.  If a piano is allowed to go more than 12 months without tuning, the string tension within the instrument falls to a degree that makes future tuning less stable and much more expensive, when the piano is eventually serviced.  A process called a "pitch raise" (an additional preliminary tuning) is then required during the next tuning to bring the entire piano up to "standard pitch" before the final fine tuning can be performed, in effect requiring two tunings (or even more in some cases) before the piano will hold its tune.