We all know that for a piano to sound great, it needs to be perfectly tuned.  However, because pianos are made from wood, they also need to be maintained in the right environment to prevent warping, cracking, or other problems that would affect appearance and especially the sound quality.  A great way to keep your piano in the best condition possible is by using an indoor home waterfall fountain in the same room, thus adding needed humidity.

     Because the internal mechanisms and soundboard within a piano is made of wood, humidity can play a huge factor in the proper mechanical functions of the 100’s of wooden moving parts.  In dry conditions the sound board, which acts as a natural amplifier within the piano.  As humidity changes and the wood expands and contracts the soundboard can actually crack and this will greatly negatively affect the sound as resonates on the comprised surface.  As the soundboard shrinks it will also release the tension on the strings and this will especially drop the tremble and mid range tones.  This movement can also cause the many connections and unions within the piano to be loosened.  This can lead to other troubles and especially annoying buzzing and vibration noises.

     Dry conditions will also affect the pinblock within the core of the piano.  The pinblock is the section where the piano strings are held securely with wooden pins.  The hammers within the piano strike the strings to make each tone and note. Because the strings require a precise amount of tension to hold each note for proper tone it is vital that the pins are secure and do not move, and affect the tension of the string.  With dry conditions wood will naturally contract and the wooden pegs that hold the strings can become lose and therefore the sound can become flat as the string loose their tension.  As these pins move within the pinblock due to humidity changes the hole in which the pins sit can actually become damaged causing the once round hole to become slightly elongated.  The hole looses its original shape.  This can be very difficult to repair because a round peg can not fit tight in an oval hole.

     The ideal humidity condition for a piano is 30 to 50 percent relative humidity but ideally closer to 40 to 5 percent.  Therefore, one of the best things you can do to keep your piano in perfect working order is to maintain the right level of humidity in the room where the instrument resides. 

     Sure, you could place an actual room humidifier in the room, but with this, you lose visual appeal.  Therefore, an even better solution is choosing floor or water wall fountains.  These fountains will not only benefit your piano but also enhance the entire look and feel of the room.

     With water wall fountains, you are actually incorporating a beautiful piece of art to the room.  For example, if you have a white, baby grand piano, you could complement the instrument by choosing a wall fountain made from copper or glass.  If you have a traditional upright piano, then perhaps a floor or wall fountain made from natural materials such as limestone, granite, slate, or river rock would be the best choice.  It not be a good idea to place a table top fountain on the piano itself as condensation, spills or splashes would cause cosmetic damage to the finish of the wood.  Worse yet, if any water were to enter into inner mechanics of the piano the damage could be severe and repairs costly or even impossible.  

     With so many possibilities, you literally get the best of both worlds by humidifying a room where a piano is located.  While the visual interest is peaked, the soft water sounds also create a relaxing environment.  In fact, most people who have indoor water fountains agree that they feel inspired.  For the musician, the person who plays the piano, being inspired is a great thing.

     However, while guests get the chance to enjoy the overall environment, the piano is still getting the necessary humidity.

About the Author: Garth Epp enjoys both music lover and the natural sounds of flowing and cascading water.  Premium Indoor Fountains.com was created to help helping people realize how they can incorporate these beautiful and relaxing sounds into their homes.    

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