When to Call a Piano Repairs Professional in Hampshire

Summary: In this article explains how to identify and fix complex piano repairs that require professional help. It covers common problems such as stuck keys, poor voicing, soundboard damage, broken action parts, and tuning issues.

Pianos are beautiful and versatile instruments that can bring joy and music to any home. However, they also require regular care and maintenance to keep them in optimal condition. 

Sometimes, you may encounter problems with your piano that are beyond your ability or expertise to fix. 

In such cases, it is best to call a professional piano technician who can diagnose and repair the issue.

However, how do you know when your piano needs professional repair? Here are some common signs and symptoms that indicate you should contact a qualified piano repairs technician as soon as possible.

Stuck or Sticky Keys

One of the most obvious problems to identify is sticky or stuck keys — it doesn’t take an expert to realize when the keys aren’t returning to form.

However, just because it’s easy to identify doesn’t mean it’s easy to fix. Sometimes, the key could require only a slight wiggle to make everything slide back to its original state. 

Even so, you must consult a professional to examine the root of the problem. Even if it returns to form, a stuck key could be a symptom of a more significant problem.

Some possible culprits of sticky keys are

Physical Blockages: One of the reasons to keep food and other crumbly substances away from your keyboard is that it only takes a small obstruction for the keys to become jammed.

Humidity Issues: Unsurprisingly for an instrument made of wood, moisture can wreak havoc on a piano. 

It’s important not only to ensure you keep beverages far away from your instrument but also that you maintain your piano to avoid temperature or humidity fluctuations. 

Once you’ve exposed the keyboard to moisture, the keys or the front rail can become bloated, causing alignment and spacing issues.

Tight Key Bushings: Piano keys rely on two different pins,  a balance pin, and a guiding pin. These ensure the key rocks are on their fulcrum and stay appropriately aligned. 

The pins rest inside a felt-cushioned part of the pin. If these felt bushings are too tight, either because they are new or because moisture has made them swell, the pins will not move freely and the key will stick or move slowly.

A Warped Key Slip: It’s also possible that the key slip has become warped. This causes friction between the key and the slip, preventing it from returning to its natural position.

A professional piano technician can identify and fix any of these issues by cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing the affected parts.

Muffled or Uneven Voicing

Another common problem that affects the sound quality of your piano is muffled or uneven voicing. 

Voicing refers to the tone and volume of each note on your piano, which depends on several factors such as hammer shape, density, alignment, and string condition. 

Over time, these factors can change due to wear and tear, humidity, dust, or improper use.

Some signs of poor voicing are:

• Notes that sound too soft or too loud compared to others
• Notes that sound dull or harsh
• Notes that have inconsistent sustain or decay
• Notes that have unwanted overtones or vibrations

A professional piano repairs service can improve the voicing of your piano by reshaping, needling, hardening, or softening the hammers, adjusting the action parts, cleaning or replacing the strings, and tuning the piano.

Damaged Soundboards or Bridges

The soundboard and bridges are essential components of your piano that amplify and transmit the sound from the strings.

The soundboard is a large wooden board that lies under the strings and has ribs attached to it for support and stability.

The bridges are wooden strips that connect the strings to the soundboard and transfer their vibrations.

If either of these parts is damaged, cracked, loose, or warped, your piano will suffer from reduced volume, distorted tone, buzzing noises, or loss of sustain.

Some causes of the soundboard or bridge damage are:

• Extreme changes in temperature or humidity
• Excessive tension from the strings
• Physical impact or trauma
• Aging or deterioration

A professional piano repairs technician can assess the extent of the damage and determine whether it can be repaired or replaced.

Depending on the severity of the problem, this may involve regluing, clamping, patching, shimming, refinishing, or replacing the soundboard or bridges.

Broken Action Parts

The action is the complex mechanism that connects the keys to the hammers and allows you to control how you strike each note on your piano.

The action consists of many small parts such as levers, springs, screws, flanges, jacks, wippens, backchecks, shanks, knuckles, and more.

Each part has a specific function and must work in harmony with others for smooth and responsive performance.

However, over time and use, some of these parts may break down due to wear and tear, humidity changes, dust accumulation, or improper handling. Some signs of broken action parts are:

• Keys that don’t produce any sound or produce multiple sounds
• Keys that feel too heavy or too light to press
• Keys that make clicking, rattling, or squeaking noises
• Keys that bounce back too quickly or too slowly

A professional piano repairs technician can inspect and repair the action parts by cleaning, lubricating, adjusting, or replacing them as needed.

They can also regulate the action to ensure that each key has the same touch and response.

Out-of-Tune Piano

One of the most common and noticeable problems with any piano is being out of tune. Piano tuning service is the process of adjusting the tension of each string to produce the correct pitch for each note. 

A piano has about 230 strings and 88 keys, which means there are many opportunities for tuning issues to arise.

• Some causes of an out-of-tune piano are:
• Changes in temperature or humidity
• Moving or transporting the piano
• Playing the piano frequently or vigorously
• Ageing or stretching of the strings
• Loose or slipping tuning pins
• Some signs of an out-of-tune piano are:
• Note that sounds flat or sharp compared to others
• Note that sounds dissonant or unpleasant
• Note that sound different in different octaves
• Note that sound different when played with the pedal

A professional piano repairs technician can tune your piano by using a tuning device and a tuning hammer to adjust each string to the correct pitch. 

They can also check and correct the intonation, temperament, and unison of your piano.

Conclusion

These are just some of the complex piano repairs that require professional attention. 

Other problems that may warrant calling a technician include broken strings, pedals, pins, casters, hinges, legs, lid props, music desks, or keys.

Loose tuning pins; faulty dampers; squeaky action; worn felt; missing ivory; cracked pin block; split agraffes; rusted hardware; faded finish; and more.

If you notice any of these issues with your piano, don’t hesitate to contact a reputable piano repair service in Hampshire.

A professional piano technician can restore your piano to its original beauty and functionality, ensuring that you can enjoy playing it for years to come.