Happy Autumn! Time to get your piano tuned.

Ahh, fall. Time to snuggle up in a cozy blanket with a pumpkin spice latte and breathe in that fresh, crisp air. We're well into the spooky season, and you know what that means...

That's right! Time for routine piano maintenance!

Healthy pianos like to be tuned twice a year, and respond best to tuning in the spring and the fall, just as the seasons change. 

Here's why.

1. Humidity is shifting

Even with climate control systems, pianos are very sensitive to humidity fluctuations. In the summer, humidity can be high. Temperatures are up, they stay up, and there's generally a fair amount of rainfall. In the winter, humidity is much lower. Even if it snows, the air can be painfully dry.

Pianos are mostly made of wood, and wood expands and contracts in response to its environment. So when the thousands of wood components inside your piano shift, the tension on the strings changes. By not keeping up with these shifts, your piano can quickly fall out of tune. 

Plus, if you get your maintenance done in between the extreme seasons, the piano is less stressed and can adjust to the seasons a little easier. This means fewer calls to the tuner over the course of the year.

2. The holidays are coming

Even if you're not planning on hosting a holiday party complete with a piano recital, you may find it harder to find a free space in your piano tuner's books. They will likely be booked solid with last-minute appointments with churches, entertainment venues, and people who didn't plan ahead in the fall. Plus, the tuner might have their own mid-winter plans taking up space in the books.

On the flip side of the calendar, summer is peak vacation season. Delaying tuning until summer will likely conflict with someone's schedule. And wouldn't you rather be sunning on the beach than listening to the piano tuner's one-note song?

3. Get a head start on seasonal dirt and grime

I know, nobody wants to think about it, but mice are out there looking for a cozy home for the winter. And your piano is the perfect spot. Spiders and other creepy crawlies like the hollow space, too. Keeping your piano clean and well-maintained inside and out is the simplest way to prevent pests.

Also, spring and summer are high-pollen seasons. That stuff floats around and accumulates inside the piano action, so you'll definitely want to clean it out before it gunks up the pinblock. Soundboard cleaners get this job done in a flash, and Cory piano polishes get the outside sparkling clean.

Want to maintain your own piano? Check out our guides for tuning your own piano, leveling keytops, and much more.