Storage Unit Tips: Protect Your Piano From Moisture Damage
Pianos are not only heavy and large, but also vulnerable to moisture damage. This usually makes keeping them in a storage unit a challenge. Here are storage tips that will help you solve the moisture damage challenge.
Keep damp items out of the storage unit
Patio furniture, pool equipment, scuba gear and not-yet-dried pieces of cloth should be kept out of the storage unit. This is because when the temperature in your unit rises, the moisture in these items will evaporate. This will increase the humidity in the storage unit. The high humidity may then accelerate the rate at which your piano's finish wears off. There is also the fact that the increase in humidity can affect the integrity of the connection points of the wires and thus damaging your piano.
If you have damp items that need to be stored during a move, you should consider renting out a separate storage unit. This will protect your piano from moisture damage and thus increase its lifespan.
Use desiccant packs
Even with all damp items kept out of a storage unit, the existing weather in the area where the storage facility is located may still create humid conditions in your unit. The use of moisture-absorbing substances is usually advisable in such cases.
Desiccant packs such as silica gel are effective moisture-absorbing materials not only because they can absorb water, but also because when compared to other materials, they can absorb a relatively larger percentage of their weight in water. Including them in your unit is therefore an effective way of getting rid of piano-destroying moisture.
The only thing that you should keep in mind is that the effectiveness of the packs usually diminishes as they absorb more moisture. Therefore, when they get wet you have to replace them. Recycling them by heating them up is also an easy way of ensuring that your piano has continued protection from moisture.
Mind condensation when covering the piano
Since the accumulation of dust particles on parts of a piano can affect its tuning, covering it when storing it in a storage unit is a must. However, one has to be careful not to damage the piano in the process. One of the most common ways people do this is by wrapping the piano in plastic sheets. This is a bad idea since plastic wrappers usually encourage condensation. It therefore exposes the piano's surface to this moisture which then damages the piano.
To protect the piano from dust without risking moisture damage, covering it with blankets is usually recommended. Check it out to learn more.