Surviving the South Texas Summer: 5 Ways to Protect Your Piano
- Daniel Rockafellow
- Jun 1
- 4 min read
Texas summers can be brutal, not just for us, but for our pianos too. Between the triple-digit heat, high humidity, and dry air from indoor A/C, your piano goes through a lot behind the scenes.. In fact, South Texas weather is one of the biggest threats to the health, sound, and lifespan of your instrument.
At Rockafellow Piano, we’ve been working on pianos across San Antonio, New Braunfels, Boerne, Helotes, and beyond for over 30 years, we’ve seen firsthand what happens when pianos aren’t protected from the extreme shifts in heat and humidity. But the good news is — with a few simple habits, you can help your piano survive (and thrive) through the summer season.
☀️ 1. Keep Your Piano Away from Direct Sunlight
Pianos may look beautiful in a sunny room, but constant exposure to sunlight can quietly wreak havoc over time. In South Texas, direct sun doesn’t just warm a room; it bakes anything in its path.
High temperatures and UV rays can:
Fade and crack the finish
Dry out the soundboard and bridges
Cause the soundboard to shrink and warp
Loosen glued joints over time
What to do: Position your piano away from windows or glass doors. If it must be in a sunny room, consider using blackout curtains, UV-filtering film, or simply keeping blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day (usually between 2–6 PM). Even a few hours of sunlight a day adds up quickly in Texas.
🌡️ 2. Avoid Drastic Temperature Changes
Think of your piano like a living organism — it breathes, moves, and responds to its environment. Wood expands in heat and contracts in cold. Metal strings stretch and shrink with temperature changes. If the indoor climate is inconsistent, your piano becomes stressed and unstable.
Why this matters:
Sudden temp drops or spikes can make your piano go out of tune quicker
Causes action parts to swell or shrink
May cause cracks in the soundboard
Pro tip: Keep your piano in a part of the home that doesn’t experience big temperature changes — away from drafty windows, fireplaces, vents, and exterior doors. If you leave town, leave your A/C on around 75°F to prevent overheating while you’re gone.
💧 3. Stabilize the Humidity Level
South Texas weather can shift from dry to swampy in 24 hours. Your piano notices. Humidity is one of the biggest culprits behind warped keys, cracked wood, and erratic tuning.
Too much moisture? The wood swells, glue joints loosen, and keys stick.
Too little? The soundboard can crack, bridges may separate, and tuning pins can slip.
How to protect it:
Keep room humidity between 40–50%, especially in summer
Use a home humidifier or dehumidifier depending on your space
Better yet, install a Piano Life Saver System. it monitors and controls humidity inside your piano year-round. At Rockafellow Piano, we can install one of these systems for you, It's one of the best long-term protections for any piano in Texas.
🛡️ 4. Cover Your Piano When Not in Use
If you're not playing every day, a simple piano cover can go a long way toward protecting your instrument, especially during hot, dusty Texas summers. Even indoors, dust builds up fast, and moisture from the air can settle onto keys and surfaces without you noticing.
Why it matters:
Reduces dust buildup inside the action and between keys
Helps maintain a more stable surface temperature
Protects the finish from accidental sun exposure or A/C drafts
Helps prevent accidental spills or damage
You don’t need anything fancy — a clean, breathable piano cover (or even a soft blanket in a pinch) does the trick. Just be sure not to use plastic or rubber-backed fabric, which can trap heat and moisture.
It’s one of the easiest ways to quietly protect your piano between play sessions, especially in the unpredictable South Texas climate.
🛠️ 5. Tune Your Piano at Least Once a Year
Even if your piano isn’t your daily instrument, it will naturally go out of tune over time. This is due to changes in temperature, humidity, and the natural stretching and relaxing of the steel strings. Without regular tuning, your piano’s tone can become dull, uneven, or even unpleasant to play.
Annual tuning is essential because it:
Maintains the proper tension on the strings, which protects the wooden soundboard and frame from damage
Keeps your piano sounding clear, balanced, and expressive, so you can enjoy playing at its best
Helps prevent more serious mechanical issues that can develop when a piano is neglected
Allows a technician to spot small problems early
At Rockafellow Piano, we recommend scheduling a tuning at least once a year to keep your instrument healthy and delivers beautiful sound year after year.
📍Work With a Local Piano Technician Who Knows Texas
Not all technicians understand what it means to care for a piano in South Texas. Our weather is unique — and your piano’s needs are too. That’s why local experience matters.
At Rockafellow Piano, caring for pianos isn’t just a job; it’s a family tradition. I work alongside my dad and we’ve been caring for pianos in San Antonio and the Hill Country for over 30 years. We understand how the climate affects instruments, and we give personal attention to each piano we service.
We’ve been proud to serve homes, churches, and schools across San Antonio, New Braunfels, Boerne, Helotes, and every near by areas. When you call Rockafellow Piano, you’re getting more than just a tuning, you’re getting a team that cares about your piano just as much as you do.
Whether you need a yearly tuning, humidity control system, or just some advice — we’re always happy to help!
📞 Ready to Schedule a Tuning?
If it’s been over a year since your last piano tuning—or if you’re unsure when it was last serviced—it’s time to schedule.
Don’t wait until your piano sounds bad to take care of it. Preventative care preserves your instrument’s tone, value, and longevity.
👉 Book Your Piano Tuning with Rockafellow Piano today! We are proudly serving San Antonio and surrounding areas!
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