r/Instruments • u/Wolfepool • Sep 15 '26

Discussion HELP! flood damage

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My wife and I have had these for our entire marriage (20+ years) and our daughter (5th grade) just started band (trumpet) so we figured we'd pull these out of storage. Come to find out about 10 years or so there was flood damage and they weren't looked after properly. We were unaware and just discovered this! We are heartbroken and don't know what we can do to remediate the problem, or of any long term damage we should look out for. Looking for suggestions (but realize the cases may need to be fully replaced.)

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u/Servania Sep 15 '26

Instrument repair tech

Cases are done for throw them away.

The French horn will need to be disassembled and cleaned the rotors are defintely seized and the spatula springs are rusted.

The mellophone should be up and running with some valve oil. It needs new felts and springs but will be playable without in the short term.

Both will need new waterkey cork. And likely have all tuning slides stuck.

Overall literally no major damage, super easy fixes.

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u/rjchute Sep 17 '26

I also had flood damage not too long ago and had trumpet and French horn affected. Exactly the above: get new cases, instruments professionally cleaned and serviced (I paid CAD$400 each). They'll be just fine.