Bellows leaking?

[Alans]

Played my accordion yesterday-no problem.
Today as soon as I slightly open the bellows there is this very high ,thin sound coming from the bellows. If I try and play notes on either side that sound accompanies the notes,and not in a happy way.
it is very humid here but I’ve had this accordion for a very long time. Any ideas what it could be? Might have to take it into the shop.

 

[Alans]

I see this issue was discussed a few years ago. Someone said the inside might need cleaning. Will have to take it in.

 

[debra]

The first thing to do is to locate where the leak is. Open the bellows (wide) while the accordion is on its feet. As gravity (the weight of the treble side) pushes the bellows closed, try to find where the air is coming out. If you cannot feel it with your hand, you can try to locate it with your eyeball. Move your head along around the bellows. Your eyeball should be more sensitive to detect the "wind". Alternatively you can also use a cigarette paper, holding it on one end and see if wind is blowing on the paper. The air may be coming out from a hole in the bellows, but it may also be coming out through a faulty seal between the bellow frame and the treble or bass side.

 

[JIM D.]

Might not be the bellows leaking but a pad leaking & sounding a note.

And to find a bellows leak try "Nosing around the bellows" this is by using your very sensitive upper lip
to feel air leaks.
The top of your hand & upper lip are two of the most sensitive parts of your body.

 

[JerryPH]

Might not be the bellows leaking but a pad leaking & sounding a note.

And to find a bellows leak try "Nosing around the bellows" this is by using your very sensitive upper lip
to feel air leaks.
The top of your hand & upper lip are two of the most sensitive parts of your body.

Well, not precisely THE most sensitive, but while waving around that other “appendage” may find the leaks faster it might seem somewhat awkward… hahaha!

 

[boxplayer4000]

Alans, a couple of days have passed since you posed your question on ‘a thin sound coming from the bellows’. Have you made any progress from using the suggestions already posted here? Have you run out of ‘appendages’ as suggested by Jerry?
You point to the bellows as the possible source of sound. In my experience, though bellows do leak, it’s not thought to be a condition which suddenly appears, unless the bellows receive some sudden shock or mechanical damage of course.
I suggest looking closer at the possibility it is a key pallet which has misaligned/moved. If it is a pallet the frequency of the sound you hear from the bellows will likely be quite close to one of the treble (or bass) keys/buttons. If the sound is close to one of those keys then it is very possible that the associated pallet(s) are suspect.

 

[JerryPH]

One common area are bellows gaskets. Easy to find leaks, relatively east]y to fix by replacing the gaskets.