How To Move A Piano Properly

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How To Move A Piano Properly

How does one move a piano? Very carefully.

Okay, I'm being a little sarcastic, but moving a piano is a serious undertaking.

I am a large disciple of hiring a professional mover to move a piano. Pianos are heavy and it's easy to damage a piano while moving it. I am talking from experience. I own a Kimball piano my folks purchased new for me when I used to be a child. That piano was a big thing to me after having played on an old "clunker" of a piano for several years. I played that new piano each day.

When I got married it was time to move the piano to my own home. My man and his siblings moved it themselves. It wasn't a simple job even with the moving dolly they used (pianos weigh many hundred pounds - grand pianos can weigh 1,500 pounds). The amateur move of my piano ended in both of the piano legs being damaged (a common occurrence when people move a piano themselves ) and some unplanned internal work ( some pins needed repair and a string broke ). I should have hired a piano mover. Then I wouldn't have had those issues, but my partner and I thought we might save cash by doing it ourselves. It seemed to be a lesson I should have recalled, but I was stupid a second time.

A few years ago my hubby and I built a new house. When it came time to move the piano again, my husband was disinclined to hire somebody to move it professionally because our pocketbook was feeling empty from the expense of building the house (he called our new house a "money-sucking black hole." ) In his mind, moving it wasn't a massive deal. Our new house was less than two miles from our old one; and he had a dolly, a trailer, and a brother who was ready to help him.

Everything went OK till my man turned into the driveway of our new home. The sharpness of the turn strained the ropes holding the piano on the trailer and they broke. The piano tipped over and sustained a large amount of damage (the entire "guts" of the piano are ruined and the case is chipped and scratched ). I haven't had it fixed yet, but I have gotten an estimation. It's going to take plenty of time and cash fix the piano. It has to be totally rebuilt. Due to the labor involved, it might be less expensive to get a new piano than have it fixed, but the piano has plenty of sentimental value to me so I will have it fixed. This is why I say, "Hire a professional!"

What does a professional piano mover do to guarantee a safe and successful move? With upright pianos, they almost always strap the piano on a skid called a piano board. They also cover the piano with blankets to help protect it. The entire bundle is then usually put on a dolly and taken to its destination. If steps are concerned, the piano is taken off the dolly and slid up or down the steps on the piano board.

Moving a grand piano is a touch more involved. The lid, lid hinges, pedal lyre, and leg on the straight side of the piano are sometimes all removed. The piano is then put on the piano board, on its side, with the straight side down. The other legs of the piano are then removed. The piano is then covered with blankets, strapped to the board, and put on a dolly.

Some movers do not like to move a piano up or down steps. If it's feasible, they like to hoist it to the suitable floor via a window that is large enough to accommodate the piano.

So what do you do if you simply wish to move your piano from one part of a room to another? First, decide if it is truly necessary to move it because there's always the chance of damaging a piano even with a short move. Piano legs are the most likely thing to get damaged or broken.

Be very careful to elude putting too much weight on the legs. Get some robust folk to help if the piano is an upright; and get at least 5 people if it is a grand piano. With an upright or spinet, lean the piano back a little to take the pressure off the front legs, but be careful not to tip it back too far and tip it over. With a grand piano, lift the piano up enough to get the pressure off the legs before you attempt and move it. It is not obligatory ( and not recommended) to lift the piano off the floor entirely.

If you're going to move a piano usually consider having it fitted with special casters that will enable you to move the piano fairly easily. Or, have the piano placed on a piano van.

How you do you find a good piano mover if you've decided to not try and move it yourself? My proposal is that you call your local piano store and ask them for suggestions. They'll be able to offer you the name or names of reputable movers in your area.

Ok, so you've decided you are really going to move your piano and you've decided on a method. Now you have to figure out where you're going to put the piano. Where should it go?

Try to put your piano in an area of a room where there are little or no drafts, drafts, where it's out of direct daylight, and where the temperature and humidity are stable. This is because pianos are sensitive to humidity and temperature. Lots of temperature and humidity swings result in a piano to go out of tune quicker than ordinary, can damage the wood case, and if they are severe they can even eventually cause structural failure.

Don't place your piano over or next to a heat vent and duck placing it close to a fireplace. Don't put in front of a window because that is generally a drafty place as well as one with direct daylight. Try to find a room in your house or apartment that has constantly stable temperature and humidity. That is the best room for your piano.

If you can not find a place in your flat or home that is out of direct sunlight, free of drafts, and does not have gigantic temperature swings, you may want to consider having a climate control system installed in your piano.

Moving and placing your piano properly will help guarantee you have a beautiful instrument to play for ages rather than having what I now own - an oversized paperweight that needs to be dusted.

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