If you’re the proud owner of a very expensive but fragile piano, you know that using and dusting it from time to time isn’t the only thing it needs to have done. It may as well be the main reason why you’re not redecorating your house, since moving the piano is the last thing you want to deal with.
Some of us are big fans of “do-it-yourself” things, which is why they’re only considering moving the piano all by themselves. Some would like to make no effort for it, no matter how much it costs to move a piano by hiring someone who knows how to do it. The market is full of professional movers that know a lot about piano moving so you should keep that in mind.
If you’re sitting on the fence and can’t decide which way to go, scroll down to see what’s to keep in mind when moving a piano. At the end of it, you may realize it’s a no brainer after all and you might as well do it on your own. After all, how to move a piano unless you know some tips?
Without any further ado, here are the tips for you to keep in mind:
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Look for a good team
You definitely cannot do it on your own, so you need to get together at least 4 people to get the piano moving. Two members of your team are going to handle the lifting, whereas the other two are going to have to manage the equipment, giving instructions near the corners and while getting into the moving truck.
4 is the minimum you can go with, but the more the merrier. The bigger the team, the easier and faster you’re going to get the job done.
Get ready!
It’s almost useless to mention that everyone has to be as comfy as it can. Comfortable shoes and clothes are essential. Remove any long and dangly jewelry (you can do the move in style without the embellishments). Last thing you want to deal with while moving the piano is to get someone tangled to the piano.
Is the piano ready too?
When moving your piano, you’re not just going to lift it up and put it in the moving truck. You need sturdy and heavy-duty furniture straps which increase your safety while lifting and carrying the piano. You also need two furniture dollies for easier rolling of the piano on the flat surface. Therefore, you should get some professional gear for the job.
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that if your piano has metal casters, you may roll it all around the house. They’re rather fragile and don’t take your piano’s weight, whereas the moving dollies are going to handle it. Even though it’s going to take you longer, it’s wise to take the legs apart and move them one by one.
Get also some thick blankets and wrap the body of your piano, securing them with moving tape. You need to close and lock the lid, stuffing it too with some blanket. Not all pianos come with lockable lids, but you may improvise with a blanket around them for safety reasons.
Balance is the key
Pianos are very weirdly balanced as their top is heavy and the legs are fragile and lightweight. This is why it’s essential to really get how the weight is distributed, keeping the piano’s balance right throughout the whole moving.
You also need to make sure that nobody scratches or dents the piano’s surface. As if this wasn’t enough reason for worry, the inside of the piano is also full of things you should never touch or even move. Needless to say, the piano itself falling on anyone from your team is a real concern as it may cause critical injuries.
Never forget that a piano is a heavyweight tool that comes with specific challenges and you should never undermine them.
Let’s roll
While moving your piano, you should always keep its balance as this way you’re going to lower the risk for any damage inside the piano.
Have each of the lifters hold on to one side of the piano and place a furniture dolly under either side. Continue by slowly rolling the piano to the moving truck. If you have to deal with stairs, give up now and hire some professional movers instead. Better safe than sorry, remember?
If there are any bumps on the road, try to get one set of wheels at a time. Assuming you got all safe to the ramp, you should board the left side (bass keys) first as it’s the heavier part.
Almost done
Once your piano is in the truck, you need to place it in the safest place for it. That is deep inside the truck, as you want it to be the first thing to load. Get plenty of boxes and place them around the piano, ensuring a good support for it. Use also various boxes around the piano, keeping it all snug during the trip. Your piano has to stay in place for the whole trip so prepare the boxes long ahead the moving.
What’s to say about the new home?
You’re not done yet and now’s your chance to have a better placement of your piano. Once you’re in the new home, look for the spot that fits one or two players, but also is large enough to accommodate several sing-alongers, right to an inner wall. You want to protect the piano from mold, cold air and moisture.
Chances are you’re going to have to tune it once again after all that trip, but give it a month until that part. The piano needs time to settle into its new home so tuning it any sooner than one month is going to be useless.
