How to Move a Piano Quickly and Safely
Table of Contents
- 1. Wrap the Piano – Moving Blankets and More
- 2. Lifting the Piano Depending on the Size and Type
- 3. Hire a Professional Piano Mover
Moving the entire contents of your home requires a lot of care and planning, but if you have a piano, things get even more complicated. In order to protect the piano and safely move it from your old location to a new one, you need to learn how to move a piano quickly and safely. Besides the specific instructions listed below, consider these tips to protect your musical investment as much as possible.
- Ensure your piano before moving it.
- Consider transporting the piano separately from everything else.
- Measure all doorways, halls, and paths first.
- Hire a piano expert to disassemble parts prior to the trip.
- Research top piano tuners near your new home to call as soon as possible.
1. Wrap the Piano – Moving Blankets and More
The matter what type of piano you need to move, it helps to wrap it in protective quilted cloths or other moving blankets before transport. While this will not protect the inner workings, it will provide a shield against bumps, scratches, and other surface cosmetic damage. Do everything possible to only move a piano in pleasant weather. However, if it is raining or snowing at all, also protect the wood instrument with tarps or plastic wrap over the padding.
If you need to move a grand piano, experts recommend removing the legs first and strapping the instrument to a specialized board made specifically for the type and size you own. The legs are simply not strong enough to hold up the rest of it in a bumpy truck. If an upright piano has casters on the bottom, do not trust them to support the entire weight either. Use dollies or other wheeled support boards to finish the wrapping job before you move the piano.
2. Lifting the Piano Depending on the Size and Type
Whether you are moving an upright piano or a baby grand, instrument is quite heavy and cumbersome. Also, with over 10,000 moving parts inside, it is much more delicate than a bookshelf, cabinet, or armoire. First, make sure you have enough people to safely lift it from all sides of the piano. Four is the recommended minimum, although to strong people may handle a smaller upright piano safely enough to get it on a dolly. You do not want to tip the instrument.
Estimate the piano’s weight first and choose only the strongest helpers. Upright pianos range from approximately 400 to 600 pounds. Grand pianos can weigh anywhere from 600 to 1400 pounds. This is a great reason to consider hiring professional movers to tackle this tricky job.
3. Hire a Professional Piano Mover
One of the best ways of how to move the piano quickly involves hiring professionals who have done this type of work before. No matter how long you have been playing music, you may have never transported your chosen instrument before. Do not underestimate how heavy they are or how delicate the inner workings can be. You cannot simply throw a cloth over the top and heft a piano onto a moving truck.
How the movers position a piano in the truck matters just as much as any other step in the process. Make sure there is enough padding and protection on the floor to provide a kind of shock absorber when the truck goes over bumps. The more protection you can give a piano during the move, the better.
Even learning how to move the piano quickly does not do you much good if you do not have the right type of equipment or the physical ability to put the piano on the dolly or carry it. These delicate musical instruments need special care, especially if you are moving a grand piano or have to navigate a flight of stairs. Call in a moving company with piano experience to ensure safe and quick transportation that will get you playing your favorite tunes again soon.
