It takes a lot of strength to move a piano. Any individual who has completed the difficult task will attest to the need for significant labor and planning. Because it is so tiresome and exhausting, it has managed to establish its market within the moving sector. These days, you may discover nationwide moving and storing businesses that specialize in relocating pianos.
Moreover, given that musical instruments often weigh from 300 up to 1,000 lbs. or more, experts strongly advise working with a reputable piano relocation company with large-scale experience. This article is the result of extensive research by our team to provide tips and tricks to piano owners.
Create a Plan
First things first, planning your piano move should be your top priority. It includes knowing the measurements and type of your piano, the manpower it requires to move, and assessing the pathway that the piano will get through. Piano types can be:
- Electric pianos (approx. 200 lbs.)
- Upright pianos (200-1,000 lbs.)
- Grand pianos (500-1,200 lbs.)
After considering the size of the piano, assess how many people you should seek help from if you are making a DIY move. Professional moving companies usually consist of 3–5 expert movers. For the pathway, you should assess the following:
- stairs
- walkways
- corridors
- doors
Use the Right Equipment and Supplies
If you want to relocate the piano safely and stably, you must possess all of the necessary equipment and tools. You can opt to rent or buy the following:
- Moving blankets or padding
- Tapes or bungee cords
- Piano skid board
- Heavy-duty moving straps
- Screwdriver
- Four-wheeled dolly with straps
- Loading ramp
- A truck
However, it is recommended to rent trucks, ramps, and dollies instead of buying them because of the costs. Also, it is more cost-efficient to hire a piano moving company to avoid the strenuous planning and accumulation of equipment and supplies.
If your piano has wheels, you shouldn’t ever move the musical instrument, even by a few centimeters with them. They aren’t sufficiently strong to transport the piano far, which means they might even break.
Safeguarding and Locking the Piano
It’s essential to safeguard and secure the piano to prevent damage. The following tips can be a great help to ensure that this task is done accordingly:
- To protect the keyboard’s keys, shut and lock the lid, then lock the instrument’s top.
- Use a screwdriver to separate the piano legs if you can. As the legs come off, guarantee that the entire team keeps hold of the organ, so it can be slowly brought to the floor.
- Use transport blankets or other protective coverings to enclose the instrument. To prevent causing streaks on the walls, ensure the corners are protected.
- Using bungee cords or wrapping tape, fasten the moving blankets. The blankets need to be sufficiently thick to avoid scrapes or dentures. However, it shouldn’t be so thick that it significantly increases the bulk or heaviness.
Use Safe Lifting Procedures
An injury is the worst thing you don’t want to happen on the day of relocation. Although a piano weighs a lot, using the proper lifting techniques will help you avoid accidents:
- Maintain a broad base of support by having your team around.
- Squat with your knees and hips only bent.
- Keep your spine/ back as straight as possible.
- Lift gently while keeping your pelvis and knees upright.
- Keep the weight as close to your entire body as you can.
- Instead of twisting or turning your torso, shift your feet to make a turn.
- Find the piano grips for a secure hold, and added stability, and grab the corner next to the keyboards.
Aside from lifting procedures, you should put on loose, comfortable clothes that enable you to squat fluidly in the necessary position. Additionally, make sure your athletic shoes have sufficient traction on the ground.
Tips for Offloading
Reverse the procedures we’ve mentioned once you have reached your new place of residence:
- Release the moving straps.
- Place the loading ramps in place and cautiously lower the piano.
- Offload the dolly by guiding it towards your house and pushing it there.
- After removing the piano skid board, you have to start removing each component of the moving blankets and reassembling it.
- When your team is done reassembling the piano, ensure to tune it up.
When Should I Hire an Expert Piano Mover?
Not everyone should move pianos. Hiring an experienced piano mover is a good idea if the idea of transporting such an enormous unit of property stresses you out or if you don’t have the support you need to complete it. To ensure that your musical instrument is in excellent hands throughout the transfer and to guarantee that you rely on the most trustworthy moving company, check to see whether they have licenses and insurance.
Also read:
