If you’re moving and considering how do you get a piano into a house, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, moving pianos is often a daunting task. Moving a piano safely and securely takes additional time, experience, and specialized equipment. As a result, many people decide not to move their instruments on their own because they fear damaging them or injuring themselves while doing so.
With that said, moving is no reason to break into a sweat. It is possible to pull off this heavy task smoothly and efficiently with just the right equipment, careful planning, and an efficient workflow. In order to facilitate the process, you can hire long-distance piano movers on the website.
Here in the article, we’re going to present some simple steps on how to move an upright piano:
Getting ready to move
Moving a piano is a big job, but it can be done safely. However, before moving it, you must prepare and ensure your instrument is in good shape.
Preparing Your Piano
The first step is to see if your keyboard can pass through doorways, hallways, and staircases. Make sure there’s enough room in each area before your move date. Then, before you move it, inspect it carefully to ensure there are no loose parts or damage to the case or keyboard. If there are any loose parts, fix them before moving them.
Also, map out the route and make sure all movers are aware of it. Make sure they don’t get in each other’s way and know where to stand so they don’t bump into each other or get hurt while moving the piano.
Equipment needed
Make sure you have all of the tools and equipment you need. This includes;
- A truck that has a ramp or lifts
- Straps or rope to secure it inside the truck
- Blankets or padding to protect it from damage during transport
Consider specialty moving services.
Many companies specialize in moving and storage. These companies usually have the right equipment and experience to move without damaging the instrument.
Wear appropriate clothing.
Pianos are heavy and awkward, so wear shoes with good traction and sturdy clothes that won’t get caught in any parts of them during transport. Sneakers or work boots are best — long pants and long sleeves help protect against cuts from sharp edges on the instrument. You should also wear protective gloves so as not to get splinters from rough spots on the woodwork of the instrument.
The moving process
Here is how to easily move a piano;
Position the movers and a dolly
You should always have a piano dolly when moving a piano by yourself. Using a dolly, you can safely carry the instrument without putting yourself in danger of injury. Once you’ve selected a team of movers and secured their services, ensure they’re positioned safely.
Find the best grip
When lifting the instrument with your hands, be careful not to damage its key coverings by resting them on top of the keys—you risk scratching them. Instead, grasp it firmly enough so it won’t fall out from under your hand when moving from one place to another.
Lift the piano onto the dolly
Now that the piano is rolled out onto the dolly, you’ll need to lift it up and place it on top. You’ll want to ensure that you have a good grip on both sides of the piano and underneath. Place one hand at each end of a side rail and place your other hand under each side rail just above where they meet at one end of your piano. Lift up slowly until all four legs are off their wheels and resting on the dolly.
Secure the piano to the dolly
The safest way to move a piano is with ropes or straps. This way, there won’t be any damage if something goes wrong while transporting it. You can also use rope or straps to secure the lid so it doesn’t swing open unexpectedly during transport.
Roll the piano to the exit
Once you’ve got the piano out of the house, it’s time to roll it to the exit. Unfortunately, you can’t carry it like a sack of potatoes down the street. So instead, roll the instrument with a dolly up against its side. This option best suits flat surfaces such as parking lots or sidewalks.
Guide it down the stair ramp
With the piano in place, you’ll want to guide it down the ramp. First, ensure it is well-balanced and the legs are firmly on each step. If it’s too heavy for one person, use a dolly or other device to help move it down. Also, ensure there are no pieces of furniture in front of or behind where your instrument is headed.
Push the piano up the truck ramp
If you have a ramp, it’s best to use it. If you don’t have a ramp, use a dolly to push it up the truck ramp. Once you’re on the truck and ready for transport, ensure your piano is strapped down tightly, so it doesn’t move during transit.
Secure the piano in the truck
The main question is to understand how to transport the piano in a truck so that it does not move during transportation. There are many different ways to do this. The easiest way is to place plywood panels around each side of the instrument and then strap them down with ratchet straps to secure them in place. You can also use tie-down straps if you do not have plywood.
Once the piano is in its new space, it’s important to reassemble any pieces you removed. These are likely to include the bench, pedals, and lid if they were removed when moving it.
Conclusion
Hopefully, this guide has helped explain the process of how to move a heavy piano. Rest assured that your instrument will be moved adequately to its new home!
