Why You Should Enlist Professional Help to Move Your Piano
Many families love having a piano in their home for parents and children to make lovely music with. When settled in your home, a piano doesn’t typically require much maintenance. However, anyone who’s ever moved home with a large instrument knows that things can get very complicated when it comes to transporting a piano safely, especially if you choose to move it yourself.
The number one priority when moving a piano is avoiding injury to people, the second priority is avoiding injury to the instrument, and the third is avoiding injury to your home. Since moving a piano can be a big task (that will quickly grow more complicated!) and involves such an expensive item, it’s typically recommended that you enlist the services of a professional moving company. Professional movers have the experience, expertise, and equipment required to move any kind of piano quickly, safely, and efficiently.
But if you decide to move your piano on your own, here are some tips to help you along the way.
Moving a Piano without Professional Help
Moving an item as large and expensive as a piano can be difficult to do, especially on your own. But if that’s the route you decide to take, here is everything you need to know on how to move a piano and keep it safe during the process.
How to Move Your Piano on Your Own
Before you move a piano on your own, be sure to gather enough people to get the job done. It’s recommended that you enlist the help of at least three other people. You’ll also need to make sure you have all the equipment you need. Follow these three steps to move your piano without hurting you or your home.
Gather the Necessary Equipment
Be sure to have all the following equipment before moving your piano.
- A four-wheeled moving dolly to help transport your piano.
- At least two pairs of furniture straps to help you lift the heavy object.
- Transportation for the piano, such as a pickup or rental moving truck that has a ramp for easy loading.
Prepare Your Piano for Moving
There are also a few steps to take so your piano is ready to be moved.
- Wrap your piano in furniture blankets to protect it from external damage.
- Tape the furniture blankets in place so they do not shift.
- Close the lid to your piano. If it can be locked, lock it. If the lid cannot be locked, consider taping it down with stretch tape.
Moving Your Piano
Once your piano is prepared, and you have your moving equipment, here are some tips on how to safely move your piano from your home to the moving truck.
- Position the furniture straps underneath the piano, then pull them up, with at least two people helping, to move the piano.
- Lift the piano and place it on top of the dolly securely. Now you will be able to move the piano on the dolly instead of carrying it.
- If you have to go down steps to take your piano out of your home and into the moving truck, you will have to lift the piano by the straps. But only do this if there are a few steps—not an entire flight of stairs. You can then use the dolly to roll the piano into the truck using the ramp.
- The piano should be one of the first items you load into the truck. You will then want to secure it with straps so that it doesn’t move during the drive.
Issues When Moving a Piano by Yourself
When you’re moving a piano by yourself, there’s a chance you could run into several issues.
You Could Damage the Piano
If you or your team of helpers don’t know what you’re doing, there’s a high chance that you could damage your piano. Some damages might be minor like scratches or dents on your piano from not preparing it properly, but others might be more serious and cause your piano to be damaged beyond use.
People Could Get Hurt
There’s also the chance that you or your moving helpers could be hurt. If the piano isn’t secured properly while moving or someone loses their grip on it, it could slip and seriously injure someone.
You Could Damage Your Home
It is also easy to scuff up the floors or scratch or dent walls when moving an object as large and heavy as a piano. This type of damage can happen if the piano isn’t properly wrapped in furniture blankets or if you pull the piano across the floor without placing it on a moving dolly.
Hiring Professional Help to Move Your Piano
If you’re unsure about moving a piano by yourself, it’s never a bad idea to hire professional movers, especially since many things could go wrong on your own. Professional movers like Dixie Moving & Storage have the experience, equipment, and necessary navigation skills to move your piano safely!
