Tips for Moving a Piano Safely

We will be honest with you, piano moving is not a piece of cake. It takes time to organize everything down to the last detail, get the right moving equipment, and prevent any moving injuries. Of course, when relocating your favorite musical instrument, it is vital that it does not suffer any damages whatsoever. We have prepared a list of tips for moving a piano safely that will help you perform the relocation most efficiently. If, at any point, you feel like there is a risk of injuring yourself or damaging the instrument, simply call the piano movers NYC to the rescue.

Before you begin moving a piano, inspect it thoroughly

Inspect every inch of your piano. Check if there are some existing scratches, marks, dents, or anything similar. Take photos of the piano as well. This will be an excellent indicator of whether some changes were made to the piano after the move. You will know exactly if the piano sustained some damage or not. In order to get better results, clean the piano first. Use only the cleaning supplies that you can find in musical equipment stores, as they will not damage the surface of the instrument.

Get the right equipment in order to safely move a piano

Pianos are some of the heaviest musical instruments and therefore require special moving equipment. A grand piano, for example, can weigh up to 1,400 pounds. On the other hand, an upright piano can weigh as little as 300 pounds. Moving companies Brooklyn know this and are equipped to handle any weight. Find out how much does your piano weigh, and get the best moving equipment in order to perform a safe relocation. Here is what you will need to do this:

A skid board

Especially useful for grand pianos that are usually heavier.

A piano dolly

There are piano dollies that you can use for the relocation. However, make sure that you rent a dolly that will not collapse

under the weight of your piano.

Moving blankets

It is vital to cover all the parts of the piano with moving blankets. Here, you can use your old blankets and towels, just make sure they are thick.

Duct tape

You will need to secure the moving blankets with duct tape.

Screwdriver

For disassembling and assembling the piano.

Stretch wrap

Measure the piano, as well as the doorway and staircase

You need to plan the exit strategy, as well as the entrance strategy for your piano. Measure the piano precisely, and then move on to measure the doorway. If you need to take the piano down from the second floor, measure the width of the staircase. If the piano cannot fit, it can always be taken out from the window, or using some other strategy. In this case, though, it is better to use moving services Brooklyn, as they have the right equipment for this type of situation. Plan the entire route that you will use to relocate your piano. The same needs to be done in your new home, as you do not want to move the piano all the way there only to realize that it cannot fit through the front door.

Disassemble the piano

It is safer to relocate the piano if you disassemble it. You will pack the bench separately, of course, but you need to disassemble its legs as well. Have two people hold the piano while you unscrew the parts of the main leg. Prepare the piano dolly and the skid board and place it next to the piano. Once you disassemble the leg, carefully place the piano on the skid board. Since it will be placed sideways, you will be able to easily disassemble the other two legs from it. Keep all the screws in one place, preferably a plastic bag with a ziplock.

Wrap all the parts carefully to safely move a piano

Now that you have disassembled the piano and located it on the skid board, all you need to do is to safely pack all the parts. One by one, wrap the legs, the bench, and the main part of the piano into the moving blankets. They will prevent any scratches, and minimize the impact of moving. Next, secure the moving blankets by using the duct tape. Once you are certain that the moving blankets will not fall off, you have done the right thing.

As far as the main part of the piano is concerned, once you have wrapped it into the moving blankets, the cover is with a stretch wrap to prevent any damage. Here you should also use the duct tape to secure the moving blankets.

Place the piano inside the moving truck

Here comes the trickiest part. Make sure that you have at least three experienced friends or neighbors helping you get the piano out and in the moving truck. Make sure that your sneakers are stable and that you are wearing appropriate clothes. Use a safety ramp on the moving truck to safely load the piano inside. Make sure that you do not place anything over the piano, and that there is no risk of any items falling on the piano during the move. Place the piano first, and then you can proceed with loading other household goods into the moving truck. Go step by step, as your safety is your number one concern.

Hire professionals if necessary

We already mentioned that pianos can weigh a lot. If you are inexperienced in moving bulky items, and you do not have reliable help, it is wise to hire professionals for your piano moving. Not only do reliable movers have the right skills, and know the right techniques to safely move and transport your piano, they will also offer you insurance. In this way, whatever happens, you can relax as you will be compensated. Plus, piano storage NYC is perfect for you if you need to store your beloved instrument for a few days, weeks, or even months.

Follow our helpful tips for moving a piano safely to make sure it’s done the right way. And, of course, good luck!