If you are considering piano moving from one room to another, it may be best to hire a professional to do the job. While you might hope to save money by moving the piano yourself, the potential cost of damage to the piano, floors and rugs can well exceed the price of a professional piano mover. Some of the typical hazards of piano moving include
- Breaking the piano legs
- Dropping the piano
- Dragging the piano
- Lifting the piano
Moving Grand Pianos
How to move a piano depends on the model. A grand piano may be specially fitted with casters to aid in piano moving. However, casters can be caught in carpeting or on floor vents and damage the piano legs. Additionally, the piano will need special rubber casters to prevent damage to wooden floors. Making corner turns is especially difficult with grand pianos and requires trained professional movers so walls and the piano are not damaged.
Moving Upright Pianos
Spinets and console vertical pianos with legs will need to have the piano legs protected during piano moving by lifting or tilting the piano toward its backside. However, too much tilting can cause the piano to fall over. Moving upright pianos may require a piano truck and small uprights need special trucks. Large uprights can be rolled, but rolling is difficult on carpeting. Turning corners with upright pianos must be performed with the back of the piano on the inside of the turn to avoid damage.
Safety & Protection in Piano Moving
Safety is a big consideration. A piano is a heavy, unwieldy object. Even if the piano is a short spinet instead of a tall upright, it is top-heavy and it could easily tip over. The casters (wheels) underneath may be rusty, clogged with a foreign object, or swung in the wrong direction, preventing the piano from rolling easily. Lifting one end of the piano should be done carefully, keeping in mind some of the basic rules which apply to lifting any heavy object. The protruding and sometimes delicate exterior parts - legs and pedals - should be protected against damage. A grand piano requires more care to avoid putting stress on the piano legs when moving – it is best to have enough people to "surround" the piano and lift it slightly as it is moved.
Likewise, the floor needs to be protected against damage from dragging a "locked"piano moving job, even if it is only within the house. Once the piano has been relocated, it is a good idea to use caster cups (the best are available from your technician) under the casters to protect the floor or carpet.
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