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Moving
A Piano |
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Moving
the piano within your home
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If
you moving a vertical piano, nothing needs to be secured
on the inside of the piano. The same goes for the internal
parts of a grand piano. No matter how short or long the
distance you move a piano, there are certain precautions
one should take.
Safety is the first 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, pedals, and music desks 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 should be protected against damage
from dragging a "locked" caster or gouging by
anything which might be protruding from the bottom of
the piano Clear all potential obstacles out of the way,
including throw rugs and objects which might have ended
up hidden under the piano. Try not to lift one end of
the piano any more than is absolutely necessary, because
the strain applied to the structure of the instrument
can cause enough twisting or bending to knock sections
of the piano out of tune. If it is necessary to move the
piano up or down a step or two, have plenty of help. If
there are more than a couple of steps to negotiate, get
a professional to do the 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. |
| Hiring
a Mover |
Moving
a piano from one building to another, across town, or
long-distance–The best advise is to have it done
professionally. That is, by professionals who know how
to move pianos. WARNING!! Unless the movers are specifically
trained and experienced in moving pianos, DON'T EXPECT
THE PIANO TO ARRIVE SAFELY. Take extra precautions to
ensure its safety. Moving and storage companies, even
the "big boys," employ people who don't have
any idea of how to safely move a piano. Hire a professional
piano mover or technician to supervise the packing, loading,
unloading, and unpacking, or supervise it yourself, if
at all possible.
Movers are notorious for scratching and gouging the finish,
breaking off
legs, pedals, and music desks, and actually losing benches,
grand legs
and pedal components or the screws, bolts, etc., which
were removed to
remove these parts. |
| Tuning
after a Move |
Will
the piano need tuning after it is moved? Even if a piano
is moved a
short distance, and done so very carefully, it may need
tuning. The important thing to
consider is the change in environment that occurs when
a piano is moved. Certainly, if the move is from one city
to another, or
across town, the new environment with it's unique level
of temperature
and humidity ranges will affect the piano's tuning. By
the way, it is best to let a piano "sit" for
at least a month in a new location before it is tuned,
to allow it to adjust to the new environment. |
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