FXSTD – Alternative Energy Center

How does one move a piano? Very scrupulously.Ok, I'm being a small harsh, but moving a piano is a major undertaking.I am a huge disciple of hiring a professional mover to move a piano. Pianos are heavy and it's easy to damage a piano while moving it. I'm speaking from experience. I own a Kimball piano my oldsters purchased new for me when I used to be a child. That piano was a big deal to me after having played on an old "clunker" of a piano for many years. I played that new piano every day.When I got married it was time to move the piano to my personal home. My man and his brothers moved it themselves. It wasn't a simple job even with the moving dolly they used ( pianos weigh several hundred pounds - grand pianos can weigh 1,500 pounds ). The amateur move of my piano ended in each of the piano legs being damaged ( a standard occurrence when folk move a piano themselves ) and some unplanned internal work (some pins required correct and a string broke). I should have hired a piano mover. Then I would not had those issues, but my husband and I thought we might save cash by doing it ourselves. It was a lesson I should have remembered, but I was foolish a 2nd time.A few years ago my hubby and I constructed a new house. When it came time to move the piano again, my husband was disinclined to hire someone to move it professionally because our pocketbook was already feeling empty from the cost of building the house ( he called our new house a "money-sucking black hole.") In his mind, moving it wasn't a giant deal. Our new house was less than two miles from our old one; and he had a dolly, atrailer, and a brother who was ready to help him.Everything went OK till my partner turned into the driveway of our new home. The sharpness of the turn strained the ropes holding the piano on the trailer and they broke. The piano tipped over and sustained a lot of damage (the entire "guts" of the piano are ruined and the case is chipped and scratched ). I haven't had it fixed yet, but I have gotten an estimation. It's going to take plenty of time and cash mend the piano. It must be totally rebuilt. Because of the labor involved, it would be less expensive to purchase a new piano than have it fixed, but the piano has plenty of soppy worth to me so I'm going to have it fixed. This is why I say, "Hire a professional!"What does a professional piano mover do to ensure a safe and successful move? With upright pianos, they always strap the piano on a skid called a piano board. They also cover the piano with blankets to help protect it. The entire bundle is then often put on a dolly and taken to its destination. If steps are concerned, the piano is taken off the dolly and slipped up or down the steps on the piano board.Moving a grand piano is a bit more involved. The lid, lid hinges, pedal lyre, and leg on the straight side of the piano are sometimes all removed. The piano is then put on the piano board, on its side, with the straight side down. The other legs of the piano are then removed. The piano is then covered with blankets, strapped to the board, and put on a dolly.Some movers don't like to move a piano up or down stairs. If it's feasible, they prefer to hoist it to the appropriate floor via a window that is sufficiently large to accommodate the piano.So what do you do if you just want to move your piano from one part of a room to another? First, decide if it is truly necessary to move it because there's always the chance of damaging a piano even with a short move. Piano legs are the most probable thing to get damaged or broken.Be very careful to avoid putting too much weight on the legs. Get some robust folk to help if the piano is an upright ; and get at least 5 folks if it is a grand piano. With an upright or spinet, lean the piano back a little to take the pressure off the front legs, but watch out not to tip it back too far and tip it over. With a grand piano, lift the piano up enough to get the pressure off the legs before you try and move it. It is not obligatory ( and not recommended) to lift the piano off the floor completely.If you're going to move a piano usually consider having it fitted with special casters that will allow you to move the piano simply. Or, have the piano placed on a piano wagon.How you do you find a good piano mover if you've decided to not try and move it yourself? My proposal is that you call your local piano store and ask them for suggestions. They'll be able to offer you the name or names of credible movers in your neighborhood.Okay, so you have decided you are really going to move your piano and you have selected a technique. Now you have to work out where you are going to put the piano. Where should it go?Try to put your piano in an area of a room where there are little or no drafts, drafts, where it's out of direct daylight, and where the temperature and humidity are stable. The reason being because pianos are sensitive to humidity and temperature. Lots of temperature and humidity swings result in a piano to go out of tune quicker than normal, can damage the wood case, and if they are severe they even ultimatelyDon't place your piano over or next to a heat vent and elude placing it close to a fireplace. Don't put in front of a window because that is sometimes a drafty place as well as one with direct daylight. Try to find a room in your home or loft which has doggedly stable temperature and humidity. That is the best room for your piano.If you cannot find a place in your loft or home that is out of direct daylight, freed from drafts, and does not have gigantic temperature swings, you may wish to consider having a climate control system installed in your piano.Moving and placing your piano correctly will help ensure you have a wonderful instrument to play for a long time rather than having what I now own - an outsized paperweight that should be dusted.