The tips listed below will help you move your piano safely without damaging the piano or inflicting any sort of injury on yourself.
1. Ask for Help
As we said, pianos are quite heavy. Their large size and heavy weight make it almost impossible for you to move them alone. Ask around for help and gather at least four people to move the piano. If you own an upright piano, most of its weight will be distributed on the upper half. The legs of a piano are fragile. You will, without a doubt, need some extra hands to move your piano without damaging its delicate legs.
2. Get the Right Equipment
If you are not willing to hire a professional to move your piano, you will have to arrange the right equipment. These include heavy-duty straps, a furniture dolly, and moving blankets or padding.
Heavy-duty straps will provide a stronger hold on the piano. A furniture dolly will support the weight of your piano. The piano can be secured to the furniture dolly with the help of the heavy-duty straps. Moving blankets or padding will protect your piano from bumps, scratches, and cracks.
3. Protect the Keyboard
Before you start moving your piano, make sure that your keyboard is protected. This is because the keys are extremely fragile, and any sort of fall or bump can damage them beyond repair. Close and lock the lid over the keyboard. If the lid of your keyboard does not lock, it should at least be closed when you wrap your piano. You should never use tape to keep the keyboard lid closed because it will damage the wooden surface.
4. Wrap the Piano
Use the moving blankets to wrap your piano such that the corners are protected. Secure the blanket in place using tape. Make sure that the tape does not come in contact with the surface of the piano because it will damage the wood. The blanket or padding that you are using to wrap the piano should be thick enough to protect the piano in case it bumps into a wall or any hard surface.
5. Lifting the Piano
You should never lift a piano by its legs because the legs are highly vulnerable and will break if exposed to any kind of force. Whether you are moving a piano down the stairs or lifting it into a carrier, always hold the upper part of the piano. Moreover, you should be cautious not to lay the piano down sideways as it can damage the internal components of the instruments.
6. Securing the Piano to the Truck
Once you place the piano carefully into the truck, you should secure it tightly to the back wall. The piano should be the first piece that goes inside the cargo truck and the last one to be moved out.
Summary
While moving a piano, you should follow all the piano moving protocols to make sure you don’t damage the piano or hurt yourself. Hiring a piano moving company is a better option than trying to move it yourself.