Piano Movers Directory FAQ
Click on a question to learn more about piano moving!
- Why you shouldn't move a piano yourself?
- How many pieces of furniture have you moved that have a cast iron plate inside? The average spinet or console can weigh from 350 to 500 pounds, while a full-size upright can weigh more than 600 pounds. Small baby grand pianos start around 500 pounds with mid to large grand pianos weighing 700-800 pounds and concert grand pianos weighing 1,000 pounds or more. Unless you know what you're doing, it's easy to get hurt or damage the piano or damage the house - can you say "take me to the hospital", "patch the sheetrock" or "how do I repair that gouge in the wood"?
- Why hire a professional piano mover?
- Pianos are very heavy and their weight is NOT equally distributed throughout the case - unless you are properly trained, have the right equipment and do it a lot - accidents can happen. Professional piano movers have the right equipment, have the proper insurance and have lots of experience. Regular furniture movers might have the right insurance, but without piano moving experience...
- Who is a professional piano mover?
- There are currently no designations or trade groups certifying a standard in piano moving.
- How should I choose a piano mover?
- Search our directory for a mover located near where the piano is being picked up or where it is going and ask them how long they've been moving pianos, do they have adequate insurance, and ask for references. Price should not be your top most concern - you get what you pay for. You can also ask local piano tuners/technicians as well as piano or music stores.
- How do much do piano movers charge?
- Piano movers generally charge anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending upon the distance and difficulty of the move. Under "normal circumstances" the least expensive type of move would be moving a piano from one room of a house to another or going from the ground floor of a house to the ground floor of a neighboring house.
- How are grand pianos moved?
- In the most general terms - grand pianos (any piano that stands on 3 legs) are moved on their spine - the left/flat side of the rim with the legs and pedal assembly removed. Please keep this in mind when deciding where your piano is going.
- What do movers consider when charging for a specific piano move?
- Piano movers in general consider the distance and difficulty of a piano move when quoting price. Difficulty means, how easy it is to access the piano, how many stairs or flights of stairs, how difficult it will be to get the piano into their truck and from their truck to the piano's final destination. Sometimes timing may be a consideration - do you need to move a piano on a specific day at a specific time? Or, can you work around the mover's schedule?
- Who insures my piano during the move?
- Ask any prospective piano mover about their insurance coverage; ask if their insurance covers not only the piano but any damage that might occur to the building where the piano is being moved from or to. Most of the time the amount of insurance a piano mover carries is more than enough to cover the value of your instrument. However, if you would like additional coverage, you should contact your homeowner's insurance and ask about a rider to your policy that would insure the piano while it's being shipped.
- Are there areas in a home where pianos should not be placed?
- A piano should not be placed near any heating or cooling source or next to a frequently opened outside door or window. Because pianos are made primarily of wood, they expand slightly when it's humid and contract slightly when it's dry. This means - do not place a piano against a hear register, baseboard heat, or under an air conditioner. Rooms with wood burning stoves and fireplaces are considered the worst place in the winter for a piano because all the humidity in the room is thrown out the chimney. On the flip side, high humidity like an overly damp basement is just as bad and can rust metal parts. Pianos placed right on top of heating or cooling sources can develop structural problems quickly.
- What happens to pianos when they are moved?
- Piano cases, while very rigid, will twist slightly when moved up and down stairs or when the piano is flipped on its side. This slight twisting will slightly change the position of the piano strings, knocking some notes out of tune. In addition, if there is a large difference in humidity and temperature between the old and new locations your piano will go out of tune as it aligns itself to the new environment.
- Will my piano need to be tuned after it's moved?
- Definitely. Wait a week for the piano to settle before getting it tuned. If your location is about to undergo a seasonal weather change (dry to humid or hot to cold), then wait until after weather change has happened to get the piano tuned.
- How can I store my piano?
- Don't store a piano outside or any place where it will undergo extreme fluctuations in humidity and temperature.
- How long can I store my piano?
- As long as the environment is consistent, upright pianos can be stored indefinitely. For grand pianos that are being stored on their side, anything longer than a few months would probably entail some mechanical adjustments and aligning of parts afterwards. More than 1 year would not be advisable.
- How do I dispose of a piano?
- Most towns and cities that have garbage pickup will not handle a piano left at the curb. In this case it's the piano owner's responsibility to have a piano transported to the town landfill or transfer station. Contact your local municipality for more information.
- How do I find a good piano tuner/technician?
- The easiest way to find a "registered" piano technician is to follow this link: http://www.ptg.org