Safely Moving a Piano Around Your House

Most pianos have small metal casters that are only meant for occasional small moves, such as rolling the piano a few feet on a smooth floor. Pianos that are moved often, such as those in concert halls, schools, or churches, are almost always mounted on steel dollies with large rubber wheels to prevent leg and caster damage.

Here are some tips to safely move your piano in your home:

Grands

·         Close the lid and fallboard.

• Check to see that the legs are secure.
• Check for clearance under the pedal lyre throughout the move, especially over door thresholds.
• Keep kids and pets clear.
• After removing belt buckles, rings, etc. that could scratch the finish, position three people around the piano, one near each leg.
• If the piano is on a carpet, be very careful to avoid straining the legs. It's not necessary to lift the piano off the floor, but just to take some weight off the casters so they will roll more easily.
• If the floor has obstacles like thresholds or furnace grates, lift each leg over one at a time, using extra help if necessary This is very important. Never force a piano over a bump in the floor. The caster could catch and the leg might break off.

·         Keep your back straight, and lift with your legs!

·         All movers should be encouraged to speak up if they notice a prob­lem, but one person should be firmly in charge.

Uprights

·         Read all the cautions for moving grands.

·         Look for moving handles at each end in the back. Not all pianos have these.

·         Use two people, one at each end of the piano (two at each end for large uprights), and always lift the casters over bumps in the floor.

·         Most of the weight of an upright is located toward the back, making it prone to tipping over backwards. when moving it out from the wall, never allow anyone, especially children, to stand behind the piano.

·         Most spinet and console pianos have thin unsupported front legs. These pianos should be moved with extra care, since the legs are easily broken if caught in a crack or dragged across soft carpeting. To avoid damage, carefully tip the piano back slightly as you roll it to reduce weight on the front legs.

Lou Thiry, RPT