Can I Move My Piano Myself?

Pianos are the centrepiece of the homes they are found in, but moving them can be a bit of a nightmare. Primarily, this is because pianos are both unevenly weighted and bulky. Nonetheless, we quite often hear people asking whether or not you can move your piano yourself or with friends. Unfortunately, for the safety of your piano we recommend that you don’t move your piano by yourself. In this month’s article, we’ll be examining just why that is and showing how a professional piano removals team handle a piano.

Why Moving Your Piano Yourself Is a Bad Idea

Ultimately, you can try to move your piano yourself, but we think it’s a bad idea to do so. Pianos are heavier than you think, despite all of the open space there may be on the inside. What’s more, the weight is often unevenly spread to certain areas of the piano, making it difficult to manoeuvre safely. Upright pianos are top-heavy and have lighter, weak legs, for instance. The exact weight of your piano depends on the type of piano you own. Generally:

• Electric pianos weigh 60 kg
• Upright pianos weigh between 136 and 226 kg
• Grand pianos weigh between 360 and 545 kg

Grand pianos are nigh on impossible to move, even with a skilled and experienced team – an elevator of some sort is often needed to remove them safely. The other types of pianos, however, can be moved. Electric pianos may be moved by you and a friend, but upright pianos and smaller grand pianos must be moved by an expert removals team to guarantee the piano’s safety.

A knock, be it heavy or light, could irreparably damage the piano. Chips, dents or internal damage to the strings and felt hammers could compromise your piano’s look or sound – if repairable, it may be very costly. Therefore, a professional team is recommended.

Why Professionals Are Capable of Moving Pianos Safely

A professional removals team has the equipment necessary to safely remove a piano. Such equipment includes, primarily, a piano dolly. Piano dollies are used because the wheels often found on the end of a piano’s legs – piano casters – are not suited to wheeling the piano around; they are weak and will likely break. A piano dolly is a trolley upon which the piano can be placed and then wheeled away.

A piano dolly is excellent because it centralises the weight, making the piano easier to manage during the move. First of all, the legs, lid, lyre and music rack must be removed if they can. Then, upright pianos and small grand pianos should be balanced on their longest side for maximum ease of movement. Great care must be taken to ensure the piano is maneuvered down stairs safely and then onto a removals truck, where it can be strapped securely in. A dolly must then be used when it reaches its destination too.

The added benefit of using an expert removals team is that they will have the appropriate number of movers to hand to move the piano, all of whom will be fully trained in moving pianos. They will be able to both lift and manoeuvre the piano deftly, giving you complete peace of mind. Consequently, while you could try moving your piano yourself, you should really hire the professionals – that’s where Darvills & Benns Removals can help.

Established in 1876, Darvills & Benns Removals are second-to-none in providing moving and storage solutions to Bradford, Halifax, and throughout West Yorkshire. As members of the National Guild of Removers, you can rest assured that you’re in the safest of hands with Darvills & Benns. Our expert team are ready to help with your piano removals, striving to make your move as stress-free as possible. For more information regarding either our storage facilities or our removals services, feel free to contact our friendly team today.