Are you moving and looking for piano movers in Kansas City or Denver? Contact Moving Proz to learn about our packing and moving services.
Many people have deep connections to their pianos. These beautiful and grand instruments often come with a lot of memories, plus pianos serve as the centerpiece of many homes. People gather around them at holiday parties, bringing everyone together in song. It is for these reasons and more that pianos need to be handled with care when a move is pending.
Many people choose to bring their pianos with them when relocating from one home to another. This task is a complex and complicated one that should be handled by professionals skilled in piano moving. Here are some challenges associated with moving an instrument of this size.
1. Piano Size and Moving Distance
Even small console pianos weight between 300 and 400 pounds – a challenge for even the most fit homeowner to handle on their own. Larger pianos can weigh up to 1,000 pounds, adding an extra challenge. A mover will come prepared with dollies, blankets, and straps to ensure a smooth, damage-free relocation, says The Spruce.
How far the movers have to haul your piano is another factor. You have to consider two types of distance:
- The distance from the piano’s current location in the home to the destination in the truck. The shortest route possible should be taken, and the homeowner would be wise to clear a path for the movers to do their jobs.
- How far the piano will travel once placed in the truck. Due to the weight considerations, movers have to properly secure this large instrument so it can travel long distances without shifting or tilting. This movement can not only cause damage to the piano itself but to any items surrounding it.
2. Access Points and Door Dimensions
Most items have a clear, straightforward route out of the home, being transported with ease out the front door and onto the truck. But pianos are too large to fit through the front door, so you’ll have to get creative. Perhaps the movers could use sliding patio doors or French doors. But even once the piano is out of the house, another route instead of walkways and sidewalks may have to be taken.
This could involve taking the piano through the front yard, which could be uneven and spotty. Precautions need to be taken so that the route is level. Uneven ground can lead to tripping, which can lead to a dropped piano.
Movers typically need to get a good grip on the item that they are moving, which is usually not a problem. However, pianos don’t have sturdy areas to grip which can make a move of this magnitude more difficult. When you add in narrow hallways or door openings, the risk of dropping the instrument increases, which also increases the risk of injury.
3. Weather and Stair Cases
Pianos are affected by temperature. Usually, they need a steady room temperature to operate properly. Adverse or fluctuating temps can make the piano unplayable, or cause expensive damage. Consider the season in which you’re moving, and avoid summers if you can, due to the high heat and humidity.
If your piano will be sitting in the moving truck for a long time in humid conditions, it can suffer a lot of damage. Use moving companies with temperature controlled trucks if you can, which may increase cost but will be well worth it if you truly value your piano.
Stairs are another challenge with a piano move. Most movers will charge you extra if they have to go up and down stairs with your piano. That’s because they’re difficult to navigate, with those narrow stairwells, tight corners and immobile objects such as hand railings. Experienced piano movers will know their way around these obstacles, but it’s always best to ask first. Always tell your movers in advance of any such obstacles, stairs and tight corners.
4. Fragile Parts and Moving Techniques
With some pianos containing up to 7,000 moving parts, any movement can damage any one of those components, which will lead to poor function. A piano’s delicate nature marks one of the largest challenges in a move. Yes, your movers can take apart the piano and pack certain parts for protection, but the chance is always there that something will break or crack.
It’s wise for you as the homeowner to prepare the piano as well as you can before the move. Such a plan will minimize snafus and surprises.
Movers have many techniques up their sleeves to ensure a successful piano move. They can lift a piano through a window using a crane if it is too large to exit the home by conventional measures. While a dangerous and complex process, it is the most effective technique in many circumstances. Movers must wrap and secure moving parts before attempting this technique.
Movers could also use a dolly to transport pianos over short distances. It must be balanced properly, though, as the weight distribution is not even. The side with the keys weighs a lot less than the other side! This is why great care must be taken in balancing the piano on the dolly.
As you can see, there are many considerations to take into account when moving a piano, which is the reason behind the added cost. Before hiring a mover, make sure they have experience moving your kind and size of piano. Tell them of any obstacles or special challenges to expect, and ask them what equipment they will be bringing. This will all ensure a successful piano relocation in and around Kansas City and Denver.
Contact Piano Movers in Kansas City
So if you need professional piano movers in Kansas City or Denver contact Moving Proz? Our movers have a lot of experience handling piano moves of all sizes and types in your area, so contact us at 785-201-9195 to get started with a free quote.