Piano Movers Extraordinaire Blog
Preparing for Piano Movers
You need your piano moved from one location to another and you’ve booked a reputable piano moving company; now what? There is actually more preparation that should be done to ensure a successful move of your piano. Pianos are large, heavy instruments that are also intricate and fragile. When moving, it’s important to protect the piano, not only from scratches or aesthetic issues, but also from compromising the strings or keys to the point where the piano would need repair to work properly. As piano movers, we have the tools and experience needed to safely move your piano; however, there are things you can do to help us out. We want to cover those important details so you’ll be prepared when the piano movers come to your door.
Clear the Path
It’s important that our piano movers have an unobstructed and safe path from where your piano is located to our moving truck. This means clearing snow and ice off sidewalks in the winter and clearing leaves in the fall. It also includes removing any clutter or obstacles, which is our next point.
Remove Clutter
Along with clearing the path is removing any clutter in the way. This includes anything inside the room where the piano is, on stairs, in hallways, etc. It also includes areas outside on the porch or sidewalk. It’s important to have the area clear so our movers can get your piano moved safely without tripping over something or damaging any of your personal belongings. Please have this done before our movers arrive so the move is not delayed.
Provide Details
Another important thing to ensure a successful move for your piano is to provide as many details as you can to our crew before we arrive. This includes the type and size of your piano, details on the moving location, and any obstacles we should know about, such as stairs, tight turns, gates, distance to parking, limited parking, etc. By having this information, our movers can be prepared with the correct equipment to safely move your piano. We can also make a better estimate on the time needed to complete the move.
We want you to be satisfied with your piano moving experience. By providing the information we need and having things ready when our movers arrive, you will be helping ensure a safe and efficient move for your treasured piano. If you have any questions about our piano moving services or how to prepare for our movers, please give Piano Movers Extraordinaire a call at 763-784-8123 or fill out our form for a free estimate. We serve the Twin Cities area.
The Dangers of DIY Piano Moving
Pianos have been providing entertainment for centuries, evolving and changing over the years. However, one thing has remained a constant; they’re heavy. Even smaller upright pianos can weigh over five hundred pounds. How heavy a piano becomes a major factor in how difficult they are to move. It is easy for people to think they can move a piano on their own, but every single piano expert would advise against it. Do-it-yourself piano moving is incredibly difficult and dangerous, and as the expert piano movers for Dakota County and the surrounding areas, we would like to cover the reasons why in some greater detail.
Damage to the Instrument
First of all, you could easily damage the piano itself. While pianos are heavy and hefty, they are also quite delicate. They have intricate moving parts which are responsible for the rich sounds they produce. Most people choose to have their piano tuned shortly after a move after it is re-acclimated to the new place. However, inexperienced piano movers can also cause significant damage to the piano’s inner workings, which can cost quite a bit of money to repair. If the piano is significantly damaged, it may not be repairable or tunable at all. Those who try a DIY piano move to save money could actually end up costing themselves far more in repair than it would have cost to hire professional piano movers in the first place.
At Piano Movers Extraordinaire, our professional piano movers are familiar with piano construction and have the tools, manpower, and experience necessary to transport them.
Bodily Injury
Did you know that some of the heaviest pianos can weigh more than a thousand pounds?! Moving something this heavy means a lot of turning, twisting and bending especially if the movers are inexperienced and ill-equipped. The result is often severe personal injury.
Property Damage
When pianos collide with walls, flooring, and other objects, the results can be lasting and catastrophic. The sheer weight of the piano will easily dent or crack walls, flooring and furniture, which can cost quite a bit to be repaired.
Pianos are not just heavy, they’re also irregularly shaped. The piano’s shape makes it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces, especially when stairs or sharp corners are involved.
Pianos are not just heavy and awkward, they’re also expensive so they are an investment that needs to be protected. Those who opt for DIY piano moving often find themselves in quite the worrisome state as they attempt to transport the hefty instrument.
Many people underestimate how complicated it is to move a piano, even a short distance. Once they try to lift it, reality sets in. Fortunately, our professional piano movers can make the moving process easy.
To learn more about our piano movers serving the Dakota County area, give Piano Movers Extraordinaire a call at 763-784-8123 or fill out our form for a free estimate.
Why Hire a Piano Mover vs Doing it Yourself
Do you need to move your piano? You may be thinking it is a job you can handle yourself or with a couple friends. However, there are some things to keep in mind when moving a piano.
If you need help moving a piano, you can trust our expert piano movers. Contact us for a free estimate or call 763-784-8123.
When It’s Time for Piano Disposal, Enlist the Help of Experts
Sadly, a problem of our modern age is how to dispose of an old piano. The piano is not the must-have living room item for the middle class that it once was. And, after decades of use, a piano becomes unplayable and can potentially cost thousands of dollars to rehabilitate. Pianos, though long-lived, are not immortal, especially the less expensive brands that were popular in the 20th century. That is why, now, in the 21st century we are seeing the need for disposal of these instruments.
When renovation isn’t possible, it’s time to say goodbye to an old, broken, and out of tune piano; it’s just the facts of life. Do you need a piano hauled away and disposed of? It is essential to hire piano disposal professionals. As the experts in piano disposal for Hennepin County and the surrounding areas, we can safely remove, haul and dispose of your old piano properly.
As you know, you can’t just throw the piano out on the curb for the garbage service to pick up. And, selling or donating can often prove fruitless. Many donation centers won’t accept broken or out-of-tune pianos. The same goes for selling; not many people are interested in taking on the time-consuming and expensive task of restoring a piano. Unless a piano is high end or offers sentimental value, your best bet is piano disposal.
If you need to get rid of an old piano but don’t want to hurt your back or deal with the hassle of selling it, let us haul it away for you. With Piano Movers Extraordinaire, you’ll know how much piano removal costs and with our local piano moving and disposal team, you can depend on us to haul away your old piano in a timely and respectful manner. We will pick up your unwanted piano and we’ll keep you informed every step of the way.
From disassembly to removal and proper disposal, our team of professionals will shoulder the weight of removing your upright or baby grand piano from wherever it’s located. And, we offer the best value and pricing available for all of our piano moving, storage and disposal services because we care about pianos and their owners.
At this time of the year, we are experiencing a higher need for piano moving and disposal so scheduling ahead is highly recommended. We call all customers the evening before with a 2-hour window. Plus, the movers call ahead from the truck when they are getting closer. Call today and we would be happy to assist you in getting scheduled!
We look forward to helping you with all of your piano moving, storage and disposal needs. For professional piano disposal in Hennepin County or the surrounding areas, give us a call at 763-784-8123 or fill out our online form for a free estimate.
How Weather Can Affect a Piano
With a hot summer soon giving way to a cool autumn, many may be wondering how temperature shifts can affect their piano. Playing and caring for pianos involves a great deal of work and even certain factors outside of everyday use can damage this delicate instrument. It is important to exercise caution with your piano, especially during the moving process. Both weather and indoor air quality can affect a piano in several ways. At Piano Movers Extraordinaire we specialize in piano moving and piano storage for Ramsey County and the surrounding areas and know the proper ways to care for and transport a piano. That is why we’ve put together a short outline of some of the ways weather can affect a piano.
As you are likely already aware, pianos are complex instruments. They consist of wires, wooden frames, hammers, dampers and keys. When you press a key or a combination of them, they raise corresponding hammers. Those hammers then strikes the strings of which they are attached. At the same time, this lifts the dampers designed to prevent sound from occurring when the keys aren’t being played. There is a lot that goes into a single note. That is why sometimes the smallest change in environment or temperature can throw things off. Each string and its corresponding parts can be vulnerable to certain conditions such as heat, cold and humidity. While pianos are designed to withstand routine playing, they’re actually quite delicate especially when left untouched; that is why it is so important to routinely play your piano. It is equally important to ensure the proper moving and storage of your piano. If left alone in a hot, cold or humid environment void of climate control, there are a number of effects your piano could experience.
Warm Weather
Warmer temperatures like the ones we’re currently experiencing can cause piano strings to grow slightly, much like running hot water over a glass jar’s metal rings to loosen them. Warmer weather can also cause the wood in pianos to expand and swell.
Moisture
High levels of moisture in the air causes the soundboard to swell. Low humidity levels cause it to shrink.
Cold Weather
Cold weather is known to cause piano strings to contract. This means they grow slightly shorter. Since they’re wound so tightly, this can place an incredible amount of excess pressure on the strings and keys. At the same time, cool temperatures make the wood in pianos and their soundboards warp and contract.
While you can’t necessarily see these effects because they’re extremely minimal from a visual point of view, those who are familiar with the distinct sounds of a piano can certainly hear the impact.
Are you interested in getting information about proper piano moving and piano storage in the Ramsey County area? Please call 763-784-8123 or fill out our online form for a free estimate.