Piano moving can be dangerous—for the piano and the people. That said, many people are reluctant to call a piano moving service for a simple move from one side of the room to the other, or from one room to another. If you're going to move your piano on your own, do it as safely as possible following these tips.

Plan Your Move

Gather three other helpers (one for each corner of the piano) to assist you with the piano moving, then work together to determine the precise location where the piano will go. Plan a path between your piano's current location and the destination. Moving a piano from one room to another without help from a professional is not advised. However, if you choose to move your piano to a room nearby, measure any doorways ahead of time to ensure that the piano will fit. 

Pianos have wheels that are not meant to move the piano more than a few feet without help. Therefore, it's important to inspect the floor over which the piano will be moving to ensure that there are no crevices to be avoided. If moving the piano over uneven hardwood floors, mark the intended path with chalk to ensure that you choose the course of least resistance once the piano gets going. 

Get Started

When it's time to get started, roll the piano carefully with your helpers positioned at each corner. Have each helper push or pull up against the piano just enough so that there's less weight on the wheels as the piano moves. Don't lift the piano so that the wheels lose contact with the ground.

If you encounter a crack or raised part in the floor, work together as a team to barely lift the wheels over the crevice. Avoid situations where the back of the piano becomes tipped back, even just slightly. The majority of the piano's weight is at the back, and tipping the piano could cause it to overbalance. As you proceed, go slowly. Very slowly. Moving too quickly can result in broken wheels, a fallen piano, or an injured helper. 

Know When Not to Move the Piano

There are times when it's just too dangerous or difficult to move a piano, even if it's just a few feet. If you encounter any of these situations, call for professional help:

• The room is plushly carpeted.
• Fitting through the doorway is going to be very tight.
• You don't have enough help.

Following these tips, you should be able to safely move your piano short distances. When in doubt, always call in a professional like those at Johnson Piano Moving.

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