Moving a Piano in San Antonio: What to Know

A piano is usually the heaviest thing in a house and very often the most loved, which is a combination that makes people understandably nervous when it’s time to move. It might be the upright a child learned scales on, or a grand that has anchored the living room for decades, and either way it carries a lot more than its weight in memories. At Veteran’s Best Movers we move pianos as part of our moves around San Antonio, and we know that families feel better when they understand what the job involves. Here is what’s worth knowing before the day comes, from measuring the doorways to deciding when to call the tuner.

Why a piano is different from other furniture

A piano looks like a large piece of furniture, but it is really a musical instrument, and that means it is both very heavy and surprisingly easy to knock out of adjustment. This Old House puts upright pianos at roughly 300 to 800 pounds and grand pianos at about 500 to 1,200 pounds or more, which is far more than most of the other furniture in a home.

The small wheels you see on many pianos can also be misleading. They are meant for nudging the piano a short way across a room, and This Old House cautions that piano casters aren’t meant for moving any real distance and can damage carpet or hardwood floors if you try.

Upright and grand pianos move differently

An upright piano is moved on a sturdy four wheel dolly, and This Old House notes that it can be tilted slightly to get through a tight spot, but also that tilting it too eagerly can throw its weight out of balance. That is one of the reasons a move like this calls for an experienced crew rather than a couple of friends with a borrowed dolly.

A grand piano takes more preparation. According to the piano dealer Living Pianos, grand pianos are moved on their side with the pedals and legs removed, set on what is called a grand board, and rolled in on a flat dolly. The legs and the pedal lyre are then put back on once the piano is in its new room. If you own a grand, it’s a good idea to mention it, along with its approximate size, the first time you talk to a mover, since the work involved is quite different from moving an upright.

Measure the path on both ends

Before moving day, take a tape measure to every doorway, hallway, and staircase the piano will need to pass through, both at the old home and the new one. Pay special attention to tight turns at the top or bottom of a staircase, narrow back doors, and entryways with a step or two, since those are the spots where a piano that fits on paper can still get stuck in practice.

Measure the piano itself as well, including its depth, and make a note of anything that might get in the way, such as a railing, a light fixture, or a gate. Passing these details along when you ask for a quote helps your mover plan the route ahead of time instead of working it out with the piano already in the doorway.

Choose the right spot in the new home

Where the piano ends up matters for how well it holds its tune over the years. The Piano Technicians Guild recommends placing a piano in a room with a fairly even temperature, away from drafts, dampness, and heat sources, and away from heating and cooling vents, stoves, doors, and windows. It also warns against direct sunlight, which can age the finish and fade its color.

That advice matters in San Antonio, where the air conditioning runs for much of the year and a sunny window can turn one corner of a room much warmer than the rest. The Guild notes that a piano kept in fairly steady conditions, ideally around 68 degrees and 42 percent relative humidity, will need less adjustment over time. You don’t need to hit those numbers exactly, but an inside wall away from the vents and the afternoon sun is usually a far better home for a piano than the spot right beside the big front window.

Give it a few weeks before you tune it

Almost every piano will sound a little different after a move, and the natural instinct is to call a tuner right away. Piano professionals generally suggest waiting instead. This Old House recommends waiting a few weeks before tuning so the strings can settle into the temperature and humidity of their new home, and the piano dealer Modern Piano recommends waiting a few weeks to a month for the same reason.

If you tune it the day after it arrives, you may end up paying for a second tuning once the piano finishes adjusting to the new room. The Piano Technicians Guild also notes that most manufacturers recommend at least two tunings a year for an established piano, so a move can be a good moment to put the next one on the calendar.

Getting ready for moving day

A few small things make the day go more smoothly. Close and lock the keyboard lid if your piano has a lock, take any photos, lamps, or sheet music off the top, and clear a wide path from the piano to the door. If you have young children or pets, plan to keep them in another room while the piano is being moved, since it is a job that needs plenty of space and full attention.

It also helps to think about the rest of the room. Pianos often share space with other delicate pieces like curio cabinets and glassware, and our fragile items moving page explains how we take care of those.

Moving a piano with us

If you have a piano to move, just mention it when you ask for a quote and tell us what kind it is and what the stairs and doorways look like on both ends, so we can plan for it properly. We would be glad to talk it through with you at (210) 761‑6595, or you can request a free quote online. We serve San Antonio and the surrounding towns, and you can read more about our local moving and long distance moving services here.