Symptoms
- The piano sounds out of tune after the move
- Keys sticking, rattling or not returning
- Pedals that stopped working or squeak
- Scratches, dents or loose legs and casters
Likely causes
Climate change between homes
A new room with different humidity and temperature makes the soundboard and strings shift, which is the main reason for detuning after a move.
Bumps and tilting
Knocks during transport can shift action parts, loosen pedal rods or unseat keys.
Unsuitable handling
Rolling a heavy piano on its small decorative casters or lifting it by the lid or legs strains the case and floor.
What you can safely check yourself
- 1Measure doorways, stairwells, turns and the elevator in both buildings and give the sizes to the movers.
- 2Hire professional piano movers with a piano dolly, straps and blankets, and ask whether they have insurance.
- 3Choose the new spot in advance: an inside wall, away from windows, heaters and AC vents.
- 4After the move, play every key and test all pedals and write down anything that sticks or makes noise.
- 5Wait 2–3 weeks for the piano to adjust to the new room, then book a tuning.
What not to do
- Don't move a piano on its small casters across tiles or parquet; they can break and damage the floor.
- Don't lift it by the lid, music desk or legs, and don't try to move an upright with just a few friends.
- Don't tune immediately after the move; the tuning won't last while the piano is still settling.
Quick fixes vs. call a pro
You can usually handle it
- Measuring access routes and clearing the path
- Choosing a good spot in the new home
- Checking keys and pedals after the move
- Shifting the piano a short distance on a flat floor with care
Call a technician
- Moving between apartments, stairs or by crane
- Tuning 2–3 weeks after the move
- Keys or pedals that stopped working
- A grand piano that needs legs and lyre removed
What a technician will do
Professional piano movers handle transport, stairs and, when needed, a crane through a window. Afterwards a technician checks the action, keys and pedals, fixes anything knocked out of place and tunes the piano; a post-move visit usually takes 1–2 hours. A piano that skipped tunings for years may need a pitch raise before a fine tuning.
A piano holds about 18–20 tonnes of string tension. If a fix means opening the action, turning tuning pins or working near the strings, leave it to a technician.
In Israel
Many Israeli homes are apartments with narrow stairwells and small elevators, so movers sometimes need a crane through a window or balcony. Moving from a dry inland city to a humid coastal one, or the other way round, makes post-move detuning especially noticeable.