Be Extra Careful When Moving Pianos Long Distance
You need to keep some vital aspects of piano moving in mind when you want to move the instrument to a city far away from your present location. A piano is expensive, with some instruments costing up to half a million dollars, and needs the utmost care from experienced piano movers for shifting the instrument to distant locations. Long-distance piano moves introduce risks that simply do not exist in local moves, from road vibrations over hundreds of kilometres to dramatic changes in climate between regions. Understanding these risks and planning for them is the key to a successful move.
Route Planning Matters More Than You Think
When moving a piano across long distances, the route the truck takes can have a significant impact on the safety of your instrument. Professional piano movers will plan routes that avoid rough roads, steep mountain passes, and unpaved stretches whenever possible. In British Columbia, this is especially important given the mountainous terrain between cities like Vancouver, Kamloops, and Kelowna.
Ask your moving company about their planned route and whether they use highways with consistent road surfaces. Sharp turns, steep grades, and roads with heavy frost heaving can jostle a piano enough to knock internal components out of alignment. A slightly longer route on smoother highways is often the better choice for protecting your instrument.
Climate and Temperature Considerations
Pianos are made largely of wood, felt, and metal strings, all of which respond to changes in temperature and humidity. Moving a piano from coastal Vancouver, where humidity is high, to a dry interior city like Kamloops can cause the soundboard to contract, pins to loosen, and the instrument to go badly out of tune. In extreme cases, rapid humidity changes can actually crack the soundboard.
For long-distance moves, consider the following precautions:
- Climate-controlled trucks – Ask whether the moving company uses trucks with temperature and humidity control. This is especially important for moves during winter or summer extremes.
- Gradual acclimatization – Once the piano arrives at its new location, do not place it directly next to a heating vent, radiator, or window with direct sunlight. Let it acclimatize to the new environment for two to three weeks before having it tuned.
- Humidity monitoring – If you are moving to a significantly drier or more humid climate, consider installing a piano humidity control system such as a Dampp-Chaser after the move.
Crating vs. Blanket Wrapping
For local moves, professional movers typically wrap pianos in heavy moving blankets and strap them to a piano board. This method works well when the piano is on the truck for an hour or two. For long-distance moves, however, you should consider whether crating is a better option.
Blanket wrapping is more affordable and sufficient for moves where the piano is the only item on the truck and the distance is moderate. However, blankets can shift over long distances, especially if the truck makes multiple stops or encounters rough roads.
Custom crating involves building a wooden crate around the piano that holds it completely immobile during transport. This is the gold standard for long-distance and international moves. A custom crate typically adds $300 to $800 to the cost of the move depending on the size of the piano, but for a valuable instrument, it is money well spent. Crating is especially recommended for grand pianos, antique pianos, and any instrument valued over $10,000.
Special Piano Insurance Is a Must
Sometimes there is a very long distance to be covered by road. This means that there are higher chances of unexpected incidents happening along the way. Some of these unpleasant incidents have the potential to damage the piano to a significant extent. Make it certain that you have insured the piano before handing it over to a moving service provider.
The insurance of a piano will increase your overall cost of moving the instrument. However, insurance is a wise step, especially for an expensive piano. There are several insurance options to consider:
- Declared value coverage – The most basic option, where the mover’s liability is limited to a set amount per pound. This often works out to far less than the piano’s actual value.
- Full replacement value – The mover covers the full cost of repairing or replacing the piano if damage occurs. This is the best option for valuable instruments.
- Third-party transit insurance – You can purchase additional coverage through a third-party insurer that specializes in musical instrument transport. This often provides the most comprehensive protection.
Get all insurance details in writing and understand exactly what is covered before the piano leaves your home. Take photos and video of the piano from every angle before the movers arrive to document its pre-move condition.
Timeline Planning for Long-Distance Moves
Unlike local moves that happen in a single day, long-distance piano moves require careful timeline planning. Here are the key phases to account for:
- Booking – Reserve your piano movers at least four to six weeks before your move date. Specialized piano movers have limited availability, especially during peak summer moving season.
- Preparation – One to two weeks before the move, have a technician inspect the piano and document its condition.
- Transport – Depending on distance, the actual transport can take anywhere from one day to a week. Confirm estimated delivery windows with your mover.
- Settling period – After delivery, the piano needs two to three weeks to acclimatize to its new environment before it should be tuned.
- Post-move tuning – Schedule a tuning three to four weeks after delivery. The piano may need a second tuning a few months later as it continues to adjust.
Hire Credible Movers
Another critical aspect to consider when moving your piano is the reliability and credibility of the movers. Select a piano moving company only after verifying that it is a genuine commercial services provider with a good reputation. Do not forget that some rogue operators may pose as piano movers, and you could unknowingly hand over your valuable instrument to them. Talk to friends or relatives who have used piano moving services, and check reviews on Google and the Better Business Bureau.
Do Your Due Diligence Before Hiring
If you want to research piano movers online, verify their physical office address, telephone number, and business licence. If possible, visit their facility or have an online conversation with their team. Ask all relevant questions about the moving process, read customer testimonials, and review the fine print of all documents before signing. This protects you from disputes and ensures you know exactly what services you are paying for.
Long-Distance Moving Costs
Long-distance moving of a piano is more expensive than a local move, so you should be prepared for higher costs. Factors that influence the price include the type and size of the piano, the distance, whether stairs or difficult access are involved, and whether you opt for crating or blanket wrapping. Get quotes from at least three companies and compare not just the price but what is included in each quote, such as insurance coverage, crating, and delivery guarantees.
You should settle for a piano moving company that provides comprehensive services including shipping, storage facilities, and the specialized equipment needed for safe transport. Keep all of these aspects in mind before signing a deal with a service provider.
If you need to move a piano long distance from the Vancouver area, contact Simple Moves for a free quote. We have the experience, equipment, and insurance to move your piano safely, whether it is going across the province or across the country.