Best Storage Seating for Grand Pianos

grand piano

Grand Pianos are beautiful and expensive pieces of furniture. However, unlike with other pieces of furniture, storing grand pianos is generally not recommended, but sometimes it is unavoidable. If you find it necessary to store your grand piano, there are few key aspects that you should make sure are taken care of, before leaving your grand piano to sit for any period of time.

In most cities you can find self-storage units. These are convenient ways to store a grand piano if they offer the appropriate settings. When considering a storage location you will want to make sure that the location is minimally heated. It is better to have an unheated storage area than one that is too hot. Generally, a storage container that is 2.4 x 2.4 x 1.6 meters or 1.5 x 3.0 x 2.4 meters is enough to store a grand piano. Anything smaller and you run the risk of not having a big enough door to fit the piano through. Ground-level storage is also a must, since grand pianos are not easy to get up stairs (and almost impossible to push up a ladder!).

Combatting Dryness

Many people leave grand pianos in summer homes or vacation houses. During the winter, when these houses are unoccupied and unheated, it is important make sure that your grand piano is protected against over-dryness. There are a couple very easy solutions for this problem:

  • Place mothballs in the piano. Make sure that the mothballs do not come into contact with the finish of the piano, then simply close the lid.

  • Place a bit of chewing tobacco into a cheesecloth sac and hang it inside the piano.

These methods are simple, cheap, and they keep the piano from drying out too much, allowing you to keep your grand piano in the cold for longer periods of time.

Storing a Grand Piano on its Side

Generally, you will want to avoid storing a grand piano on its side, but sometimes this cannot be avoided. Storing a piano this way is acceptable for temporary situations. For longer periods of time, it may be beneficial to have a professional piano tuner remove the action from your piano and wrap it in plastic. If the action is left in the piano while it is on its side, you run the risk of the hammers warping the shanks that are towards the bass end of the instrument. This will disrupt the hammer alignment and ruin the sound and functionality of your piano.

The best place to keep your grand piano is in your house, with regular use. But in the event that you must store it, following these rules will help it make it through long periods of storage with minimal damage.

Prestige Pianos & Organs is Melbourne's Oldest YAMAHA Piano Dealer and is the home of fine musical instruments, providing musical solutions since 1973.

At Prestige Pianos & Organs we specialise in providing a wide selection of new and used instruments. Whether you're looking for an acoustic grand piano to enhance your home or a keyboard for performances with a band we have a product that will fit your needs.