How To Store A Piano In Your Garage?

Music is a huge part of our lives. It can set the mood, make us feel happy, or even help us concentrate on our work. Because of this, it’s important to have a place where we can store our instruments safely and securely. For many people, that place is their garage. If you’re wondering how to store your piano in your garage, keep reading for some helpful tips!

Is it OK to Store a Piano in the Garage?

Although a piano can be stored in the garage, it’s really not the best place for it.

Whether the piano is old or new, a garage is not the ideal storage place for a garage because it leaves it vulnerable to temperature and moisture. When these two variables are not kept in check, the moisture can damage the piano’s components. Wood can be warped, the wool cloth can deteriorate, and the soundboard can shrink.

If your garage is temperature-controlled, however, that might be a different story! Each piano has a wooden soundboard that serves as the instrument’s core and its heart. This is where the sound is created.

As you probably know, wood is elastic in nature and can shrink or expand depending on the environment. 

If your piano is not stored in a temperature-controlled unit, the temperature fluctuations can leave your piano in rough shape. 

That said, the climate isn’t the only thing to keep in mind when deciding where to store your piano, though.

When deciding whether the garage is the ideal storage place for your piano, you also need to consider whether there is enough space for the piano to remain upright on its legs. The garage needs to be relatively secure – after all, pianos are expensive instruments! – adn safe from environmental factors like pests and severe weather. 

Pests are especially attracted to pianos, as they’ll gnaw on the wood of the instrument and even build their nests inside. Keeping them out is key to keeping your piano safe!

With those variables in mind, here are some more tips on how to store a piano in the garage. 

How Do You Store a Piano? 

Below, we’ll give you some suggestions on the best ways to store a piano in the garage. 

Cleaning the Piano

Preparing to store your piano is equally as important as moving and storing it! 

Take the right steps to make sure your piano holds up well in storage. First, wipe down the keys and polish the wood. Polishing the wood surfaces of your piano can prevent damp air, mold, and mildew from wreaking havoc. When you polish, do so in the direction of the grain. 

Make sure the piano is totally dry. Your keys should be covered in a cloth and the lid needs to be covered to keep the dust off them. 

You can prevent further moisture and pest damage by adding a wrapped parcel of tobacco inside the body of the instrument. 

How to Move a Piano

First, make sure you know exactly how to wrap and position a piano so that it’s easier to move. 

Check out this video for helpful tips:

Otherwise, make sure that you keep the cover on the piano and the piano oriented upright to prevent it from going out of tune. 

You can move the piano yourself, but in most cases, investing in movers is a smart choice. Professional movers will be able to move the piano safely to prevent injury and damage to the piano.

Acclimate the Piano First

If the garage in which you will be storing the piano isn’t the same temperature as the piano’s current location, you should take time to get it acclimated. Pianos are fragile instruments and can fall out of tune or warp if exposed to sudden changes. Wrapping your piano [properly can help prevent this. 

Place the PIano on its Legs

We’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth mentioning it again – make sure your piano is placed upright. Don’t put it on its side, no matter what.

The hammers can become misaligned and it may be extremely difficult to get it properly tuned in order to play it again. 

You can, however, remove any wheels or casters, if this makes it easier for you to store the piano. 

Put a Rug Down

Even if your garage is heated, there’s a good chance that it has a concrete floor that can still hold a lot of cool air and moisture. 

Therefore, it’s a good idea to put down a rug beneath the legs of the piano. This can prevent damage to the piano. 

Store it Out of Heat and Sunlight

Store the piano against an inside wall. It should be away from a window since heat and sunlight can damage the finish of the instrument and make it harder for you to keep it in tune. 

Don’t place the instrument near a heater, air conditioning unit, or vents. Fluctuations in humidity and temperature can weaken the strings and warp the soundboard. You should also keep the piano away from open windows and doors, since this can cause condensation to build up. 

The ideal temperature range for a piano is room temperature – around 70 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Avoid Placing Anything on the Piano

Although pianos are heavy instruments that can certainly support their fair share of weight, it’s important that you don’t place anything on the piano or music desk, even if the cover is on and the piano is covered. 

This can damage the piano or cause it to go out of tune. Even worse, some items could leak fluids and stain or otherwise permanently damage the piano or its various components. 

Rest Before Returning

After you’ve removed your instrument from the storage unit, leave it for a few weeks. Let it rest and acclimate to the new setting before you have it tuned. 

Pianos go out of tune regardless of whether they’re being played. Time is really the most significant factor here. 

If you are keeping the piano in storage for longer than a year, tuning will likely be necessary (and it could be more expensive). The strings might have to have their strings increased more to get them to the right pitch.

How Do I Protect My Piano in Storage?

Regularly check on your piano to make sure it’s still in good condition while it’s being stored. If you can, check on it once every other month or so. Carefully unwrap the piano and give it a few moments to breathe. Inspect it to make sure no damages have occurred. 

That said, don’t give in to the temptation of playing your piano while it’s in storage! Leave it alone until you’re ready to start using it regularly again.

If you have a piano that needs to be stored in your garage, don’t worry. These tips for how to store a piano in your garage will prevent it from suffering from temperature and humidity fluctuations – and keep it safe for future use. Good luck!