Pianos are marvelous musical instruments that allow you to play a range of different pieces of music. These instruments make an amazing addition to your home, as you can use them to play beautiful music.
Unfortunately, not all pianos will become beloved heirlooms. Over time, a piano may come to the end of its lifespan, meaning that it is no longer worth refurbishing it. As you can imagine, it can be difficult to dispose of an old and unwanted piano. After all, these musical instruments are renowned for their large size and heaviness.
Luckily, this guide will tell you everything that you need to know about piano disposal, including the various options that are available to you!
Table of Contents
- How Can You Dispose Of A Piano?
- Why Should You Recycle A Piano?
- How Can You Recycle A Piano?
- How Can You Dismantle A Piano?
- Can You Find A New Home For A Piano?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Video: How To Recycle A Piano
- Final Thoughts
How Can You Dispose Of A Piano?
There are a few different ways of disposing of a piano. However, the options available to you will differ depending on various factors, including the quality of the piano. If the piano is of poor quality, it may be best to dismantle it and take it to a landfill.
Another important factor will be your location. Many landfill centers will not accept pianos. Moreover, lots of bulky waste collections will not take these instruments due to their bulkiness. On the other hand, these regulations can vary depending on your council, so it’s worth checking what options are available to you.
If you have a high-quality piano, selling or donating it are two available options.
Why Should You Recycle A Piano?
Recycling a piano can be a much better option than simply disposing of it. There are a plethora of reasons why you should recycle your piano, including:
- Recycling this instrument is much more environmentally friendly than disposing of it. Many of the parts of a piano can be recycled and used elsewhere. When you recycle the instrument, very little of it will go to waste.
- Different components of the piano can be used elsewhere. Simply discarding the piano could be considered a waste of materials.
- Often, it is much simpler to recycle a piano than it is to discard it entirely. As mentioned, piano disposal is rarely an easy task thanks to the massive size of the instrument.
- The wooden elements of an old piano can be particularly valuable and sought-after.
- Pinos are beautiful musical instruments that many people feel emotionally attached to. Often, the owner of a piano will feel better about the instrument being recycled than they would about it being disposed of.
How Can You Recycle A Piano?
If you want to recycle the piano, it’s worthwhile contacting a local recycling center to see if they are willing to accept the instrument.
Certain piano disposal services can help you to recycle these items. Yet, many of these businesses will charge you for this service, so you will need to consider whether or not this is worth it.
Another method of recycling an unwanted piano is through the individual parts. Many piano excerpts will be willing to take old parts.
How Can You Dismantle A Piano?
Due to its lofty size, a piano will be difficult to transport to a recycling center or landfill. Consequently, it’s often best to dismantle a piano beforehand. This will allow you to fit the entire instrument in your vehicle.
It’s worth noting that this is only a good option if you do not plan on using the piano afterward, as the dismantling process will likely damage the piano beyond repair.
If you want to dismantle a piano, all you have to do is:
- Open the lid of your piano to expose the keys. The lid is easy to open, as this piece will need to be opened if you wish to use the instrument.
- Unscrew the cover of the piano lid. You should be able to find these screws behind the piano cover.
- Locate the lower board. This flat piece is found above the foot pedals. This piece should be kept in place by a spring, so removing it should be fairly straightforward.
- Now, you can move onto the top lid. Start by lifting this lid, which should be operated by hinges. Simply unscrew these hinges to release the lid, so that you can remove it.
- It’s best to keep these wooden pieces together, as you will be able to dispose of them in the same way. Alternatively, you could recycle the wood so that it’s used elsewhere.
- Next, you will need to proceed to the inner workings of the piano. Firstly, you should take out the action bracket. Located above the keyboard, the action contains all of the hammers that strike the keys when a note is played. To get rid of this part, you will need to unscrew the bracket.
- Now that the bracket has been loosened, bring the action forward and then lift it. The action is one of the heaviest parts of a piano, so you may need some assistance when removing it.
- The keys are super straightforward to remove, as they are only kept in place by pins. Consequently, you can now remove these keys one at a time.
- All that will be left is the empty structure of the piano. You should start to deconstruct this structure by reducing the tension of the strings of the harp.
- Then, take out the key bed by unscrewing it.
- It’s best to dismantle the remaining structure by laying the piano on the ground. Start by getting rid of the side supports. You will then just be left with the back of the piano. Ensure that you get rid of any remaining screws.
It can be quite time-consuming to dismantle a piano, but it’s worth doing properly. You will need a screwdriver to complete this task. Moreover, you may need assistance from another person, as the dismantling process is fairly challenging.
Can You Find A New Home For A Piano?
If your piano is still in relatively good condition, you should consider looking for a new home for it. This is a great option for getting rid of a piano that you feel attached to, as the legacy of the piano can continue. There are a few different ways of finding a new home for an old piano, such as:
Online Marketplaces
You can list the instrument on online marketplaces, such as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist. These sites will allow you to sell the piano so that you can make some extra cash. You can sell the used piano for whatever price you want.
Just make sure that you create an accurate listing for this product. If it is damaged in any way, it’s important to include these details in the online listing. It’s important to note that selling your piano through these platforms can take a long time, meaning that this instrument can continue to take up a lot of space in your home.
If you opt for this route, ensure that you create a compelling listing for this item. This will include taking detailed and high-quality pictures of the piano. Well-known piano brands, such as Steinway & Sons or Schimmel, will be particularly popular with customers.
Donate The Piano
If you aren’t concerned about making money through this piano, you should consider donating it. There are lots of local institutions that may accept an old piano, including schools, churches or other religious organizations, community centers, charities, and music clubs. Simply contact these organizations to see whether or not they could benefit from your piano.
Just bear in mind that this option is only viable for high-quality pianos. Most institutions won’t want to take in a piano that doesn’t work.
One of the benefits of donating a piano is that it will go to a good home in which it will likely be used regularly. This solution is only suitable for people who don’t want to make a profit from their piano.
Contact Piano Technicians
As you can imagine, people who have an intense passion for these musical instruments are most likely to purchase them. This means that you can proactively find a new home for your piano by contacting these technicians and experts.
Even if the expert that you contact does not want to purchase your old piano, they may be able to direct you elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Old Pianos Worth Anything?
Yes, antique pianos are worth a lot of money and can be worth up to a few thousand dollars. The value of an old piano will be impacted by factors like its quality, age, and brand.
What Makes A Piano An Antique?
Generally, a piano will be considered an antique if it was constructed over 100 years ago.
Video: How To Recycle A Piano
This is a great video on how to recycle a piano once it is no longer tunable or able to be restored:
Final Thoughts
If you have an old piano in your home that is collecting dust and taking up tons of space, you may want to dispose of it. Though piano disposal is challenging, there are a plethora of different options available. From donating it to selling it online, there are lots of ways for you to get rid of an unwanted piano, some of which can earn you cash!
