How to Stay Cool During a Summer Move

Summer is the most popular season to move house – and while there are many good reasons for that (children are out of school, the days are long, the real estate market is booming, etc.), the main cause is the weather. It’s warm in the summer – and moving house is much easier and way less risky in warm weather than in freezing temperatures, ice, and snow.

Despite this, however, the weather is also one of the biggest challenges of moving in the summer – it often gets scorching hot in the summer months and the heat makes moving extremely taxing.

The sun burns mercilessly, the air is hot and stuffy, and the temperatures reach triple digits – it’s hard to breathe, let alone haul heavy items around. People feel sluggish and drained, sweat gets in the way, and the sultriness is unbearable.

What’s more, moving in the heat is not only uncomfortable, but also downright dangerous – it can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke.

Fortunately, there are a lot of things you can do to beat the heat and have a smooth moving experience, even in the height of summer.

Find out how to stay cool when moving in hot weather and ensure your safe and successful summer relocation.

Plan ahead

Summer is hot, but not all days of summer are equally hot. The last weeks of June, for example, are usually much cooler than the end of July and the beginning of August – and some days are just cloudier and less warm than others.

So, when planning your move, try to plan around the weather (provided that you have the freedom to choose when to move, of course) – set your relocation for a period that is typically not too hot and be sure to check the weather forecast before deciding on a specific moving date. Long-term forecasts are not very accurate, but they will still give you an idea of when heatwaves are expected to hit, so you can avoid these particular periods.

Keep in mind, though, that a lot of people will have the same idea (summer is peak moving season – thousands of people will be on the move and all of them will want to avoid the worst of heat, just like you do), so you will have to book your move well ahead of time in order to secure a cooler moving date – start researching moving companies months in advance, choose the best movers for you, and book their services as soon as you get the forecast for the general time period of your move and pick out the coolest possible day for your relocation. (See also: How far in advance to book movers)

In case you’ve opted for a self-move, you won’t need to worry about movers, but you will most probably need to rent a moving truck – and rental truck availability may be a problem on the cooler summer days. You’re advised to choose a truck rental company ahead of time and reserve a moving vehicle of the right size as soon as you decide on a cool moving date – if you wait even a little bit, there may remain no truck available for that date. (See also: Moving truck rental guide)

Once you know your moving date, create a detailed moving calendar and plan to complete the most work on the coolest days you will have before your relocation.

Make sure the utilities are on

The last thing you want when moving in the summer is to not have electricity and water on the day of your move.

You will want to keep the air-conditioning – and/or a couple of fans – running in your old home on move-out day – so it’s cool indoors and you and your movers have a refuge from the heat. In order to be able to do so, you will need electricity – so, when you contact your service providers to inform them of your move and have the utilities in your old home disconnected, be sure to schedule the power to be turned off on the day after your move.

The same is even truer for move-in day – you will want to cool off and take a shower at the end of the day, so you need to have electricity and water in your new home when you arrive there. Therefore, you need to arrange for the utilities in your new property to be connected on the day before – or on the morning of – move-in day.

Related: How to transfer utilities when moving

Good to remember: When wondering how to stay cool during a summer move, cranking up the air conditioner seems like the logical solution. However, with people constantly going in and out of the home on moving day and the doors opening and closing frequently, the air conditioning won’t be very effective. You’re, therefore, advised to:

• Take all boxes and smaller household items to one location – such as the room at the front of the house. Then, you will be able to close off the rest of the rooms (you will only need to open their doors a couple of times to take your furniture and other larger items out), so they will stay cool and people will be able to go there to cool off when they need a break (and your pets and your children, as well as everyone else who is not currently involved in the moving activities, will have a cool place where to stay);
• It will be pointless to run the air conditioning in the front room of the house, so turn it off (if possible) and use fans to help circulate the air and keep the temperature in the room down;
• If possible, go to your new home several hours before your items are expected to arrive and turn the air conditioning on – so the house is cool when you start unloading and unpacking your belongings;
• When unloading your items and taking them inside your new home, use the same strategy as upon loading – take everything to a single location first (the room closest to the entrance of the home), so you can unload as quickly as possible and minimize the time the front door is open. Once everything is inside, shut the door, turn up the A/C, and start taking your items to their rightful places in the home.

Start your move early in the morning

Not sure how to beat the heat when moving in the summer? The best way to do it is by starting your move very, very early in the morning.

Summer mornings are usually quite pleasant – the air is fresh and the sun is not yet harsh. The temperatures, however, go up very quickly – and may easily reach triple digits by midday.  

So, when moving in hot weather, it’s advisable to schedule your move for as early in the morning as possible – so you can have things wrapped up before the heat becomes too intense.

The coolest part of the day is at dawn – shortly before and shortly after the sun rises. It is, therefore, a good idea to get up very early in the morning on moving day and get as much work done as you can before the sun comes up.

If you’re using professional moving services, have your movers arrive at your home at the earliest possible time, so they can complete your move while the temperatures are still bearable.

In the event of a self-move, be sure to take care of the most strenuous moving tasks (such as lifting and carrying heavy furniture) first thing in the morning, while it’s still cool and you’re not drained of energy. Get your moving truck as soon as the rental company opens and do your best to finish loading before noon.

Avoid moving between 11 am and 5 pm when the intensity of the sun is the strongest.

See also: How to survive Moving day

Wear light, breathable clothing

While clothes are usually used to keep people warm, wearing the right type of clothing will help you stay cool – or, at least, avoid overheating – when moving in the summer:

• Dress in loose-fitting, comfortable clothes that allow flexibility and provide breathing room between your skin and the fabric so air can circulate freely and heat can easily escape your body;
• Opt for lightweight, breathable fabrics, like cotton and linen, and avoid synthetic fabrics, like polyester and rayon, which trap heat;
• Avoid wearing dark colors as they absorb the sunlight – light colors, especially white, reflect the sun rays away and will help keep you cooler;
• Even though it may seem logical to wear shorts and a T-shirt when moving in hot weather, long pants and long-sleeved shirts (very thin, of course) are actually the better choice – they will help protect your arms and legs from injuries and will also protect your skin from the burning rays of the sun.

As far as shoes are concerned, do not be tempted to wear sandals and flip-flops – sports shoes are the best option. They’re comfortable, light, and breathable, so they’re perfect for a strenuous summer day – and they’re closed-toed and usually have anti-slippery soles, which is crucial for reducing the risk of accidents and injuries during the move.

Good to remember: Wear a wide-brimmed hat made of breathable fabric to protect the parts of your body that will get most exposure to the sun – your head, your face, and your shoulders.

Bonus tip: Apply sunscreen

When moving in the summer, it’s crucial that you protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun – even on an overcast day. Use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to prevent sunburn and other sun damage – apply it on all exposed skin (your face, neck, ears, etc.) before you go out in the sun (or under the clouds) and reapply it every couple of hours for maximum protection.

Stay hydrated

Staying well hydrated is of uttermost importance when moving in hot weather – it allows your body to function properly and helps keep your energy levels up and your body temperature regulated.

Moving involves a lot of strenuous effort and hard work – and when doing vigorous activity in hot weather, you sweat a lot. Your body loses fluids when you sweat – and if you don’t replenish these fluids as you go along, you can become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause a variety of health issues, so you need to be very careful to avoid it. Needless to say, the best way to do so is to drink plenty of water.

The summer heat and your extra efforts on Moving day mean that your organism will need much more water than usual to stay properly hydrated. It is, therefore, advisable to drink at least 35 ounces of water per hour when moving in hot weather – preferably, cold water.

Cold water will keep you hydrated and will keep your body temperature low – so, be sure to prepare a cooler with a lot of ice and a lot of bottles of water for the day of your move.

It is a good idea to have some other refreshing cold drinks at hand too – ice tea, lemonade, etc.

Keep in mind that as your body loses fluids, it also loses electrolytes (the minerals in your body fluids that affect how your muscles and nerves work). So, you may want to drink some beverages that restore electrolytes as well – coconut water, sugarless sports drinks, etc.

Just be sure to avoid alcohol and beverages high in caffeine or sugar (such as energy drinks) as they speed up dehydration.

Good to remember: Eat right

You will need a lot of energy on moving day, so you need to eat well – it is, however, very important to eat foods that will give you energy but will not dehydrate you. Opt for fresh fruits and vegetables and light foods rich in protein (such as nuts, eggs, fish, and dairy products). Avoid sweets and foods with high sodium content (salt) as they accelerate dehydration and stay away from fat-rich foods and hard-to-digest foods that can make you feel sluggish and even hotter.

Do not forget to offer water, cold drinks, and light, wholesome snacks to your movers – and everyone else who is helping you move – too!

Use portable fans

There is no doubt that the best way to stay cool in hot weather is to stay in an air-conditioned area. When moving house, however, this is not possible – air-conditioning isn’t effective when the doors open and close frequently (as explained above) and you need to spend a lot of time outdoors anyway.

In such circumstances, portable fans are your best bet – you can position them in strategic spots to keep the air circulating and provide some relief from the heat. It’s best to use battery-operated fans that allow for easy maneuvering and can be placed in high-traffic areas – just be careful to keep them out of the way so you, your helpers, and your movers don’t trip while carrying heavy items around.

Have cold towels on hand

Cold, damp towels can literally save moving day when you’re moving in hot weather – placing a cold towel on the back of your neck can cool you down in seconds and prevent heat-related issues.

It is, therefore, a good idea to dampen some clean towels on the morning of moving day and put them in a cooler, so they’re ready to use when the heat gets too intense. If someone feels too hot during the move, just take a towel from the cooler and place it on top of their shoulders – it will help lower their body temperature very quickly.

If you haven’t prepared a cooler with towels, dampen a towel in cold water when someone starts to overheat and place it on their shoulders right away. 

Now that you know how to keep cool when moving in the summer – by drinking plenty of water and cold drinks, wearing loose-fitting, light-colored, and breathable clothes, using portable fans and wet towels, etc. – you just need to remember not to overexert yourself.

Take frequent breaks

When moving in hot weather, it’s crucial to give yourself time to rest and cool down. Resting in a cool area, even just for 10 minutes or so, will lower your body temperature and will prevent heat exhaustion.

So, don’t try to “power through” the day – listen to your body and take breaks when needed. Go to a cool room, drink water, rest for a while, and reapply sunscreen if necessary – it will help keep your body temperature at a healthy level and will give you the energy to keep going. Remember – heat exhaustion will slow you down much more than a couple of breaks will.

Bonus tip: Watch out for signs of overheating

Know the signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion, so you can take measures to cool yourself down before things become too serious. If you experience any dizziness, weakness, headache, weak, rapid pulse, muscle cramps, or nausea, be sure to stop working immediately, go to a cool room, sip cool water, and lie down for some time.

Hire full service movers

The above tips for staying cool when moving in the summer will help you avoid overheating during your summer move but it will still be an arduous, sweltering experience.

Using professional moving services, on the other hand, will not simply help you stay cool when moving in hot weather, but will allow you to avoid the heat altogether. Your full-service movers will take care of your move from start to finish, so you won’t need to lift a finger – you will be able to sit back and relax in an air-conditioned room while the pros do all the work for you.

Professional movers know how to handle a relocation in extreme temperatures, so they will be able to do their job without any risk to their health – and you will have a safe and smooth relocation experience without even breaking a sweat.