Moving During the Summer

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of maxpixel.com

Summer is fast approaching.  That means 2 issues: heat and rain. Being a Floridian I know all about making a move when the temperature hovers in the mid-nineties.  While my crew and I understand that working in the heat necessitates applying sunscreen, slowing the pace down a bit and staying hydrated, that doesn’t mean most homeowners do.  Moving in the heat of a summer’s day can make the average homeowner swoon, or wind up with a case of sun poisoning the following day.

Some Like It Hot

To avoid making the ER part of your moving plans, if you plan on mowing in June, July or August, you need to take a few precautions. To start off with, you need to find and apply the highest SPF sunscreen available.  The Florida sun is brutal during the summer.  While it might only take a minute or two to walk from your house to your car as you gather the belongings that are not going onto the truck, when you factor in the number of trips it takes to clear out your home and the end result can be a severe sunburn. 

During the summer, my crew and I will usually apply sunscreen in the morning when we load the truck, then again in the afternoon when we unload.  The sun can burn you in as little as 20-minutes during the summer if you are unprotected.  The last thing you want is to wake up the day after your move looking like a lobster.  Unpacking all those boxes is enough of a chore to begin with.  Just think of how much more stressful it will be if every move causes you to cringe in pain. 

Image courtesy of flickr.com

Hydration, or lack thereof, is another issue many people take for granted during a move.  I have seen my share of homeowners pack up the kitchen only to realize they had neglected to have any beverages on hand.  Before you empty out the freezer, transfer the ice cubes from into a cooler, then add as much bottled water as the cooler can hold.  You’d be surprised at how much water you can lose by sweating.  

Dehydration can result in more than just a dry mouth.  If your body loses enough moisture, it can progress from simple thirst to heat exhaustion.  Aside from feeling fatigued, this condition can produce every symptom from a headache and dizziness, to confusion and fainting.  None of these issues are advisable in the best of times. However, if heat exhaustion occurs during a move, you are courting disaster.

Moving entails either handling, or being in the vicinity of heavy objects, negotiating your way through a maze of boxes, going up and down stairs and driving.  This is the last place you need to feel yourself becoming dizzy or disoriented.  The best way to prevent heat exhaustion is to drink water every 15-minutes, wear a hat, and take frequent breaks.  Sure, moving in the summer heat can take a little more time than it does when the weather is cooler, but the extra time it takes to avoid heat stress is worth it, compared to spending the next day in the hospital instead of your new home.

Wind and Weather

Coutrtesy of wikimedia

Another thing most homeowners are ill-prepared for during a summer move are afternoon rain showers.  Like it or not, thunderstorms are an almost daily occurrence in Florida during the summer.  While wind and weather aren’t necessarily a deterrent to movers, when the sky grows dark and that telltale rumble of an approaching thunderstorm makes its presence known, that is another thing altogether.

·         Lightning can travel more than 10 miles from cloud to ground.  When a thunderstorm is imminent, take cover inside the house.  Do not remain outside or in an open garage or carport.  Close all the doors in your home.

      ·         Wind during a thunderstorm can reach hurricane force.  This means trouble if there is anything that the wind can pick up and hurl at you or your windows. 

      ·         Especially in the early stages of a thunderstorm, the leading edge of the storm front can bring with it both winds and downdrafts that are strong enough to knock trees down or tear off limbs.  If you hear a storm approaching, let your crew know so they can close the truck and take in or tie down anything on your driveway or in your yard. 

      ·         Once the thunder, lightning and wind has passed and it is determined that it’s safe to renew loading the truck, your crew will cover furniture with a tarp should there still be a persistent drizzle present.  Be doubly careful when you too resume loading belongings into your car, since the driveway, sidewalk and lawn will now be slippery.  Safety always needs to be job #1 whenever you move.

      ·         A conscientious crew will make sure they lay down tarps in the entrances to your home to make sure they don’t track water into your house.  Be careful you don’t trip over them.

      ·         You also need to exercise extra caution if you are traveling to your new home during or immediately after a storm.  Aside from wet roadways, there could be downed limbs or powerlines in the neighborhood.  If the storm was severe, there could also be flooded roads or other weather-related hazards to contend with.  If you arrive ahead of your crew, let them know of any obstruction that they will need to overcome on their way to your new home.

      ·         Make sure you dress for the weather by wearing layers that can easily be removed if you get wet. If you don a poncho, take care that it doesn’t get snagged on anything that can cause it or you to fall. 

Since summer conditions can last up to 5 months in the Sunshine State, this means that many Floridians will find they need to make a move when the heat is on.  While making a move in the heart of summer can require a bit more planning and patience, if you take into consideration the variables, you never need to get hot under the collar.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers  has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.