Moving Your Belongings Safely During Extreme Heat Conditions

How to safely move house in extreme heat  

Summer remains the most popular time of year for most Canadians to move. Beyond, the logistics of it being a season when kids are out of school and when vacations are often booked, there is another, undeniable fact: It’s not Winter.  

Winter is many things for many people, but what it isn’t is a time that people want to be lugging their belongings from one place to another in. The chance of severe storms makes that a daunting task.

So, Summer becomes a less risky proposition.  

Note, the word “less” here. It’s not without risk. Severe heat can make things dicey when you are doing a move. Here are some ways to reduce your risk when moving in the Summer.  

Give yourself lots of time

Packing is hard work. It can cause you a lot of strain, especially when you are doing do in high heat.  

So, it’s best to give yourself more than a couple of days to make packing takes a lot out of you. If you give yourself multiple days, or even weeks, you can choose to do the heaviest work when the temperatures are at their lowest.  

One way to make that easier is to look at portable storage options. With a storage container that is brought to your space, you can move a little at a time, and avoid having a backbreaking day at the end of the move.  

Know the signs

Extreme heat isn’t just dangerous. It’s potentially life-threatening, in extreme cases. So, make sure that you know the signs of heat illness so that you can address them immediately.  

Watch out for excessive sweating and tiredness. If not addressed, someone suffering from heat stroke will start to be confused, nauseated, clammy, and have a severe headache. If you notice these signs, try to cool the person down with a wet towel or ice, while seeking immediate medical attention.  

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Keep your belongings safe

It’s not just people who can suffer in the extreme heat. Some of your belongings can be put at risk too.

That’s especially the case with technology, medicine, cosmetics, and batteries might melt or break down once they reach a specific temperature. Those items should be moved in temperature-controlled vehicles. If your moving company cannot offer that, consider taking these items in your car, or use MoveBuddy to find a company that can.  

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Don’t shut things off too soon

Although you may be tempted to save money by shutting off your utilities early, or not starting them at your new location right away…don’t.  

Having a working air conditioner on both sides of the move can do wonders in keeping the heat stroke away.  

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There’s always tomorrow

Sometimes you have to realize that you just can’t do the job at the time it was scheduled. Your health and the health of those helping you should always be what drives your decisions. Although a slight delay may be frustrating, it’s worth it to keep everyone safe.  

So, don’t be afraid to make the tough call to delay, if needed.  

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