Living in Arizona is a pleasant experience most of the year. But, when the summer weather hits, taking precautions against the heat, for family, the movers and possessions involved will assure that things--and people--arrive at the new home in good shape. Some necessary precautions are listed below.
Turn on the A/C
Before the move, make sure both places have the a/c turned on if it’s a local move. It’s even worth a special trip before moving the possessions to go over to the new place and turn on the A/C. Avoid the temptation to only have utilities on in one place at a time, as both homes need to be cool during the move.
Moving in the Arizona heat can sometimes present unexpected challenges.
Take seniors, young children, and pets somewhere else
Anyone who lives in the home who has a delicate constitution should plan to spend the day somewhere else. Youngsters and seniors are much more susceptible to heat exhaustion than healthy adults, so they should be tucked away somewhere safe.
The same holds true for all pets. They should be secured away from the move and never left in a hot car.
Go early, or late, and avoid rush hour traffic
The best times to move are when it’s too early or too late for the most intense heat of the day. The caveat of this is that sometimes traffic gets an early start, and it’s best not to get stuck in a high traffic situation if at all possible, especially vehicles which are loaded down with household items, which tends to be hard on the car anyway, and worse in high temperature, stop-and-go traffic.
Have access to a cooler for every moving helper
Moving boxes, loading, unloading and cleaning is strenuous work. It’s crucial that any helpers you gather have access to cold drinks at both locations. Moving can involve unforeseen circumstances, which can sometimes keep one or more helpers away from the cooler if there is only one.
Make sure the refrigerator is handled appropriately
If the refrigerator is part of the move, special handling is required because of the oil and other fluids which allow the unit to function correctly. Here is more information on handling moving a refrigerator, and how many hours to wait before plugging it back in.
So many things can be damaged by heat.
Manage heat-sensitive possessions
Some items can be damaged more quickly than the bulk of the possessions. Here are some to watch for, and the list should be adjusted to fit individual circumstances:
So many things.
- All food and beverages (even plastic water bottle will release BPA if left in the heat)
- Medications
- Candles
- Electronics
- Media (examples: CD's, vinyl records, tapes, etc.)
- Art supplies and paint, including crayons
- Art and furniture which have been treated with heat-sensitive components (such as wax).
Reserve a truck and hire an experienced crew
Summer is the busiest time of year for moves and movers, which means movers and moving trucks and trailers on in high demand. Be sure to reserve the best possible moving company, truck, trailer, and other moving needs well in advance so the move will go smoothly.
Aardvark Movers Inc., a Phoenix Arizona moving company, has the most experienced movers for all your residential, office or apartment relocation needs, serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Glendale, Cave Creek, Carefree, Surprise, Sun City, Paradise Valley, Apache Junction, Maricopa County and all of Arizona. 602-716-5555.
