While summer is the most popular time of the year for relocation, there’s no doubt that moving in the heat can be a challenge. In fact, staying cool is a very important part of planning a summer relocation project—as heat stroke and exhaustion can become risks that threaten your health.


At Westheimer Transfer & Storage, our household movers have been helping our people make safe, affordable, and enjoyable moves since 1883. As an agent of Allied Van Lines, one of the largest and most trusted moving networks in the world, we’re your best bet when it comes to moving anywhere in the world—during the coldest and hottest times of the year. If you’re planning to move in the heat, being prepared beforehand is key to a successful experience. In this article, we’re going over some of the best ways to keep cool during local and long-distance moving projects to help you get organized for a great one.

Plan Your Move in The Early Morning Hours

As they say, the early bird gets the worm—and in this case, getting started as early as you can ensure that you enjoy the best possible outcome during a summer move. Early morning hours are the coolest, which is a great reason to schedule your move first thing in the morning. Another great tip is to pack during the night when the sun is down and the temperatures have dropped, and to have everything prepared on the evening prior to the move. That way, you can get started moving boxes right into the moving van first thing in the morning as soon as your movers get there.

Turn on the AC

Moving requires heavy, physical work—and staying cool is important. Make sure you turn on the AC to at least 75 degrees at your old home and in the new one to make moving around easier on you and the movers. It also goes without saying that you should make sure that the vehicles you move in have AC too, and to turn it on full blast as you move back and forth between homes.

Know the Signs of Heat Stroke

Heatstroke—also known as sunstroke—is a very real threat during the hottest times of the day. Not only should you avoid moving during a heatwave, you should also take precautions to avoid the actual moving process during the hottest hours of the day. That said, a heat stroke can be serious or even deadly. Knowing the signs of heatstroke is critical to the health of you and your moving team. While professional movers like our team at Westheimer Transfer and Storage will be prepared for the chance of a heat stroke, it’s a good idea to learn them for yourself in case someone in your household begins showing the signs. Some symptoms include: 


  • A throbbing headache
  • Feeling dizzy or light-headed
  • Hot, dry, or clammy skin
  • Redness in the face or body
  • Nausea, vomiting and feeling ill
  • A rapid pulse and/or quick, shallow breathing
  • Lack of sweat despite the heat

Take Breaks and Offer Cold Drinks

It can be tempting to get it all done as quickly as possible but moving in the heat should take extra time than usual to finish. Make sure you take plenty of breaks from physical movement and consider pausing the project during the hottest hours to give you and your moving team time to cool down and re-charge. Offer your moving team cold drinks and allow time for breaks as often as you can. You should also make sure you drink plenty of water every hour to stay hydrated and reduce overheating.

Local and Long-Distance Moving In Texas

When it comes to local and long-distance moving for commercial and residential projects, our team at Westheimer Transfer & Storage is here for you. We’re proud to serve as one of the most trusted moving companies in Texas, dedicated to providing top-quality relocation solutions for our customers in Houston and beyond.


If you’d like more information about our award-winning team of professional household movers, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call to speak with one of our representatives over the phone or fill out our easy online form to schedule a free, in-home pricing estimate for your next move.