When looking into self-storage, one of the more important things to keep in mind is the weather’s potential for burning heat and bitter cold. Exposure to temperature extremes can damage your belongings faster than anything except water. Whether you choose a climate-controlled or outdoor unit, here are a few self-storage tips on preventing damage to your stored items due to temperature extremes.
Assess Your Storage Needs
If you are preparing to move or just need to get some things out from underfoot, storage units offer you a clean and secure storage solution. At Value Store It, customizing your self-storage needs is easy. We offer various sizes and styles of storage units.
Units range in size from 25 square feet all the way up to 300 square feet. Our interactive storage size guide can help you pick the unit that is right for you.
Non-climate-controlled units
One of the biggest issues with using a non-climate-controlled unit is the summer heat and winter cold. Though your items are safe from rain, wind, and snow, temperatures can fluctuate drastically in certain climates and seasons. The freezing temperatures and extreme summer heat can cause damage or even destroy certain items.
If you are storing items for a short time, it may not be necessary to rent a climate-controlled unit during cooler and/or dryer weather. If you plan on storing items over several seasons, consider a climate-controlled unit to guarantee that your possessions will have extra protection from extreme temperatures. If you choose the non-climate-controlled option, you can do a few things to help protect your items from heat and cold on a temporary basis.
Never Store Liquids
Some liquids are not acceptable in a storage unit at any time, including:
- Flammable liquids, such as kerosene or gasoline
- Liquids that emit noxious odors or vapors
Even benign liquids such as water can cause serious trouble in both winter and summer. Water expands as it freezes, so containers full of water may crack or shatter during frigid temperatures. In the hot summer months, water evaporates and humidifies the surrounding area, which can increase the risk of mold and mildew growth.
Items that will be damaged by temperature fluctuations
- Wine
- Artwork
- Electronics
- Paper documents/photographs
- Antiques
- Musical instruments
There are actually very few items that will not come to some sort of harm in unprotected freeze/thaw environments.
Items that will not be affected by temperature fluctuations
- Stainless steel
- Glass items
- Furniture made of very dense woods such as teak.
- Clothing and textiles, when properly packed, do fine with short-term storage.
- Garage storage item
While temporary storage may not require a climate-controlled unit, consider climate-controlled storage solutions to protect your personal possessions long term. At Value Store It, we offer a variety of self-storage options in Florida and Massachusetts. Visit our solutions page to find the location and storage solution that is right for you.
