The upsides of climate-controlled storage units
If you are planning on moving and have realized that you own more items than you can fit into your new home, or you have simply done some decluttering and now aren’t sure what to do with the extra things you have, perhaps its time to consider renting a storage unit. Don’t decide on a storage unit in a hurry, though. Take your time to find out about the upsides of climate-controlled storage units and why they are ideal for storing some of your most treasured belongings.
You can save time by looking for self-storage online or any specific storage type you might need. While renting a climate-controlled storage unit might be a few dollars more expensive than obtaining a regular unit, in the long run, it can help you save money. Depending on the items you choose to store, your savings can amount to hundreds and even thousands of dollars. But that’s not all! Let’s see what other benefits there are of temperature-controlled units.
Climate-controlled storage units are perfect for storing selected items
You might be surprised to find that many items that you thought could be stored in a regular storage unit should, in fact, be stored under specific conditions where the temperature and humidity are regulated. If you have any doubts when considering whether you need to store your items in a climate-controlled storage unit, reputable providers and movers can be of great help and advise you on this matter.
If you plan on putting any of the following items in storage, keep in mind that opting for a climate-controlled unit can significantly increase the longevity of your belongings:
- Paintings and other artwork
- Books
- Electronics
- Expensive wines
- Wooden or leather furniture
- Musical instruments
- Photographs
- Wedding dresses or suits
- Leather jackets
- Important personal documents
Why climate control is so crucial in terms of storage
Before deciding to put your items in self-storage, you should be aware of how to protect your belongings. In case you have experience with unwanted damage or deterioration of your belongings stored in a regular unit, you will no doubt know the value of climate-control in storage. If you haven’t suffered the devastation of opening your storage unit only to find that your belongings have been damaged, you might be asking yourself: what is all the fuss about?
Climate-controlled storage units provide us with the ability to control the temperature within the storage unit, and in some instances, the humidity levels as well.
Temperature control
The effects of climate change are growing more relevant each day. The maximum and minimum temperatures we are exposed to every year are becoming more extreme. This also brings seasonal and even daily temperature variations to the forefront. Significant changes in temperature have a detrimental effect on materials, as heat causes them to expand, and the cold causes them to contract. Constant expansion and contraction lead to small micro fractures appearing that damage the structural integrity of items and allow for mold and bacteria to grow inside, causing further damage.
Being able to control the temperature of a storage unit and keep variations down to a minimum is essential. It dramatically extends the longevity of the items stored. Having an environment with controlled temperature is especially crucial for artwork, wooden items, fine wines, and similar.
Humidity control
In addition to temperature control, some storage units offer humidity control as well. Being able to control the humidity of a storage unit is especially important when storing paintings and other fine art, textiles, wood or leather items, books, and personal documents.
Suppose you have an extensive and valuable book collection that you plan on keeping in storage, or perhaps an album of expensive baseball cards. In that case, the last thing you want is for them to get damaged due to a high level of humidity.
High humidity can cause book pages to stick together, book covers to bend and lose their original shape, and perhaps even more importantly, humid spaces are ideal for mold, fungal, and bacterial growth. Mold, fungi, and bacteria are three words you definitely do not want to be associated with your storage unit. All of these can lead to permanent, irreparable damage to your belongings.
Furthermore, if you plan on storing electronic appliances in your unit, high humidity can lead to oxidation of wires and electronic circuit boards within the devices themselves, rendering them damaged and useless after a certain period.
This is why having a climate-controlled storage unit is so important if the items you plan on storing hold any value to you, be it financial or sentimental.
Store your items and seal them
Unlike most regular storage units that allow for the circulation of air between the outside environment and the unit itself, climate-controlled storage units are sealed off from the outdoor environment. This means that the chances of dust, moisture, and bugs getting into the unit itself are much lower as well. The fact that climate-controlled storage units offer no point of contact with the outside world also helps with protecting your storage-space from viruses, which is essential, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still active.
This will help keep your items safe from damage caused by external factors.
Chill out and get everything done
At the end of the day, renting a climate-controlled storage unit is not only beneficial for your belongings, but you as well. It is a lot easier to arrange your belongings and set up your storage unit in a climate-controlled environment than it is in a regular storage unit. Without the heat and humidity, the task at hand will be a lot easier to complete.
When you take all of the above into account, it is easy to see why it’s well worth the extra investment to ensure that your items are safe and that one day, you find them in the same state you left them in.
