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The Best 6 Reasons to Use Climate Controlled Storage

When you’re just looking for somewhere to keep your things, the idea of getting a climate-controlled unit might seem silly. Your couch doesn’t get cold, so why would it need to be heated over the winter? Your books are all boxed up and ready to go – surely a little bit of snow isn’t going to hurt anything.

 

Climate control is actually one of your best guarantees that everything in your storage unit will come out exactly the way you put it in. We’re going to look at all the reasons why, and if you’re still not sure whether to make the switch, we’ve also got some questions you can ask yourself to help determine if this is a feature your belongings would benefit from.

 

Benefits of Climate-Controlled Storage

Better Air Quality – Climate control systems are constantly circulating the air throughout a unit, which means that your items won’t develop the musky smell so frequently associated with stored items. It also helps keep humidity low, which inhibits the possibility for mold or mildew, which is an especially important factor for items with electronics or sensitive documents.

 

No Crazy Temperature Changes – Weather can change without warning, but even seasonal changes from 32°C in the summer to negative numbers in the winter can damage your items. Belongings made of paper or wood are at particular risk, but a climate-controlled unit eliminates most of the danger, making long-term storage safe and easy.

 

No Bugs, Rodents, or Other Pests – Bugs, rodents, and birds can cause a lot of damage, chewing their way through their belongings and leaving dirty, unpleasant trails of their destruction. Climate-controlled units are usually more secure than their outdoor counterparts, which means that moths and silver fish won’t be able to get into your unit as easily (if at all).
 
Reduced Dust and Dirt – You’ve already put a lot of time and effort into cleaning and preparing your items for storage. Climate-controlled storage will keep your belongings just as clean as the first day you put them in, since dust will never have a chance to settle.
 

Humidity Control – If you’re storing specialty items like antique furniture, musical instruments, or electronics, they will last longer in a space with climate control.

 

Greater Satisfaction – No one wants to lie awake at night, staring at the ceiling and wondering if their art portfolio will make it through the humid evening air. One of the most underrated benefits of this type of storage is the knowledge that your items are protected.

 

Which Items Need Climate-Controlled Storage?

Wood furniture – There’s a reason you were told to never place a wet glass directly onto a wooden coffee table. When wood meets water (or moisture), it cracks, warps, and rots. Vintage and heirloom pieces are especially vulnerable, given their age.

 

Leather furniture – Leather furniture lasts forever, but it can also be expensive, and a little bit of humidity-induced mildew can do a lot of damage.

 

Electronics – Anything with electrical components should be stored in a climate-controlled environment, but this is especially true for items with delicate internal pieces, like plasma television sets. Audio gear can also be extremely susceptible to temperature and humidity changes.

 

Artwork – From protection against mildew to making sure paper doesn’t become wet or damaged, finished artwork and art supplies are best stored in a unit where you can precisely control the internal settings.

 

Clothing – Too many have gone through the nightmare of pulling a cherished piece of clothing, like a wedding dress or antique sweater, out of storage and discovering that mold or mildew has already claimed it. Climate-controlled storage units have a much lower rate of humidity and protect clothing much better than outdoor units.

 

Special Collections – If you’re a wine collector, you would likely never dream of storing your collection anywhere warmer than around 12°C. However, if you choose an outdoor unit to house your collection, you’ve just placed your wine at the mercy of the summer weather.

 

Musical Instruments – Instruments typically have carefully tuned internal components, such as piano strings or specialized glues. To keep them sounding great and working as they should, they need to be kept in an environment with a steady temperature and humidity control.
 

Business Documents – When documents are lost due to fading or discoloration, it can be hard (if not impossible) to retrieve the information they once held. If you’re placing important records into storage, it’s well worth it to make sure that the unit is temperature controlled.

 

Photos – Many of our fondest memories are preserved in photographs, but in hot conditions, photos can stick together or begin to fall apart. A climate-controlled unit will make sure your photos last for many years to come.

 

How to Determine if You Need Climate-Controlled Storage

It’s all well and good to read about which items need climate control, but it can be harder to determine when it comes down to assessing your own belongings. When in doubt, here are some questions you can ask yourself to figure out whether your item is one that could benefit from climate-controlled storage.
 
– Would this item expand or contract in high heat?
– Is it specially designed to be kept at a certain temperature?
– Is it susceptible to mold or mildew?
– Would moisture make this item warp, crack, or otherwise become damaged?
– Will this item be stored through several seasons?
– Is this item valuable or irreplaceable to me?
 

If the answer to any of the above questions is “yes,” then a unit with climate control may be something you want to consider.

If you have more questions about climate-controlled storage units or what sizes are available, give our office a call at (705) 435-3131.