Precautions for Self-Storage in the Winter

Winter is an excellent time to store unused summer items in self-storage. Whether it’s outdoor furniture, yard equipment, recreational vehicles, or simply extra accessories and decorations from the summer, self-storage lets you live comfortably in your home through the winter without the extra clutter.

However, there are extra precautions you should take when storing items in self-storage through the winter. The frigid temperatures can damage certain materials, and mechanical equipment needs special preparation to be stored. Here are some factors to consider before putting your items in self-storage.

Choose a Climate-Controlled Unit

The best way to ensure your items will remain unharmed through the winter is by choosing a climate-controlled unit. These units are specially insulated to control the temperature of the unit to stay between 55 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, where standard units experience vast temperature fluctuations. Extreme cold can cause certain materials to warp, shrink, peel, or become brittle. But a climate-controlled unit ensures your items stays in a standardized temperature.

Peavler Moving and Storage knows that climate-controlled units are in high demand, so we offer several sized units at our storage facility:

• 5×10 
• 10×10 
• 10×15
• 10×20
• 10×30 with convenient 8×8 two door access

Our climate-controlled units are superior quality so you can rest assured your items will be in the same condition next year.

Clean and Dry Items

Ensure all your items are clean and completely dry before storage. Damp or dirty items can grow mold or mildew over the months of storage.

Additionally, dampness on wood can cause the wood to crack and paint or stain to peel, and moisture on metal can cause rust to develop. Stains to cloth or clothing can continue to decompose and ruin the fabric, so ensure any stains and dirt have been washed and dried thoroughly, not merely wiped clean.

Winterize Mechanical Equipment

If you’re storing mechanical equipment like lawnmowers or recreational vehicles, ensure you follow the manufacturer’s directions for winterizing a vehicle. Often, this includes siphoning out the fuel or stabilizing the fuel, unplugging the battery, and other precautions.

Protect Your Belongings

Even in a climate-controlled unit, you should take care to store your items properly.

• Elevating your items off the floor, either on wooden pallets or shelves, can prevent moisture accumulation.
• Put silica or charcoal packets in storage containers to absorb moisture
• Cover furniture with breathable fabrics or blankets, which don’t trap moisture like plastic tarps and covers
• Store fabrics, paperwork, and other sensitive materials in airtight containers
• Remove batteries from electronics and place them in anti-static bags or original containers

Check the Unit Periodically

If you take the precautions above, you shouldn’t have any trouble with your items stored in a climate-controlled unit. However, things happen, so it’s wise to check your unit periodically. It’s better to find bugs, rodents, or moisture after two weeks instead of two months. You can also invest in self-storage insurance which can cover any potential damage to your items.

Self-Storage at Peavler Moving and Storage

At Peavler Moving and Storage, our units are superior quality so you can rest assured your items are safe in our facility. We have regular and climate-controlled units, security systems, video surveillance, and motion light sensors. Ready to learn how Peavler Moving and Storage can meet your wintertime storage needs? Contact us today!