What Should You Store in Climate-Controlled Self-Storage?

Self-storage has come a long way since the padlock system of a few decades ago. Now, many self-storage systems have high-tech security systems, 24/7 access, and climate-controlled units.

Climate-controlled units are invaluable to protecting your belongings and keeping them pristine. Standard units offer excellent protection from damaging weather elements like rain, snow, and wind, but don’t offer the next-level protection of climate-controlled units.

Storage units are built out of strong steel and thoroughly insulated. This is important to not only keep out the weather elements but also bugs and rodents. However, this construction means that standard units can get exceptionally hot or cold, depending on the season. So–if your belongings wouldn’t want to bake or freeze your belongings, then you should consider a climate-controlled unit.

On the other hand, climate-controlled units stay between 50 and 80 degrees year-round. While you may typically think climate-controlled units protect your belongings from the heat, protecting them from the cold is equally important. Imagine the toll that chilling temperatures can take on certain materials like leather or ceramics.

The benefits of climate-controlled units extend beyond certain materials. Here are many common possessions our customers store in our climate-controlled units.

Indoor Furniture

While you might think furniture could withstand extreme temperatures, most indoor furniture will be warped in year-after-year storage in a standard unit. The temperature and humidity fluctuations are especially damaging to wood, wicker, and leather, but can also affect metal and upholstery.

Electronics and Media

The swell from humidity and constriction from cold air can also affect electronics. Television sets, gaming consoles, computers, video recorders–you name it, all electronics are subject to damage from climate fluctuations.

Along the same line, media such as VHS, DVD, vinyl, and more, need climate control to ensure optimal performance.

Artwork

Any artwork, but especially paintings, can be damaged by extreme heat or cold. Canvases can get warped or split, paint can melt or chip off, and frames can crack. Climate-controlled units maintain proper humidity and temperature so the artwork stays beautiful.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments of all kinds need a controlled climate to be functional. Imagine the disappointment of finding your guitar or piano misshapen or damaged beyond use! The best protection for musical instruments is climate-controlled units.

Photographs and Important Documents

Printed photographs are especially sensitive to heat. The photos can become stuck together, and memories are lost forever.

If you’re storing important documents in a storage facility, you also want those to be in pristine condition when you need them! There’s no guarantee that extreme heat or cold wouldn’t slowly fade the ink or degrade the paper. Both photographs and documents should be in climate-controlled units.

Antiques

Another main item that is stored is antiques. These beautifully crafted items are usually so well-made that they can withstand many things, but extreme heat and cold may not be one of them. These items were to be used in everyday life in normal temperatures, and the extreme heat and cold could destroy them.

Clothing

When storing clothing, many people will wrap their clothing in plastic or store it in plastic bags to protect them from dust or moths. While this is well-intentioned, if you don’t have a climate-controlled unit, the plastic can adhere to your clothing and ruin it! Luckily, storing your clothing in a climate-controlled unit prevents this problem.

Household Appliances

A storage unit is a great place to store an extra refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, or other large appliances. But they may not work the way you hoped if you store them in a standard unit. Choose a climate-controlled unit so your appliances work optimally when you take them out of storage!

Many other items are worth considering putting in a climate-controlled unit:

• • Wine
  • Collectibles like stamps or coins
  • Medical supplies and medications
  • Makeup and toiletries
  • Sports equipment
  • Bicycles with leather seats

 

Peavler Moving & Storage offers climate-controlled units in five different sizes!

• 5×10 
• 10×10
• 10×15
• 10×20
• 10×30 

Contact us today to reserve your climate-controlled storage unit!