Everyone is ready for the bidding to begin
Many people find themselves with more belongings than they have space to put them, so there is an increasing demand for convenient self-storage options. In response to that need, storage facilities have expanded, offering greater variety in the options available to customers, including climate control. As you might expect, facilities with temperature and humidity regulation are more expensive to rent than spaces without climate controls, but are they better? That’s the question on the minds of many new self-storage renters, and the answer is – Sometimes.
Basic Self-Storage without Climate Control
A standard non climate-controlled storage unit provides a secure place to store your belongings, but aside from a roof that keeps out the rain, it offers minimal protection from the weather. Depending on where you live, extremely hot summers or freezing cold winters may cause the temperature inside your storage unit to fluctuate dramatically. Very hot or cold temperatures can damage many different types of materials, especially electronics and delicate paper, cloth, and fur.
There are plenty of items that can be stored safely in a non-climate-controlled environment, though. Yard and landscaping equipment, designed to be stored in garages or sheds without climate control, should fare well in a basic storage unit. Certain types of furniture or clothing, properly packed, should hold up similarly well. Most kitchenware will not suffer any ill effects from heat, cold, or moisture, and can be stored in a unit without climate control.
Climate Controlled Self Storage – Temperature and Humidity Regulation
Other items are more fragile, and susceptible to changes in temperature or moisture levels. Dramatic changes in temperature result in condensation, especially when the air is humid, and that water can short out electronics, stain documents and photographs, or encourage the growth of mold and mildew on fabric, fur, and other materials. Certain types of valuables or collectibles should always be stored in an environment with controlled temperature and humidity, including:
- Comic books and collectible cards
- Vinyl records
- Artwork
- Musical instruments
- Fur coats, plush toys, and other sensitive organic or textile items
- Books and important documents
- Computers and other electronic equipment
- Items of historical significance
- Pharmaceutical and medical supplies
Most climate controlled self storage facilities maintain a temperature between 55 and 80 degrees – perhaps not entirely comfortable for people, but more than adequate to keep your possessions from being damaged by freezing and excessive heat. Some storage facilities also offer humidity control, which keeps the humidity level at 55 percent, the ideal range for storing delicate items and discouraging mold and mildew.
Some items are durable enough not to require the extra care of precise climate control, making it unnecessary to spend the extra money on the more expensive controlled unit. This is especially true if you only need to store your items for a relatively short period of time, such as during a move. But when you are uncertain whether your belongings need the extra precaution, it’s best to err on the side of climate controlled self storage.
