Many materials can’t handle these fluctuations and need a climate-controlled storageunit to maintain their condition.
What is a climate-controlled storage unit?
Climate-controlled storage units use a combination of insulation, temperature control and ventilation to keep temperatures between 55 and 80 degrees, preventing warping, mildew and other damage.
Sounds fancy, but it’s actually pretty important. If you don’t store your things in a climate-controlled storage unit, the conditions can cause some serious damage. So what exactly needs to be kept safe in these innovative spaces?
Musical instruments
Musical instruments aren’t cheap, and yours likely hold a ton of sentimental value.
We’re talking about basically every instrument you can imagine. Wood instruments are prone to warping in humidity, brass instruments contract in temperature changes, and even electronic instruments are at risk of heavy dust build-up. The heavy insulation and limited entrances in a climate-controlled storage unit helps prevent damaging humidity, temperatures and dust.
Regardless of climate-controlled or not, store your instruments in their cases and off the ground.
Electronics and appliances
Humidity doesn’t care whether it’s a TV or microwave, it will damage all electronics and appliances equally. Truthfully, anything with wires or a power cord is in danger in most storage units—too much moisture in the air can result in mold or even corrosion.
Like your instruments, store electronics off the ground, ideally on a stable a shelf.
Special collections
Most collections are irreplaceable—and susceptible to damage in a storage unit that isn’t climate-controlled.
Take comic books, for example. Any comic collector will warn you that comics are vulnerable to every kind of temperature damage there is—smeared ink, mildew, warping, the works. But you don’t have to worry about that when you’ve got them in a climate-controlled storage unit.
Coins aren’t much safer, as they will easily rust and become discolored.
Photos and important papers
You might’ve learned this the hard way once or twice by now—like when you accidentally left an art assignment in your gym bag when you hit the steamy showers, and that time you were humble-bragging about spring break in Mexico and left your photos outside on your porch. And you’ve more than likely seen (and smelled) books that haven’t been stored properly at the library.
Store all your important books, documents and photos in climate-controlled storage unit that is dry enough to keep them legible long after graduation. Keep artwork in Solander Boxes.
Clothing
If the tux from your brother’s wedding or your sorority formal dress can come in handy in the future, storing them in a climate-controlled unit can prevent mildew, mold and nasty mothballs that remind you of your grandma’s closet (not in a good way).
Space-saving bags add an extra layer of protection, as well as save space. One bag can fit up to ten sweaters!
Sports equipment
Your high school heyday is a thing of the past, but you still live for the game.
Tossing your equipment in your parent’s closet or a regular storage unit could lead to disaster, as a lot of sporting equipment contains leather, metal or plastic.
The problem is, that could mean the end of throwing spirals with your favorite football thanks to warped leather, or a lacrosse stick so rusty you’ll need a tetanus shot before using it again. And a soccer ball that won’t hold air is worthless.
Keep your gear rust-free and in mint condition by first cleaning it thoroughly to prevent any breakdown from organic material, then storing it in a climate-controlled storage unit.
Bedding
Collapsing into a bed that reeks of mildew sounds less than desirable. Humidity and heat will cause not only your mattress and boxspring to mildew, but your bedsheets and blankets as well.
Keep your bed and bedding fresh and cozy in a climate-controlled storage unit, and cover them with a light, breathable plastic sheet or use a space-saving bag for bedding.
Media
If you have to store things like vinyl, DVDs and video games, you need a climate-controlled storage option.
Vinyl records and their covers are prone to mold and deformation to the point of being unplayable in uncontrolled environments. Store them vertically, upright and off the floor. Optical discs like CDs, DVDs and video games pose the same risk.
Metal, wood and leather furniture
Wood can warp, crack and even rot when exposed to extreme temperature changes. Most metals will rust, and both leather and metal are prone to fading and other displeasing color changes.
