A storage unit is an ideal place to keep your important tools when you’re not using them. Whether you need these tools for work or you simply have a lot of them for general use around the house and yard, sometimes keeping them at home is just not possible. In that case, finding a good storage facility to store your tools is the perfect answer to the issue.
Not only will using a storage unit to store your tools keep them safe and secure, but it will also ensure you free up space at home, which could be at a premium. However, there are some things you’ll still need to think about when you decide to rent a storage unit for your tools. Here are five things to consider when putting your tools into storage.
Climate Control
When you opt for a professional storage facility such as Storage Area, you’ll find that it’s possible to rent climate-controlled storage units. Although this might not be necessary in all cases, if you are storing expensive power tools in your unit, then this could be ideal. Temperature fluctuations can cause problems for electrical equipment, particularly when it gets very cold. It can even lead to damp, which not only means that your electrical tools may not work properly – if at all – but can also mean they become unsafe to operate. However, opting for a climate-controlled storage unit means that you can be sure this won’t happen.
With a climate-controlled unit, the temperature of the room in which your tools are stored remains constant, it doesn’t matter what time of year it is or what the temperature is outside. Unlike a shed or garage or even basement at your home, this means you can be sure that nothing is going to damage your all-important equipment.
To make extra sure of this, you should always keep your electric power tools on a shelf or at least put cardboard on the ground to ensure that they don’t come into contact with bare concrete.
Empty The Oil
As a storage solution, using a self storage unit for your tools is a great idea for many reasons, not least of which is security. However, you should be aware that no one will be checking on the items in your unit – once you lock the door, it’s down to you to ensure that everything is safe within the storage unit.
You must ensure all your tools have any fuel, oil, engine fluid, or similar emptied from them. Whether it’s a power tool, lawnmower, or a vehicle, there should be no combustible material left in them for safety reasons. Plus, if this liquid were to leak, it would be very hard to clean up. For the same reason, it’s best to remove all batteries from power tools as well. In this way, you can be sure the unit is safe and that you can protect your tools.
Clean Your Tools And Equipment
Before you leave your tools, tool box, and anything else you might want to store within your storage unit, it’s best to clean everything. Although this might take a little while, once it’s done, you’ll know that the tools are in the best condition and that when you next need them, they will be ready to be used without you having to take any additional time to clean them at that stage.
It’s sensible to visit the unit regularly. This is why it’s a good idea to find a local storage facility if you can and to search for self storage near me when you begin looking. Although do bear in mind that the closest unit might not be the best one, so you should do your research to make sure that you’re happy with your choice – you need to be sure your possessions will be safe wherever you store them.
It’s also a good idea to visit the unit regularly so that you can carry out additional cleans. Dust can form quite easily, even in the best storage units, and if you want to keep your tools in the best condition, it’s wise to clean them every few months, even if you don’t intend to use them immediately.
Organize Your Tools
Although it might be tempting just to throw everything into the storage unit, lock the door, and walk away, it’s actually not that good of an idea. If you do that, it might make the unpacking and storing process a quicker one, but it’s something you’re likely to regret when it comes time to find something you need.
The best thing you can do is ensure you leave enough time to organize your tools within the storage unit properly. This is perhaps especially important when it comes to smaller hand tools. If you don’t have a tool box, you should buy some shelving and some plastic boxes. Organize your tools into these boxes and label them. Try to keep similar items together so you know where all the bolts are, all the screws, all the screwdrivers, and so on. Once in the boxes, you can stack them on the shelving, and that way you’ll immediately be able to find anything you want.
Cover With A Cloth
As we’ve said, dust can be a problem in a storage unit, just as it would be at home in a garage or basement. The last thing you want is to arrive at the storage facility, go to find the tools you need for the job you’ve been asked to do, and everything is caked in dust, so you have to spend a lot of time cleaning before you can even start the work.
Apart from the regular cleaning we’ve mentioned, another option is to ensure everything is covered with a cloth. In this way, you can protect the majority of the items in the storage unit. If the smaller hand tools are in plastic boxes, they will also be protected. In other words, the more you can do to prevent dirt and dust from gathering, the easier it will be to look after your tools.