Whether you are moving to a new house and need to store your belongings for a short period of time, you are downsizing and want to store larger pieces of furniture indefinitely, or you have high value or items of sentimental value that you want to protect, climate-controlled storage is the perfect solution.
Offering consistent conditions, both in terms of temperature and humidity, not to mention peace of mind that your belongings are safe at all times, climate-controlled storage is a great option for most items.
Not sure if your belongings need to be kept in a climate-controlled facility?
Keep reading to find out what you can and should be using climate-controlled storage for. Plus, how to pick the right climate-controlled storage provider for your storage needs.
What is climate-controlled storage?
Climate-controlled storage, which is sometimes referred to as temperature-controlled storage, is a facility in which both the temperature and humidity are controlled to provide optimal conditions for specific items.
On its simplest level, climate-controlled storage keeps your items protected from the heat in the warmer months and protected from the cold in the winter months. Furthermore, climate-controlled storage helps to remove dust and other foreign matter from the circulating air, keeping your items fresh and in pristine condition.
What items should be kept in climate-controlled storage?
If you are not sure whether your belongings need to be kept in climate-controlled storage or if they will be just fine in a standard storage facility, then you have come to the right place.
Check out below which items will benefit from climate-controlled storage. You may be surprised at some of the recommendations!
Any items made from fabric
Clothes, upholstered furniture, home accessories such as throws, blankets, and cushions, basically anything that is made of or contains fabric, should be stored in a climate-controlled storage unit. This is because anything made out of fabric is susceptible to both mildew and mold, especially if exposed to too much humidity.
Any items from leather
Leather is known to shrink when exposed to humidity and to warp when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, any leather items, including leather furniture and leather shoes, should be kept in a climate-controlled storage facility. This type of storage facility will also stop dust from accumulating on your leather item and prevent musty odors.
Most metal items
Although you may think that metal is fine to store anywhere as long as it is kept dry, there are many metals that need to be kept in a climate-controlled area in order to stay in good condition.
For example, when exposed to moisture, iron will rust, and copper will change color. Silver will also darken, and lead can be completely destroyed.
Valuable, important, or sentimental paper items
Paper items are also affected by humidity, so if you have any that are important to you or that need to be kept safe, your best bet is a climate-controlled storage solution.
Paper items that you will want to consider putting into a climate-controlled storage facility include:
- Collectible comics
- Original certificates such as marriage, birth, and death certificates
- First edition books
- Photographs
Electronics
Although electronics can survive a little humidity, they can be adversely affected by too high temperatures. Furthermore, if the humidity levels go over 60%, your electronic device will start to corrode, and mold will start to form.
Video equipment, audio equipment, computers, computer parts, and any other valuable electronics should always be stored in a climate-controlled storage facility. Otherwise, you run the risk of them failing to work next time you want to use them.
Fine wines
Whether you are a fine wine collector or you simply have a lot of nice wine that you want to keep in optimal condition, a climate-controlled storage facility is exactly what you need.
Wine has a lot of very specific requirements when it comes to storage, including low lighting, moderate humidity, and a consistent temperature, all of which can be very challenging to replicate in your own home or in a standard storage unit.
Not only will poor conditions affect the quality of your wine by accelerating the aging process, but they can also make the seals harden, which in turn makes the bottles difficult to open.
Antique furniture
If you have inherited wooden furniture or other antique items, you should know that these need to be kept in a climate-controlled storage facility. This is because wood reacts adversely to both very hot environments and very cold ones.
When hot, wood dilates, and when cold, it contracts, both of which are not good for the item in question. Moisture is also problematic for wood, causing mold.
A sealed climate-controlled storage facility will also help to protect your antiques from pests such as wood mites.
Art collections
If you are an avid art collector, you should know that extreme temperatures can cause canvases to shrink, whereas too humid environments can cause both mold and mildew.
Ideally, all art should be kept in a cold and dry environment without any sudden temperature or humidity changes.
Furthermore, if you are worried about theft, you can find climate-controlled storage facilities that provide 24-hour security, as well as unlimited access so you can enjoy peace of mind that your art collection is in safe hands.
What items can be stored in a standard storage facility?
The main issue with choosing a standard, non-climate-controlled storage facility is the fact that the weather is unpredictable. It could be a good temperature for your items one day and then suddenly change the next.
That being said, there are a few hardy items that can withstand even the most extreme weather conditions. These include patio furniture (non-wooden), frying pans, and cutlery.
If you are looking for climate-controlled storage in your area, StorageArea.com is exactly what you need. Offering the largest database of storage facilities in the United States, you can find the perfect climate-controlled storage facility for your items and belongings.
Simply enter your zip code or city and the date you would like your items moved, and you are good to go!