Do You Really Need Climate-Controlled Storage?
If you have spent any time looking for a storage unit that can serve as a home for your property, you may have come across a climate-controlled facility. This sounds like an appealing option, to be sure, although it tends to come at a premium as compared to a regular storage unit. So, is climate-controlled storage worth the extra cost? And what kinds of items should be stored in a climate-controlled setting? Let’s dive into those questions in this article.
When temperature control is not necessary, your best bet may be to store items on your property in a new shed or garage from Carport Kingdom. With great prices on durable metal structures, you can create a flexible storage space that won’t come along with monthly rent. Use our Build & Price Tool to explore the many customization options available. If you run into any questions, just contact us and we will be happy to help.
What Is Climate-Controlled Storage?
If you do choose to rent a climate-controlled unit for your things, you’ll be gaining a couple of advantages over traditional storage: temperature control and humidity control. It’s easy to overlook the second piece of that puzzle, but controlling humidity may be more important for the health of your items. When the air gets too wet or too dry, some items can be damaged.
To learn what conditions will be maintained in the storage unit you are considering, be sure to ask before signing any paperwork. Unit conditions may vary from one facility to another, even in your local area. Each facility should be able to give you a temperature range that they maintain along with an estimated humidity target.
Consider Your Local Climate
A big part of the climate-controlled storage debate comes down to your local climate throughout the year. If you live in a mild climate where temperatures and humidity levels rarely reach high or low extremes, paying for climate-controlled storage may be a waste. You would be protecting your items against conditions that are unlikely to occur anyway.
On the other hand, extreme climates warrant giving this type of storage a closer look. For example, if you live in a desert where very hot temperatures and very low humidity are common in the summer, some of your belongings may suffer without climate control.
What Kinds of Items Are in Danger?
Generally speaking, items that feature a significant amount of organic material will be the most vulnerable to dramatic changes in temperature and humidity while in storage. Pieces made from wood are a prime example. Wood will expand and contract when humidity moves up and down, and that movement can be enough to ruin something like a table or desk over a long period of time. Also, items that may be prone to the growth of mold or mildew would be candidates for climate-controlled storage.
Here’s a partial list of things that might be in danger without climate control:
- Paper goods like magazines, books, printed photographs, etc.
- Electronic equipment
- Wood furniture and other pieces featuring wood components
- Mattresses and bedding
- Leather items
- Valuable antiques and collectibles
Climate-controlled storage can play an important role in the process of moving from one home to another because of the types of things that can benefit from the protection it provides. Many of the things that need climate control are items that you would normally be keeping in your home—a like mattresses, electronics, antiques—so a climate-controlled space may make a lot of sense during a move.
Add a Shed for Most Storage Needs
Unless you are moving, there is a good chance you can get by with the addition of a standard metal shed or garage on your property while saving the expense of a monthly rental unit. This is especially true if you have air conditioning for your home. With AC in place, you can keep the few things that do need climate control in your house while putting everything else in the shed or garage.
As a bonus, building a new metal shed or garage on your property will open more possibilities than just storage. You may find that part of this new structure is used for storage while the rest is used for working on projects or other tasks. Over the coming years, you can evolve the use of this enclosed space to meet the needs of you and your family.
Create a Strategic Storage Plan
Most likely, you’ll be able to store most of your items in a traditional shed or garage on your property without any trouble. If you do own some things that would fare better in a climate-controlled setting, plan to address those apart from the rest of your belongings. In other words, there is no need to store everything in a costly climate-controlled unit just because a couple of your items are particularly sensitive or delicate.
Of course, when you are ready to add a new shed or garage to your property, make sure Carport Kingdom is your first call!
