A reality of modern life is that storage is often a necessity. Either you are moving and don’t yet
have a place to stay or you are temporarily couch surfing while job hunting or you simply do not
have enough space in your new digs.
If only we could just ditch everything, but in reality it’s not simple. Paring down takes time and
effort if you don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water.
So even if your goal is to get rid of a lot of that stuff, you may need a place to store it for a time.
One of the questions you will be asked when you go to arrange storage is whether or not you
want a climate controlled unit.
So let’s talk about climate controlled storage versus storage without climate control.
The No Frills Option: Basic Self Storage
This is storage without climate control. It’s basically like an old garage or shed: Four walls and a
roof to keep out the rain and the ability to lock it shut to secure your belongings. There will be no
heat, so things will get cold in winter.
There are plenty of things that get stored in garages or sheds on a routine basis. It’s a perfectly
good way to store some things.
Most tools, kitchenware and building materials will do just fine in a space like this. If you only
need it temporarily while waiting to move into a new place and it happens to be spring or fall, so
the weather will be pleasant for the time you expect to store your stuff, it may be fine to store
most household items temporarily in basic self storage.
However, in hot weather, basic storage can get a great deal hotter than the ambient temperature
outside. In a humid climate, you may see mold and mildew grow on upholstered furniture or
clothing or any other soft goods of that sort. This may true even if you only store it for a fairly
short time, like two to four weeks.
Self Storage with Climate Control
Climate control just means the ability to regulate the temperature and the humidity. You can
think of it as comparable to having an HVAC system plus a dehumidifier in your home. This
includes heat, which can matter if you are in a cold climate and storing your stuff in the dead of
winter.
Climate controlled storage is more a means to store your items in a setting more like having them
at home. The temperature may not be exactly perfectly comfortable for human habitation, but it
won’t be blazing hot nor freezing cold. It also won’t be so muggy as to promote the growth of
mold and mildew.
If you are storing any of the following items, you may want to go with climate controlled storage
to help protect them from damage:
- Collectibles, such as comic books or vinyl records.
- Musical instruments.
- Upholstered furniture, fur rugs or stuffed toys.
- Delicate clothing, such as silk and fur items.
- Valuable artwork.
- Books, papers and documents.
- Electronics or computers
- Medication or medical supplies.
- Irreplaceable items of historical or sentimental value.
When in doubt, you may wish to err on the side of caution and go ahead and spring for the
climate controlled unit. It will cost a little more, but it’s cheaper than replacing thousands of
dollars of valuable items that simply cannot take the heat, cold or humidity.
Don't Forget
Of course, some items simply should never be placed in a storage unit. This includes perishable
items, like fresh fruit and vegetables. It also includes things like live plants that would likely die
if not tended to regularly.
Other items you should never put in storage include:
- Explosives.
- Flammable items.
- Guns and ammunition.
IN some cases, it is actually illegal to put such things in storage. Always read the contract. It will
stipulate which items should not be stored on site at all. You can also look up the laws for your
state to make sure you have all your bases covered.
