Don't Sweat It! Keeping Your Belongings Safe in Climate-Controlled Storage

 

Climate-controlled self storage protects household items from heat, cold, & humidity. This definitive guide covers the costs, benefits, and what to look for when choosing.

When using a moving and storage company to store household goods like furniture, electronics, art, or antiques, one major concern is protecting those possessions from damage. 

Extreme heat, cold, mold, or mildew can all wreak havoc if your belongings sit in a non-climate controlled space like a standard storage unit or warehouse.

Luckily, climate-controlled self storage exists specifically to give you peace of mind about keeping treasured items safe as you navigate a move or life transition. 

These facilities actively regulate temperature and humidity to preserve almost anything you need to stash away securely.

How Is Climate-Controlled Storage Different?

Climate-controlled storage actively manages the environment inside units to maintain steady, consistent air temperature and moisture levels year-round. This regulates 2 hazardous extremes:

1. Heat and Cold: Fluctuating hot and cold can damage many household goods. Climate control specifically aims to hold the interior at 60-80°F regardless of swings outside.
2. Humidity: Too much moisture breeds mold, while too little causes wood and fabrics to crack. Stable 40-60% relative humidity prevents this in storage spaces.

Meanwhile, traditional self storage units simply consist of four walls and a ceiling. The interiors follow the seasons like sheds, allowing temperature and humidity to fluctuate. That exposes contents to risks of:

• Warping from extreme heat or cold
• Electronics & music instruments going out of tune
• Photos sticking together
• Fabrics becoming brittle
• Mold taking root

For long-term storage beyond a few weeks, uncontrolled conditions often lead to preventable damage. The content control offered by climate-regulated spaces protects against deterioration even years down the line.

What's the Cost Difference From Standard Storage?

Given the added infrastructure of ventilation, dehumidifiers, heating/cooling, etc., climate-controlled units have higher monthly rental rates than equivalently sized non-climate controlled spaces.

Cost Comparison Table

Unit Size	Standard Storage	Climate-Controlled Storage	% Difference
5’x5’	$49/mo	$89/mo	+82%
5'x10'	$69/mo	$129/mo	+87%
10'x10'	$99/mo	$239/mo	+141%
10'x15'	$149/mo	$359/mo	+141%
10'x20'	$189/mo	$489/mo	+159%

The increased price comes out to between double and triple the cost based on size. However, for valuables vulnerable to temp/moisture swings, controlled conditions provide essential protection that warrants the difference.

Pro Tip: If budget is tight, you can selectively store only items vulnerable to uncontrolled conditions in a climate unit, while more durable goods go in standard storage.

What Are the Ideal Temperature & Humidity Levels?

Facility standards from the Self Storage Association recommend climate systems maintaining between 60-80°F temperature and 40-60% relative humidity. Maintaining both metrics in balance prevents moisture accumulation and evaporation that could respectively cause mold or brittleness long-term.

With those conditions met, climate control reliably protects even delicate items like musical instruments, vinyl records, film reels, photos, antique furniture, art, wine, etc.

Do note that certain specialty items like pianos may require even narrower regulation - discuss specific needs with your storage provider. Always inspect the contents and interior periodically too.

Which Possessions Benefit Most In Climate Control?

Any household items can technically stay protected in climate-regulated storage spaces. However, the prime beneficiaries are belongings vulnerable to uncontrolled humidity, heat, cold, or frequent fluctuations among those states:

Art, Antiques, & Collectibles

• Paintings, sculpture & wood are prone to cracking and warping
• Photos sticking together or negatives warping
• Memorabilia like signed baseballs susceptible to mold

Electronics & Musical Items

• Guitars and string instruments going out of tune
• Organic materials in piano keys deteriorating
• Vinyl LP records warping over time
• Vintage electronics with tubes/adhesives deteriorating

Wine & Liquor Collections

• Wine corks drying out and air entering bottles
• Alcohol content dropping as liquid expands in heat

Archive Materials

• Important paper documents yellowing or becoming too brittle
• Film reels & audiovisual media losing structural integrity

And that's just a sample - fine art, custom furniture, designer clothing, replica guns, taxidermy game, and more benefit. When in doubt, it pays to play it safe with climate control.

What To Look For In a Storage Facility

If you decide climate-controlled units are a smart investment for your household goods, use this checklist when touring and choosing a storage facility:

• ☑️ Recently maintained climate systems: Well-kept AC and dehumidifiers are vital. Ensure no odors indicating mold issues.
• ☑️ Cleanliness: While looking at vacant units, check for signs of pests, leaks, or neglect. Protect boxes from sitting on concrete.
• ☑️ Access hours: Especially for retrieving specialty items like fine art on short notice, extended facility access helps.
• ☑️ Unit accessibility: Large bay doors capable of fitting bulky items, wide aisles, ramps/elevators, loading docks & equipment assist tricky storage/retrieval jobs.
• ☑️ Individually alarmed units (optional): For added security of high-value possessions when convenient access is also needed.
• ☑️ Moisture protection: Roofs and exteriors that prevent rain, snow or flooding leaking inside to stored goods.

Getting the environment right is just the start - a well-maintained building and helpful staff also ease the storage process when life calls for it.