One of the questions that I ask potential customers that sometimes leaves them stumped is, “Do you need climate controlled storage?”
Many people just say no, thinking this is an attempt to upsell them to something more expensive than what they actually need, but a few of them ask what climate control storage is and why they might need it.
There are several reasons why you might opt for climate control storage and it’s not as expensive as you might think. At our Oaks facility, we offer second and third floor climate controlled units for the exact same price as our drive-up storage units. Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to lug those boxes and the sofa up the stairs. We have a state-of-the-art freight elevator to carry your things up to the second or third floor.
But what exactly is climate controlled storage and why might you need it?
Climate controlled storage is indoors, with a set temperature range. Instead of traditional storage, which has no heat or air-conditioning, climate controlled storage has heat to keep your things from freezing in the winter and air conditioning to keep it from melting in the summer.
Typically, climate controlled facilities are not exactly in the same temperature range as your home, but they prevent your things from being subjected to extremes. In our climate-controlled facility, for instance, we keep the winter heat set between 55 and 60 degrees. It’s not comfortable for hanging out and watching television, which you can’t do in your storage unit anyway, but it is comfortable for your things.
We determine the temperature based, in part, on the needs of our sprinkler system. We need to keep it consistently warm enough to keep water flowing through those pipes. We also choose the temperature based on the best storage temperature for most household goods.
Ever read those tags on just about everything that say store in a cool, dark place? We listened to the those manufacturer’s and keep the building on the cool side during the winter. But we didn’t listen to the dark part. Our building has motion-sensor triggered lights and emergency lighting 24 hours a day.
IN the summer, we keep your costs down by having the building a little warmer than you you might like if you were sitting around with friends. The air conditioning is usually set on 75. The primary purpose is to keep everything in your storage unit safe from melting and to keep the humidity down.
Climate-controlled storage does not specifically mean the humidity is controlled, but because temperatures are kept in a more consistent range, you avoid the heating and cooling cycles of outdoor units and the accompanying condensation.
How do I know if I need climate controlled storage?
Whether you want climate controlled storage is definitely up to you, but here are some things to consider.
Do you have pillows or furniture with stuffed cushions? Storage in a drive up unit can leave them smelling a bit off because of condensation. At minimum, be sure to put them in plastic.
Do you have pictures in your things to be stored? Photo emulsion chemicals (so any photos that we’re not printed digitally) melts when it gets to hot. This will cause your pictures to stick together or distort. Either way, they’re ruined.
Are you storing candles or record albums? Outdoor storage units can get very hot in the summer. If you have items made of wax or soft plastic, they can melt in the summer heat.That same heat can be really tough on electronics too.
Do you have books that are prone to mildew due to temperature swings?
Is anything you’re storing likely to be damaged by extreme heat or cold?
IF your answer to any of those things is yes, I’d recommend climate controlled storage. It’s not any more expensive, at least not if you use the elevator, and it can take a lot of worry off your mind.