Climate-Controlled Storage: The Best Way to Protect Your Belongings
Updated: Aug 16
Climate-controlled self-storage provides regulated temperatures for storage units that hold people's belongings.
While pricing for climate-controlled units is higher than for non-temperature-regulated units, it's essential to consider what you're storing.
On the hottest days of our El Dorado Hills summers, the temperature in an outdoor-entrance drive-up storage unit could be oven-like — enough to damage plastics, wood, leather, and vinyl.
On the other hand, the temperature in a climate-controlled storage unit generally ranges from 75°F to 85°F, protecting against high-temperature hazards and providing a better experience for both personal and commercial customers.
Some ask, "What items can I store in a non-climate-controlled storage unit?" Items safe from damage in high temperatures include
Clothing
Paper files
Kitchen items
Yard & gardening equipment.
Reading reviews of a self-storage facility and comparing the price with the value of the items can help customers make informed decisions.
What is the difference between climate-controlled and non-climate-controlled storage units?
Most climate-controlled storage units have indoor entrances. Indoor storage facilities keep the storage units away from the effects of water damage from rain, snow, sleet, and hail.
Business owners favor these self-storage facilities for keeping excess inventory and essential documents safe.
Indoor storage facilities that offer climate control are typically cleaner than outdoor facilities, ensuring customers have a pleasant experience when using these spaces for personal or business storage needs.
Mold and mildew are rarely an issue with climate-controlled units.
If you want a specific temperature to store your items, contact the storage facility to determine whether they meet your needs.
What items should you store in a climate-controlled environment?
A climate-controlled self-storage facility is an ideal space to store certain items.
Wooden Furniture
Wood can crack, warp, or rot when exposed to uneven moisture. Items such as bed frames, tables, chairs, end tables, nightstands, dressers, and entertainment centers need climate-controlled storage to keep them in good shape.
Leather
Whether you’re storing leather furniture or clothing, this material is sensitive to temperature and humidity swings. Too much moisture can cause discoloration and mildew. When it’s too dry, leather will become brittle and will crack.
Plastics
LDPE polyethylene, used for bags, bubble wrap, toys, and wire insulation, and HDPE polyethylene, used for standard product bottles, buckets, and crates, have relatively low mold temperatures. Stress cracks can result from too much heat.
Appliances
Large and small household appliances are susceptible to mold, mildew, corrosion, and rust. Temperature fluctuations can cause plastic parts to crack and electronic components to deteriorate. Rubber feet, gaskets, and seals will dry out in hot, dry weather and need to be replaced.
Artwork & Art Supplies
Any artwork you have — paintings in particular — should ideally be stored between 70°F and 75°F degrees with about 50% humidity.
Musical Instruments
Musical instruments of all types and sizes are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Guitars, for example, can warp or crack. They can suffer an adhesive breakdown if stored in high heat.
Vinyl
Do you have an old record collection, or are you part of the 'vinyl revival?' As reported during a heat wave, extreme heat can warp vinyl records.
Wine
Wine needs to be stored at even lower temperatures than other items. Sustained temperatures of over 70°F can degrade wine. Because of this, wine should be stored in a specialized facility.
Climate-controlled storage is the best option for storing items that have value to you, whether for personal belongings or business-related inventory and documents.
We recommend that you look into how extreme and varying temperatures affect the items you want to store.
