Preparing Your Storage Unit for Hot Weather

When it comes to keeping your belongings safe, it doesn’t matter if you’re currently in the middle of a blizzard or a heatwave. Extreme temperatures aren’t good for your possessions! You might feel hopeless about how to protect your belongings from the elements. But don’t worry! This guide will help you prepare your storage unit this summer.

The heat

Firstly, we need to mention how hot a storage unit can get. As the outside temperature rises, the same happens inside your unit. If your storage facility is bordered by metal or concrete, the temperature inside can grow even more. This leads to a massive disparity between the inside and outside temperature. Inside your unit, the temperature can be up to 30 degrees higher than outside! You can imagine what this does to your items. And even though some things are more resilient than others, high temperatures can warp, break, rust or melt some materials.

Additionally, mold and mildew problems can arise when there is a high humidity level in the environment. To prevent all this, you might want to consider switching to a climate-controlled storage unit, especially if you plan to keep your items in for a long time. These units regulate the temperature inside automatically. This way, you won’t have to prepare your storage unit for the fluctuations in temperature.

Spring clean your storage unit

We all know that spring cleaning is crucial, but most of us forget our storage units. Out of sight, out of mind, and then our belongings bathe in dust and dirt all year round. But you’d be surprised by how important a spring cleanup of your storage unit is. Thus, you must be prepared for a lot of work. Cleaning a storage unit is no easy task, so get ready to spend a whole day or even more on it. Consider asking friends and family to help you out. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a hidden gem inside this year!

By doing a yearly cleaning project, you will keep your unit clean and gradually declutter. This will, in turn, free up more storage space for you. It will also help you discover and deal with potential damage to your items and air out your unit. Spring cleaning is also a great time to identify possible dangerous items you might have stored.

Dangerous items

If you happen to find any of the following items inside your storage unit while cleaning, remove them immediately.

Flammable liquids– Kerosene, gasoline, or other flammable liquids should never be in a storage facility.
Water– In both winter and summer, water can cause significant problems. Mold and mildew are more likely to form during the sweltering summer months when water evaporates and humidifies the surrounding region. But you’re not safe even in winter! Because water expands when it freezes, water-filled vessels can fracture or break in cold weather.
Paper and textile– The heat inside a unit can fade and discolor paper and certain textiles, so you don’t want them in your storage unit.
Electronics– Most of us tend to cover everything in bubble wrap, stick it in the unit and think it’s protected. But there are some items you cannot use bubble wrap on. For instance, with electronics and metals especially, you should avoid this method. It can further damage your belongings. Additionally, some parts of your electronic devices could melt in the heat of your storage unit. Overall, it’s best to leave electronics out of your unit.

Watch how you store

Perhaps you need to store some of your more fragile items for the summer. In this case, you should take extra steps to prepare your storage unit. For example, desiccant pouches (the silicon pouches you typically find in electrical packaging or new shoes) can be helpful. If you plan on storing appliances in a storage unit during the hottest months of the year, these are a life-saver. You can also protect your gadgets and other valuables by using these water-absorbing pouches. To prevent mold and mildew, you can put baking soda or kitty litter around your unit. Also, before storing your clothes, blankets, and towels, make sure they’re clean. In warmer weather, mildew and mold can grow on them. This is especially true if they haven’t been cleaned thoroughly.

Consider switching to climate-controlled units

Maintaining consistent temperatures and humidity levels is the primary goal of climate-controlled storage units. Generally, the temperature will remain between 55- and 85-degrees Fahrenheit, but this can change. Humidity and temperature are key factors to consider when making a storage unit safe for your belongings. They influence each other in destructive ways. Humidity rises the temperature because of the added moisture in the air. Heat increases because of the additional humidity as well. Maintaining a constant temperature and humidity level prevents the formation of moisture, which protects your valuables.

Here are some reasons to consider making the switch to a climate-controlled unit.

You reside in an area with high temperatures or high humidity. When keeping objects in a location already susceptible to high temperatures and humidity, it’s vital to do everything you can to keep them safe. If you don’t take special precautions to keep the outside elements out, your goods will almost certainly be damaged.
You plan to keep your belongings stored for an extended period. There’s no way to know what the weather will be like in the future just because it’s warm and dry right now. If you want to be safe from sudden changes in temperature and humidity, choose a climate-controlled space.
You are a collector. Collectibles and irreplaceable things should be kept in a climate-controlled unit. It would be best if you didn’t take any chances with your antiques. Along with temperature, mistakes in packing them can do damage too! So, make sure to handle them carefully and avoid some common packing mistakes when preparing your fragile pieces for storage.

Closing words

Whether you are storing short-term or long-term, you have to prepare your storage unit for the heat this summer. We hope that our guide has put you on the right way. Happy storing!