Climate-controlled storage is an indoor storage unit equipped with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system that maintains a consistent temperature and humidity level to protect sensitive or valuable items from extreme temperatures or mildew. More and more storage companies are offering this type of storage because of the growing demand for people who need a safe place to keep their stuff. With more and more people realizing how important it is to protect their valuable and delicate items from changes in temperature and humidity, climate-controlled storage is quickly becoming the top choice. This article with dive into FAQs and examples for when you need one.
What are the benefits of climate-controlled storage?
1. Peace of Mind
One of the most valuable benefits of climate-controlled storage is the peace of mind it provides. Knowing that your valuable and sensitive items are protected from temperature fluctuations, humidity, and external elements allows you to focus on other aspects of your life without constant worry. This added level of security and protection ensures that your cherished belongings are safe and well-maintained while in storage, giving you the confidence to trust that they will remain in good condition for the duration of their stay in the climate-controlled unit.
2. Protection from Temperature Fluctuations
One of the main benefits of these controlled environments is the protection it offers against extreme temperature fluctuations. These units maintain a consistent temperature range, usually between 55°F and 85°F, preventing damage to temperature-sensitive items. For instance, electronics, vinyl records, and wooden furniture can be negatively impacted by extreme heat or cold. Climate-controlled storage ensures that your belongings are kept in a stable environment, reducing the risk of warping, cracking, or other temperature-related damage.
3. Humidity Control
Humidity control is another significant advantage of climate-controlled storage units. Excess moisture in the air can lead to mold and mildew growth, which can damage items like clothing, artwork, photographs, and important documents. Many climate-controlled storage facilities use dehumidifiers or HVAC systems to maintain an optimal humidity level, usually around 30-50%. This helps to preserve the integrity of your possessions and prevent moisture-related issues.
FAQs
- What is a climate-controlled self-storage unit?
- Climate-controlled storage is a special kind of storage that keeps your important and delicate stuff safe from damage caused by changes in temperature and humidity. The system monitors and adjusts the temperature and humidity levels to maintain a consistent and optimal environment for the stored items.
- Do I need climate-controlled storage?
- If you need to store things that are sensitive to temperature or humidity changes, like antiques or electronics, climate-controlled storage is a good choice. This type of storage can protect your items from damage and give you peace of mind. States with hot and humid climates like Florida, Texas, New York, or Maryland may have a higher demand for climate-controlled storage because these conditions can cause damage to items.
- What should be put in climate-controlled storage?
- Electronics and appliances
- High-quality wood furniture and leather furniture
- Musical instruments
- Antiques
- Artwork
- Fine clothing and costumes
- Jewelry
- Valuable books or paperwork
- What doesn’t need to be in climate-controlled storage?
- You don’t need climate-controlled storage for items that are not affected by temperature or humidity. Clothing, most furniture, bicycles, tools, and old toys, for example, can all be stored in non-climate-controlled storage. You can also store things like paperwork in non-climate-controlled storage in sealed containers protected from moisture.
- How big does your climate-controlled storage unit need to be?
- The size of the climate-controlled storage unit you need will depend on what you plan to store. For example, a 5×5 unit is ideal for storing small items, such as boxes or small furniture, while a larger unit like a 10×20 is better for storing larger furniture or the contents of an entire home.
- Can you share climate-controlled storage with other people?
- Yes, many climate-controlled storage options share a building or room with locked compartments to make the best use of the climate-controlled space.
- Where can I find small climate-controlled storage units?
- There are many storage companies that offer climate-controlled storage options, including well-known names such as Neighbor, Public Storage, Life Storage, Extra Space Storage, and Cubesmart self-storage, which may have storage locations in your area or nearby.
- Can I rent climate-controlled storage from a neighbor?
- Yes. If your neighbor has a spare room or a finished basement or attic, you can rent some of their space for climate-controlled storage.
Types of Self-Storage Units with Climate Control
Climate-controlled storage units are any available storage where the inside is heated and cooled to stay within a reasonable temperature range. This usually means your items will not rise above 80 F in the summer or below 40 F in the winter, so nothing should freeze or melt while stowed. There are several types of climate-controlled storage units depending on what you need to be stored and how long you want it stored for.
Climate Controlled Storage Lockers
The most well-known type of climate-controlled storage is a self-storage locker. These tend to be higher in price than typical self-storage lockers and are accessed through indoor hallways in a climate-controlled warehouse space.
Neighborhood Spare Rooms for Rent
Renting out a bedroom from your neighbor is a new alternative option for climate-controlled storage that is usually located in someone’s locked spare room. These will be heated and cooled with the rest of the house so that your items are as safe as your neighbor’s items.
Bank Safety Deposit Boxes
If you want to protect something small and highly valuable, banks offer safety deposit boxes kept in climate and humidity-controlled vaults.
Considerations When Renting a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit
When renting a climate-controlled storage unit, it’s important to think about the factors involved. Long-term vs frequent storage will guide you toward different local storage options. So will the size or volume of what you need to store.
- Proximity: How far are you willing to drive to reach your climate-controlled storage unit? For most people, it’s better to have storage close to home, just in case you need to access what’s inside.
- Ease of Access: How difficult is it to reach your unit? Do you need to get through a locked gate, upstairs, or through a secured elevator? Or is it just a few steps passed a secure door or drive-up access?
- Frequency of Access: How often do you need to access your climate-controlled storage? Frequent access means looking for a place that is nearby, easy to access, and welcome to regular visits.
- Size of the Units: How much storage do you need? Many climate-controlled storage options are small lockers instead of entire storage spaces.
- Guaranteed Temperature Range: What is the temperature range your items need? What temperature range is being guaranteed by the storage service?
- Typical Humidity Level: Are your items humidity-sensitive, and what humidity level is typical for the storage unit? If your region is humid, you may require a humidity-controlled unit. If not, normal HVAC will maintain a safely low humidity.
Cost: Popular storage companies such as Public Storage, Life Storage, Extra Space Storage, Neighbor, or Cubesmart offer climate-controlled storage units ranging from $75 to $300 per month, which can be more expensive due to specialized systems, but offer the benefit of protecting valuable or sensitive items in a stable environment.
Storage Unit Size Guide
How big are climate-controlled storage units? Like any storage option, you can find climate-controlled storage in a wide range of sizes based on availability and your needs.
Deposit Box or Locked Tote
The smallest climate-controlled unit size is a safety deposit box. You take a pre-determined box size, fill it with your items, lock it, and leave it with a bank or storage provider to keep safe in a climate-controlled vault.
In a neighbor situation, you may be able to bring your own locked box or tote and ask them to keep it in a locked climate-controlled room.
Mini Storage: 3’x3’x3′
Mini-storage is the size of a locker. Sometimes, they are typical stand-up lockers, sometimes they are 3x3x3 foot cube lockers – it depends on the facility. Once you rent the locker, you can place a few personal items inside and then lock the unit.
Closet-Sized Units: 5’x5’x8′
A typical small climate-controlled unit is about the size of a closet that you can put a few boxes into.
Room-Sized Units: 5’x10’x8′ – 10’x15’x8′
You can also rent an entire room from a neighbor or a room-sized climate-controlled unit, in a typical range of 5×10 feet to larger units of 10×15 feet.
Garage-Sized Units: 10’x20’x10′ – 20’x30’x10′
There are a few truly huge climate-controlled storage options found in large storage facilities or when you rent an entire locked basement from a neighbor. These can range anywhere from 10×20 feet to 20×30 feet depending on the space and availability.
For larger units, always double-check that the space is properly climate-controlled.
Do I need a climate-controlled storage unit?
Renting a climate-controlled storage unit is typically done because you have items that might be damaged by extreme cold, extreme heat, or high humidity. Climate control allows you to protect anything that might be sensitive to otherwise unmonitored storage conditions. Fortunately, there are many climate-controlled storage options in most communities, ranging from indoor self-storage facilities to rented space from neighbors who use the same climate control that heats and cools their houses to safe and comfortable temperatures. At the end of the day, it’s important to understand your storage needs and how much you want to protect your items.
