Many times, customers are not sure if the need non climate or climate-controlled storage. What are the benefits of using one versus the other? Let us look at what the deciding factors would be in your storage needs.
Non climate storage is used for items that you would store in a building in your backyard. Tools, garden equipment, they may be items that are of value, but they are not damaged by the heat and humidity of being stored in a non-climate environment. This can be used for short term storage of household items as well as long term storage of items that do not require conditioned storage.
Climate control is an altogether different environment of storage and is beneficial for valuable items because there are stable temperatures and humidity levels especially for long term storage. Heat and cold do the most damage to sensitive items especially here is the Southeast region and Piedmont of North Carolina. Items that can easily be damaged by heat and humidity are wooden furniture, leather and fabric couches and chairs as well as clothing, pictures, paintings, musical instruments and vinyl records, CD’s, and DVD’s and even seasonal decorations.
Freezing weather can be just as harmful as heat because it can cause wood items to contract and expand during temperature changes just like in summer months especially if they have retained moisture over the summer or a rainy fall season.
Temperatures over that fall below 32 degrees and over 90 can damage sensitive items such as those mentioned above.
Questions to ask yourself about what type of storage you need are these:
Am I between places?
If you are between places and only going to be storing for a month or two your items will be fine in non-climate storage.
How long will my belongings be in storage?
If you have no room at home for your items and do not know how long you plan to store your belongings play the safe card and use climate control especially if you do not know when you may need them again.
Do my belongings have a lot of sentimental value?
If you have sentimental items, especially those of value such as old photographs, furniture and family heirlooms pay the small price increase and put those in climate control storage. Many of these items cannot ever be replaced and some are expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do most facilities have climate control storage?
Most newer facilities offer climate control as there is an increasing market for it. Several older facilities do not especially ones that are only drive up with exterior access. Many facilities now are spraying the walls with Icynene foam insulation to help with keeping the temperatures at a much more constant level versus the old-style vapor barrier batten type insulation from years ago.
Does climate control cost more?
Yes. Climate control does cost on the average about 20-25% more than general storage. Most units are in the interior of a bigger building such as our here which are 70 feet wide and 100 feet long. There are recessed entrances leading to the climate control areas on the interior of the building.
Can I control the temperature of my unit myself?
No. The temperature of our building interiors is kept between 55– and 80-degrees year-round. Air is circulating throughout the interior of the building and the units from the interior mechanical room located inside the climate control area.
