Skip Navigation

Storage Types

Find a self storage unit near you

 

Climate-Control Storage: Everything You Need To Know

From antiques and treasured possessions, to vehicles of all shapes and sizes, keeping your valuables protected from rust, mold, sunlight, or wind can be a headache without the right facility. While outdoor and minimalist storage facilities often offer the most competitive rates, climate-controlled storage lockers and units are a serious step up when it comes to keeping your most valued possessions protected and pristine for an extended duration.

But how do you know that climate controlled storage facilities are right for you? How do the costs measure up between climate-controlled storage rates and their non-climate counterparts? If you’ve never used a climate-controlled storage facility before, these questions and more can seem daunting. However, this guide offers some of the most important tips and info to help you decide if a climate-controlled storage option is right for you.

What Are the Benefits of Using Climate-Controlled Storage Facilities?

While storage facilities are located across the country, and offer various rates, amenities, and conveniences depending on your specific needs, climate-controlled storage lockers and spaces are not always as easy to find. However, there are some unique benefits to using a climate-controlled space, especially if your possessions are particularly sensitive to weather or moisture-induced damage or wear and tear.

Here are just a few of the biggest benefits to opting for climate-controlled storage facilities:

  • Humidity controls can ensure that excess moisture doesn’t impact your goods. Moisture can have a corrosive effect on a wide variety of materials, especially if you are planning to use storage for any extended period of time.

  • Temperature settings in climate-control units can be adjusted to meet the needs of your specific possessions. Whether cold or warmth is right for protecting them, climate-control can be personalized to your needs.

  • Climate-controlled units also protect your valuables from excessive sunlight or wind, which can have obvious effects on everything from cars to appliances to antiques. 

  • The cost of fixing or restoring goods damaged by moisture, humidity, or inclement weather can be exorbitant, and in some cases can cause permanent damage. By spending a little extra money in the short term, you can reap long term savings.

  • Climate-controlled storage lockers often come in all shapes and sizes, especially at larger facilities. This means you can store any amount of goods, or even larger vehicles, with no concern about external weather conditions or the duration of the storage.

Items that Require Climate-Controlled Storage

While there are seemingly endless things that can benefit from climate-controlled storage options, here are some of the most common and popular items that benefit the most from being stored in a facility like this:

  • Electronics

  • Appliances

  • Jewelery

  • Artwork

  • Antiques

  • Wooden or upholstered furniture

  • Carpets, rugs, and blankets

  • Valuable collectibles like coins, stamps, or sports cards

  • Mirrors and glasswork

  • Building materials for later use, such as stone, brick, or lumber

While this is just a list of the most common items, any item might be best stored this way. Ask yourself a few simple questions to decide if this is the right choice for your particular possessions:

  • Is this item something that moisture, humidity, sunlight, or exposure to the elements will affect, either in the short term or over a long period of storage?

  • Is this item more expensive to repair or restore after damage from the elements?

  • How long will you be away or need to store the particular item? While some items can survive a short period in storage, extended periods of storage often take a greater toll, especially if you need to keep your possessions stored indefinitely.

Climate-Controlled Storage Cost vs Non-Climate Options

As one can expect, the electronics and equipment needed to provide climate-controlled storage can cost a facility more to maintain and repair, which leads to higher rental costs for these particular types of units. Non-climate controlled options are often cheaper, but offer significantly less protection from all of the variables discussed above. 

However, if you are torn between the two options, the easiest question to ask is whether spending a little more in the short term is worth more in the long term. While climate-controlled storage rates may be higher, if you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in long-term repair and restoration costs, the choice should be simple.