Preparing Self Storage Units For Long-Term Protection
Self storage is a convenient way to make a little extra room in your home or to create a place to put your belongings after moving to a smaller home. For many of your belongings, long periods of time without regular maintenance or a less-than-sterile environment can lead to fading, swelling, rotting and other forms of damage. As you look through your belongings for what needs to go into storage, take the time to understand a few ways to safeguard them during long-term storage.
Inspecting For Leaks And Infestation
It makes sense to inspect the storage unit for quality, but what do you look for? Obvious problems such as rats, leaking water or a door that doesn't close completely can be easy to catch, but you'll need to look closer for the safety of your more precious heirlooms.
In regards to leaks, you need to think of where moisture is coming from. Even if a building is patched up, the source of the water could be a problem in the future. You can't do much about weather issues, but if there are leaking pipes, broken rain gutters or liquid from some sort of exhaust system, a needless source of damage could expose your storage unit once again. If rain isn't the cause, make sure that the facility staff takes care of it.
Infestation can be a difficult thing to pinpoint, especially in the case of termites. Termites may not be present if there's nothing to consume in the area, but moving your wooden furniture and accessories into storage may create a new infestation point that attracts the pests. If you're keeping clothes, you'll want to be sure that nearby fleas or bedbugs aren't infesting the area.
The storage facility management may not know of such an infestation depending on the clientele, since many people leave their belongings without doing such thorough searches. You may want to consult a pest control professional to inspect the area, then bring it to the storage facility's attention before moving anything.
Dehumidifier Choice And Placement
Rain was mentioned as something to ignore as a possible threat earlier because it's something that you can't avoid. However, there are some side effects such as humidity that can be controlled, and should be controlled to preserve belongings that are sensitive to moisture. Certain types of cloth, untreated wood and paper can stain or wrinkle if exposed to humidity for long periods of time, and the dark, dank conditions could lead to mold growth.
Whether the humidity is caused by stormy conditions or if the area is almost always humid, a dehumidifier can help. Dehumidifiers can remove moisture from the air, but their potency is limited by the strength of the device and the size of the room. The bigger the room, the more powerful your dehumidifier needs to be.
Dehumidifiers have documentation for the maximum room size that can be treated, as well as where the dehumidifier should be placed to get the best drying potential for the storage room. If you can't find the documentation, contact a dehumidifier manufacturer for a suggestion based on the storage unit size or ask the storage facility for suggestions.
Contact a storage facility professional such as AA All American Airborne Self-Storage to begin planning a safer storage for your belongings.
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