5 Of Your Possessions That Need Climate Control
Many items you have in storage might stand up rather easily to temperature fluctuations. However, others absolutely need to be stored in a climate controlled unit so that they don't become damaged or destroyed naturally over time as they are left to sit in a self-storage units.
The following are five examples of potentially very valuable items that absolutely must be stored in a climate-controlled self-storage unit:
Photographs
Family snapshots are irreplaceable, and they are also highly susceptible to damage from temperature extremes. It's easy for the ink from photo prints that are stacked one on top of another to blend together and become distorted.
You should not only ensure that photographs are stored in heated, climate-controlled units, but you should also make sure that the front of photos that are stored are not facing one another. Storing photos with their fronts together can leave them more susceptible to visual distortions with or without temperature extremes.
Furniture pieces
Many different types of furniture can become damaged if they are subject to extreme temperatures. Wooden furniture components will expand when they are exposed to heat and contract when they are exposed to the cold.
Also, leather furniture can be discolored and subject to mildew infestations because of temperature extremes.
Special collectors items
Collectors items like old coins, comic books, stamps, and bottles of fine wine could become ruined if they are exposed to very low temperatures.
Musical instruments
Storing a musical instrument is often about more than merely being able to make music in the future. It's also about maintaining the condition of a special keepsake that often has significant emotional value for the owner.
Whether you're storing a percussion, brass, or string instrument, cold temperatures can cause severe damage.
Instrument parts will naturally expand and contract as they are subject to temperature changes. This can cause piano strings to become warped, brass instruments to become subject to corrosion and bacterial growth, and violin and guitar strings to snap.
Storing a musical instrument in a heated storage unit will ensure that instrument parts won't contract and possibly break during periods of cold weather.
Business documents like deeds and titles
Sensitive business documents proving your ownership of valuable possessions need to be protected from fading or becoming discolored because of exposure to moisture and extreme temperatures.
Even if your business documents are stored electronically, temperature control will protect electronic storage devices like thumb drives and hard drives from malfunctions due to damage from temperature changes.