Climate-controlled storage—also known as temperature-controlled storage—is designed to help protect stored items from temperature-related damage. Though there are various types of climate-controlled storage available, a storage unit with climate control will maintain a temperature typically between 55 and 85 degrees and balance humidity levels year-round to help keep items safe from extreme heat and cold. Here are some common items that require climate control!

Antiques

Antique furniture, mirrors, glassware, pottery, jewelry, and other antiques can greatly benefit from temperature-controlled storage. These items are often more delicate because of their age—not to mention, more difficult and costly to replace if damaged, since they’re no longer in production. Without climate control, antiques are more prone to tarnishing, rusting, cracking, or warping due to fluctuations in temperature. Antique wood furniture needs to be treated with extra care since humidity and water vapor can cause the furniture to shrink or swell.

Artwork

Storing artwork in a climate-controlled unit can help prevent damage from UV exposure, moisture, or fluctuating temperatures. Improper storage of valuable canvases, prints, sketches, or other artwork can cause enough damage to depreciate in value. Cracked paint is a big concern while storing artwork, as are mildew and mold—which can easily build up on the artwork’s surface if not properly covered and then stored.

Clothing & Fabric

Exposure to extreme cold, heat, and humidity can cause damage to certain materials. This is particularly true for items made of lace, leather, silk, and other delicate fabrics. Excess humidity can result in mold or mildew, while temperature fluctuations can cause leather to crack or crease. Climate-controlled storage—along with proper packing in vacuum-sealed bags, cardboard boxes, or plastic bins—can help keep clothing, linens, and more in good condition.

Collectibles

Collectibles and keepsakes like stamp collections, coins, trading cards, comic books, magazines, and newspapers can also benefit from climate control. Extreme temperatures and humidity will cause coins to start the oxidation process. Stamps will begin to curl and stick if left in high temperatures and humidity, while other paper-based items like comic books and newspapers can wrinkle and stick together if exposed to moisture. Collectibles like toys, action figures, metal or plastic figurines, and vinyl records can also benefit from climate control, as these items can warp or get brittle from extreme heat or cold.

Cosmetics & Toiletries

While fine in storage bags or hall closets, there are times you might need to put cosmetics in storage—like if you’re renovating your home, need storage for college breaks, using storage between homes, and more. And if they’re not stored properly, cosmetics and toiletries can significantly deteriorate in quality. High temperatures in particular can cause ingredients in makeup and other skincare or hygiene products to melt or change consistency, making the product unusable. When unloading your storage unit, be sure to dispose of any expired toiletries and cosmetics.

Documents

Important documents like birth certificates, personal financial records, or business documents needing long-term storage should be kept in climate control for optimal safety. Keeping them inside a storage unit can free up space in an office, workspace, attic, or basement, so you can use the space for other things. Climate control can help prevent documents from fading or warping in the heat—and from absorbing moisture that can lead to mold or mildew.

Electronics & Media

If you’re looking for long-term or short-term storage for your electronics, a climate-controlled storage unit can help you protect these sensitive items. Common electronics that require climate control include TVs, computers, recording equipment, DVDs, gaming systems, cameras, stereos, record players, and more. Climate control helps prevent the screens from cracking and the metal and wires inside from corrosion. It can also help protect against rust and other moisture-related damage. Additionally, the batteries within electronic devices can drain faster or charge less effectively if they are kept in extremely hot or cold environments.

Furniture

Furniture can be affected by hot or cold temperatures, so it’s important to keep it in a climate-controlled storage unit for protection. Wooden furniture like bed frames, tables, chairs, end tables, nightstands, or entertainment centers can often warp or crack due to temperature extremes. Leather furniture should be kept in a climate-controlled storage unit because temperature fluctuations can cause the leather to crack, making for an expensive repair. Metal, wicker, or upholstered furniture—and even outdoor patio furniture—can become damaged with exposure to colder temperatures or damp conditions.

Household Appliances

Household appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, ovens, microwaves, and refrigerators need climate control for a few reasons. First, climate control can help protect their electronic and mechanical parts from warping, cracking, and corrosion. But these items also need temperature control because the metals inside the appliances can react to extreme temperatures and humidity, resulting in rust and an eventual need to replace parts.

Machines & Motorized Equipment

Outside equipment—like lawnmowers and snowblowers—and indoor equipment like sewing machines are susceptible to much of the same temperature-related damage that electronics are. Additionally, mechanical crafting equipment like sewing machines need to be kept in climate-controlled storage because their belts can easily shrink or expand with extreme temperatures, while outdoor machines can rust due to moisture. The machines’ motorized components can also become susceptible to degradation and decay if they aren’t put into climate-controlled storage.

Medical Supplies & Medications

Storing medical supplies, equipment, and medications in a climate-controlled unit helps preserve their quality. A climate-controlled environment is great for maintaining temperatures and humidity levels for sensitive products like medications, pharmaceutical samples, inventory, and medical equipment—including mobility devices like wheelchairs. That said, remember to be aware of expiration dates on medications and other supplies when storing them.

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments need climate control for both short-term and long-term storage. Instruments like pianos and guitars can be ruined if left in humid or high temperatures. Strings can snap, glue and adhesives can soften or melt, and the felt, rubber, or cork used in a variety of instruments can deteriorate over time. Humidity can also cause brass and woodwind instruments to break down by shrinking or cracking the delicate components. And instrument equipment like amps require climate control because their electronic components can break down if left in extremely hot or cold environments.

Photographs

Climate-controlled storage is crucial when storing photographs. If photo albums and boxes of photos are stored in an environment with high temperatures or humidity, the photos tend to warp and the photographic paper could become damp, permanently damaging the images. Framed photos should also be stored in a climate-controlled environment, helping protect both the frames and the photos within. And photographic negatives can become brittle and crack or warp in extreme temps, in addition to being sensitive to UV light.

Sports Equipment

Recreational equipment and sports equipment like nets, cleats, balls, pads, or helmets can last longer in climate-controlled storage, which helps prevent the materials from warping or cracking. Camping gear, hiking equipment, and outdoor gadgets should also be stored with climate control to prevent malfunctions. Bikes—especially those with leather seats—can become damaged in extreme temperatures and humidity levels. If you plan to keep any sports equipment stored for a long period of time, climate control will be the best option.

Vehicles

Finding an indoor storage unit with climate control is ideal if you need a place to store your vehicle when it’s not in use. Motorized vehicles like classic cars, motorcycles, jet skis, ATVs, dirt bikes, mopeds, or scooters are susceptible to damage from snow, cold, heat, and humidity if left outside. Extreme temperatures will also impact the engine, pumps, or batteries of these vehicles, which can lead to costly repairs. If you have classic or vintage cars that need indoor storage, climate control can help keep them in pristine condition.

Wine

Fine wine needs to be stored in a temperature-controlled environment to help maintain its quality. Humidity and extreme temperatures can impact wine over time, which affects the taste and value of your collection. When storing wine, you’ll want to avoid UV light, limit vibrations, and maintain stable temperatures to help keep your collection in pristine condition—all of which can be achieved with a specialized wine storage unit. These climate-controlled units also help prevent corks from drying out, which can ruin the taste of the wine.

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Looking for secure self storage while downsizing, moving, or renovating your home? Extra Space Storage has convenient facilities across the nation that can help. Find climate-controlled storage near you!