Winter Storage: To Heat or Not to Heat?
As is tradition around the Southeast these past few years, we’re on track to blast right through Fall and hit a full stop in the dead center of Winter. So, what does this mean for you if you find yourself in need of storage space?
What Type of Self Storage Should You Get
The cheeky answer is that you could spend a little bit extra, get yourself a heated and cooled unit at the best storage place nearby, proceed to store your items as you would in your spare bedroom, and immediately stop reading this article.… Oh? Hey, you’re still here?
It was the, “spend a little bit extra,” part, wasn’t it? Okay, let’s be real for a moment. I’m a recent college grad speaking to you by virtue of a computer I barely scraped up the money to purchase in order to get me through aforementioned college. I know firsthand that, “a little bit extra,” just isn’t always possible.
Don’t despair, you can still get by through the Winter with a non-heated unit, but you’re going to have to be prepared and understand that not everything you planned on storing may be appropriate.
What Items Are Your Exactly Storing?
When storing in the Winter, you need to first consider that things that absolutely cannot survive the temperature. Your unit will essentially be the same down to the degree as it is outside. You wouldn’t leave your TV out on the porch all season, (and if you would, it’s worth noting that chilly exposure can damage the mechanism and essentially leave you with the world’s most overpriced designer paper weight,) so you shouldn’t place that same television in your unheated storage unit. Just go ahead and eighty-six the thought of anything digital going in there. The same goes for things like musical instruments and antique furniture. If you’re unsure about any particular items, it’s best to discuss this with your StorPlace Self-Storage Property Manager.
Action Items To Protect Your Items This Winter
Once you’re in the clear for what you’re putting into storage, there are still some things you can do to better protect your items during the season. Consider putting down a tarp or plastic sheet to provide an extra layer of protection between your items and the cold concrete floor. You can take this a step further and stack your items and boxes on wooden crates to further elevate them from the cold.
If you’ve been here a while then you already know, but in case you’re new, let me tell you: we get some crazy unpredictable temperature changes around here during the Winter. Consider storing your items in plastic totes as opposed to cardboard boxes to decrease the risk of the boxes absorbing moisture. If cardboard boxes are more easily accessible to you, be sure to tape the seams thoroughly and consider placing items such as clothes in plastic bags prior to packing them away in the boxes. It’s also a good idea to wax or wrap wooden furniture if possible for extra protection. If storing glass or ceramics, wrap dishes or glassware thoroughly before packing them and try to keep them near the top of stacks if at all possible. When it gets cold, ceramic or glass items can crack due to pressure. Having them sit on top of things lessens that possibility. Just make certain your stacks (and your dinnerware containers) are solid, strong and sturdy.
Storage With StorPlace Self Storage
Whether you’re looking to store at the best storage in Nashville or maybe best storage in Murfreesboro TN know that it’s possible to store successfully in an unheated unit during the winter with a little know how and some planning. But, before you decide, ask your StorPlace Self-Storage Property Manager about their available heated and cooled units. The affordability may just surprise you.
