Why Climate Controlled Storage?

Ashland, MA - Severe hot or cold weather can damage items stored in storage units. Important documentation for your home or business, computer equipment and electronics, wood or leather furniture, photographs, books, clothing, artwork and other valuable possessions can be destroyed if not properly protected. If you live or work in a geographic area (like Massachusetts) with these weather conditions, climate-controlled storage units provide the ideal solution for storing your personal or business-related items.

Climate control maintains a steady temperature of 55–80° using central air conditioning and heat. Maintaining a controlled environment minimizes risk of:

• Warping, cracking and splitting
• Rust, yellowing and corrosion
• Mold, mildew and bacteria overgrowth
• Infestation of wasps, mice, termites and other vermin

Climate-controlled storage units are typically part of a finished building with indirect heating and cooling (compared to air conditioners or heaters within individual units). The enclosed environment of these buildings can also provide increased protection from dust, dirt and flooding.

How to Choose a Climate-Controlled Space

Follow these three steps to determine whether climate control is an appropriate investment for your needs:

Step 1: Consider Your Geographic Area
As a general rule, the temperature in climate-controlled storage units should not fall below freezing in the winter, or rise above 90°F (32°C) in the summer. If the geographic area where you live or work exceeds 90 degrees in the summer but does not freeze in the winter, air-conditioning would be a viable option to consider. Same with only extreme cold temperatures – a heated storage unit would work well. If your area experiences both extreme hot and cold temperatures, climate control may provide the best benefit.

Step 2: Consider What You Plan to Store  
The following is a list of items commonly stored in climate-controlled storage. 

Home Goods Leather or wood furniture Antiques & heirlooms Clothing Furs Craft supplies Plastics Food stuffs Paintings & other fine art Photographs Musical Instruments Media such as DVDS, CDS, vinyl records, cassettes & 8-track tapes Cameras Televisions & stereos

Equipment Computers & computer parts Video equipment Audio equipment Tools & machines Restaurant equipment Construction supplies Business Items Products & supplies Software, videos, DVDs & CDs Pharmaceutical samples & medical     supplies Archival documents, tax files, & other paperwork Seasonal inventory

If you plan to frequently access your stored items as you add, remove or organize them, keep in mind your comfort when working within your storage unit. A pleasant temperature can make the job much easier.

Step 3: Consider the Value of What You Plan to Store
Climate control storage units cost more than standard units. To determine whether the cost is justified, it’s important to assess the value of what you plan to store. If you are packing away electronics, products or equipment that are covered by insurance, and replacing them would mean only an inconvenience, you may decide that a standard storage space is sufficient. If, however, you are storing items of sentimental value or historical documents for your business, the additional cost may be insignificant, especially if it gives you peace of mind. Whether your items would be costly and inconvenient to replace, or irreplaceable, if you are going to pay to store them it is wise to store them well.
   
For those in the Framingham, Ashland, Natick, Holliston, Sherborn area, please contact 126 Self Storage for more information about climate control and other storage options.