A Climate-controlled storage unit is kept at a temperature between 55 and 85 degrees (F). In general, climate-controlled storage is beneficial for storing valuable or environmentally-sensitive items. Climate-controlled storage units are almost always indoor, and with stable temperatures and humidity levels, your valuables will be better protected from damage in long-term storage.
Rule of Three: In deciding whether you need climate-controlled storage, consider these three factors:
Consider using climate-controlled storage if you plan to store your items in a region that experiences extreme heat, cold, or humidity. Scroll over your state to see what conditions your belongings will need to endure.
General Rule: If you don’t want your belongings to endure temperatures in degrees over 90 or below 32, put them in climate-controlled storage.
Extreme Heat can melt and warp important items like vinyl records, CDs, and DVDs. It can also cause wooden furniture to expand and crack. Extreme heat is also hard on wine, causing it to turn brown or cloudy.
Extreme heat is likely to occur in the Southwest, Southeast, and most of the Midwest.
Extreme cold puts your belongings at risk of freezing. If any of your items retain moisture, they are liable to contract, expand, and crack in cold temperatures.
Extreme cold is likely to affect your storage in the northern half of the country: the Pacific Northwest, Midwest, most of the Rocky Mountain region, East North Central near the Great Lakes, New England, and Mid-Atlantic states.
Extreme humidity can turn your storage unit into a breeding ground for mold, mildew, bacteria, and unwanted small pests. Fortunately, climate-controlled storage units maintain a clean, dry environment.
Extreme humidity is a risk to the Pacific Coast and the Eastern half of the country, including the Midwest, South and Southwest regions, Eastern North Central states around the Great Lakes, Eastern South Central, South Atlantic, and Mid-Atlantic states, as well as New England. See the map below to see if your state is at risk of extreme humidity.
If the items you plan to store are temperature-sensitive or of high sentimental value, strongly consider keeping them in climate-controlled storage. Below are some common items that often need climate-controlled storage.
If you still aren’t sure whether or not you need climate-controlled storage, consider how long your belongings will be there. If the answer is one month or less, your items will likely be fine. Any longer than that will put your items at greater risk of damage from heat, cold, or humidity.
Climate-controlled storage is common, but is usually found at facilities with interior storage units. Storage facilities with only exterior or drive up storage units will typically not offer climate control.
The larger the storage unit, the less likely that climate control is offered. 10x20 and larger storage units are typically exterior storage units, and won't have climate control. 10x15 and smaller storage units can often be found in the interior of a building, and are more likely to offer climate control.
Yes. Climate-controlled storage units in cities with a population of 450,000 tend to cost 20-30% more than regular storage units of the same size. In major cities like New York City, Dallas, and Los Angeles, climate-controlled storage can cost 60-75% more than a regular unit of the same size.
In almost all cases you cannot control the temperature yourself. The temperature is usually kept between 55 and 85 degrees (F).