No, this isn’t a blog post about Game of Thrones. But winter is coming, which means that if you have stuff in a self-storage unit, it’s just about time (or already time, depending on your location) to consider winterizing that unit to protect your belongings. Since this is the time of year when folks are putting all their summer gear away and dragging things like holiday decorations out of storage, you might as well take care of those winterizing chores at the same time and take out two birds with one stone.
Start by taking inventory of what you currently have in your storage unit. Ideally, your boxes, bags and shelves are already labeled to help you identify what’s what. But in either case, if you notice any boxes or containers that look worn or damaged, now is the time to replace them, before moisture finds its way in and destroys your belongings. This will also help protect your stuff from any winter humidity that can cause mold. Once that takes root, your storage problems multiply quickly.
As we mentioned, this is also the best time to add stuff to storage for the winter. This could include items like jet skis, inner tubes, beach umbrellas, warm-weather clothing, etc. — anything that you want out of the way and out of sight until next spring. It’s easier to transport and unload these items now, before treacherous winter conditions set in. Driving an overloaded vehicle on slippery roads is not the ideal situation.
One of the best tips we can offer is to get your stuff off the floor. Use wooden pallets and shelves to keep the most valuable items elevated. Also make sure that your boxes or standalone items aren’t pressed against the metal walls of your unit, which would only increase the likelihood of their being damaged by cold temperatures. Finally, cover your stuff with some furniture pads or wool blankets to ensure their warmth for the winter.
Another item that many of our customers overlook is a weatherproof lock. Standard locks are okay in normal temperatures but aren’t as reliable when temps dip below freezing. The last thing you want is for your lock to be inoperable when you need quick access to your storage unit. And trying to force open a frozen lock only increases the chances of breaking it or ensuring that no one, including you, can get inside the unit. Weatherproof locks are a little more expensive but worth the investment.