Jacksonville, FL can be very hot and humid during certain times of the year. While the temperatures usually stay in the 60s in December, January, and February, they tend to climb into the 90s on an average day in June, July, and August.
With that in mind, you should think long and hard about how you choose to store your personal possessions inside of a storage facility in Jacksonville. A regular storage unit might do the trick for some items, but a climate controlled storage unit would be a much better option for others.
Before you rent a storage unit in Jacksonville, you should consider what you plan to put in it and then figure out if climate controlled storage would be your best bet.
Here are some of the items that call for you to get a climate controlled unit over a regular one.
Wooden Furniture
When the temperatures soar in Jacksonville, the temperatures inside of your storage unit will soar, too. It’s not uncommon for the temps in a storage unit to hit triple digits during the summer months.
The problem with this is that it can make it unbearably humid inside of the average storage unit. That humidity can do irreparable damage to any wooden furniture you might have in your unit.
If you keep wooden furniture tucked inside of a storage unit that’s not climate controlled, there’s a good chance it will:
- Crack
- Warp
- Break
It’s never a good idea to expose wood to moisture, and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing when you place wooden furniture into a regular storage unit instead of a climate controlled storage unit.
With a climate controlled unit, you will be able to control the temperature in your unit and keep it comfortable. More importantly, you will be able to reduce the humidity and prevent your wooden furniture from suffering from the effects of it.
Leather Furniture
Similar to wooden furniture, leather furniture will often show signs of disrepair when you place it into a hot storage unit in the summer and just let it sit there.
Leather as a whole is very sensitive to sudden changes in moisture levels, and that’s exactly what you’ll be exposing it to when you put it into a hot storage unit. Your leather will likely expand and shrink over and over again in the storage unit. Before long, it will look worn out, faded, and old.
If you’re going to store leather furniture, it’s pretty much mandatory that you do it with a climate controlled storage unit. Otherwise, you’re just asking for trouble.
Fur or Leather Clothing
Mold and mildew can become a problem in hot storage units that aren’t climate controlled. For that reason, you should usually steer clear of storing any clothes that will be exposed to warm temperatures.
If you’re not careful, you could end up with boxes full of moldy clothing that will need to be discarded.
You should be especially careful when dealing with clothing that has fur or leather on it. This type of clothing is typically on the expensive side, and it could be damaged by the humidity inside of a hot storage unit.
Your fur or leather clothing can also be exposed to mold or mildew, and it would be a real shame to have to throw it out because of it.
By renting a climate controlled storage unit, you can stop moisture from working its way into all of your clothing and prevent mold and mildew from affecting it.
Artwork and Photographs
Did you know that humidity can completely ruin the appearance of many works of art and photographs?
If you happen to have them stored behind glass, you will usually be able to prevent humidity from doing too much damage to them in the short term. But over time, artwork and photographs that are left exposed to humidity will often warp, fade, and start to look a lot different than they did before they were placed in the storage unit.
You need to be very careful about how you store art and photographs.
It’s always best to keep paintings, sculptures, photographs, and other important mementos inside of climate controlled storage units. You should also pack them accordingly to prevent them from coming into contact with water in any form.
Musical Instruments
The majority of musical instruments contain some element of wood. Some are made entirely of wood, while others have small parts made out of it.
This wood can expand and contract depending on the temperature in your storage unit. When it does this, it will be prone to breaking and cracking and could even warp beyond repair.
There are some kinds of musical instruments that will be more susceptible to warping in the heat and humidity than others. But in general, musical instruments are one of the many items you’re going to want to lock away in climate controlled storage units.
One-of-a-Kind Items
Do you have an antique desk that has been in your family for years? Or what about a portrait of your family that you’ve had hanging in your home for decades? Or how about a box of jewelry that was given to you by your great-grandmother?
If you have something you wouldn’t be able to replace if it was to be damaged in a regular storage unit, you should opt for climate controlled storage.
While a climate controlled unit will often cost you a little more than a regular storage unit, it will be well worth the investment.
It will prevent the heat and the humidity in Jacksonville, FL from damaging your items while keeping them safely locked away where no one can get to them but you.
Invest in Climate Controlled Storage Today
In addition to all of the items already listed here, there are many other items you should place into climate controlled storage. From books and important documents to electronics and mattresses, you should consider using a storage unit that is climate controlled for many of your possessions.
Check out our blog for more tips on using storage units in Jacksonville.