What’s the Difference Between Heated & Climate-Controlled Self-Storage Units?
U•STORE•IT offers heated & climate-controlled self-storage units for our customers who need to protect their items against the cold & the effects of humidity.
21 December 2020/Storage Tips
What’s the Difference Between Heated & Climate-Controlled Self-Storage Units?
Winters in Canada are cold and our summers can have some pretty warm days; this can wreak havoc on certain belongings. Wood furniture, art, delicate fabrics, electronic devices, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and books can all be compromised if they are stored in an environment that gets too cold. A heated or climate-controlled storage unit can help mitigate the risks to your belongings, but there is a difference in these types of units and the items that should be stored in each. So what are the differences between a heated vs unheated storage unit? Find out below.
Understanding Heated Self-Storage Solutions
A heated storage unit keeps your valuable items protected during the winter. No A/C is provided in heated storage units during the summer months. Cold temperatures are the only environmental consideration that is accounted for in heated storage units. It is fine to store exercise equipment, electronics, appliances, CDs, DVDs, and even brass musical instruments in a heated unit with other items. The majority of U•STORE•IT’s units are heated, with the exception of our St. Albert Erin Ridge facility, which has climate-controlled options.
Premium Climate-Controlled Safekeeping Features
Climate-controlled storage offers more than heat during the winter. The temperature can rise and units could get pretty hot in summer. Climate-controlled storage has the extra protection of A/C to keep your items at a consistent temperature all year round. This level of environmental management won’t be required in all cases, but if you have wood furniture, woodwind musical instruments, important documents, photos, art, paint, books, clothing, vinyl records, antiques that need specialized preservation techniques, or leather items you may want to consider a climate-controlled option. These items can also be sensitive to the amount of moisture in the air, and if the humidity gets too low or too high, it may damage your belongings. Climate-controlled units are only available at our St. Albert Erin Ridge location.
Assessing Your Temperature-Controlled Unit Needs
You might be asking yourself? Do I really need to pay extra for a heated or climate-controlled storage unit? Here are some questions to help you decide:
- Do you intend to store any of the items listed above?
- Do you intend to store these items during the winter?
- Will you be storing any special or sentimental items?
If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, it would be worth considering the investment in a heated or climate-controlled option to ensure that the items will remain undamaged and will function as you expect them to when you take them out of your storage unit safely.
Contact your closest location and we will provide availability details and pricing for a heated or climate-controlled unit to keep every item you store with us in tip-top shape. We have self-storage facilities located in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, South Edmonton, St. Albert, and Red Deer.
Key Takeaways about Heated vs Climate-Controlled Storage Units
- Heated storage units provide warmth during winter months but do not offer air conditioning during summer, making them suitable for items like exercise equipment, electronics, appliances, and brass musical instruments that need protection from cold temperatures.
- Climate-controlled storage units maintain consistent temperatures year-round with both heating and air conditioning to protect sensitive belongings from temperature fluctuations and humidity changes.
- U•STORE•IT offers heated storage units at most of their facilities, while climate-controlled options are exclusively available at their St. Albert Erin Ridge location.
- Delicate items including wood furniture, art, photographs, important documents, antiques, and leather goods benefit from the additional humidity and temperature protection that climate-controlled storage provides.
- Canadian winters create cold conditions that can damage specific belongings like wood furniture, delicate fabrics, electronic devices, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and books, making heated storage an important consideration.
- Customers should consider investing in climate-controlled or heated storage if they plan to store special or sentimental items, particularly during winter months, to prevent potential damage.
- The choice between heated and climate-controlled storage depends on the specific items being stored and their sensitivity to environmental factors like temperature and humidity levels.
- U•STORE•IT has multiple self-storage facilities located throughout Edmonton (North, West, and South), St. Albert, and Red Deer, providing convenient storage location options for customers in these areas.