What Is Climate-Controlled Storage?

Climate-controlled storage meaning

Climate-controlled storage units are regulated self-storage options that maintain a specific temperature and humidity range, regardless of outside conditions.

Even in milder climates, storage unit temperatures can be as much as 30 degrees higher than outdoor temperatures. And even with indoor storage units, insulation is not always enough to manage both temperature and humidity.

This is where climate control makes a difference.

The exact temperature of a climate-controlled unit can vary based on the storage company you choose, but they tend to fall within a similar range. These are the average temperature ranges for climate-controlled units from some of today’s best climate-controlled storage units.

Temperatures for Climate-Controlled Units

You should note, however, that even climate-controlled storage units cannot maintain exact temperatures. Customers opening doors as they come and go from the facility can easily impact temperatures inside, regardless of climate control.

Climate-controlled storage vs. temperature-controlled storage

While both climate-controlled and temperature-controlled storage options monitor and regulate temperatures within the storage unit, only climate-controlled storage also helps maintain humidity levels.

There are several types of temperature-controlled storage. For example, these are the types of storage that Extra Space Storage provides:

• Heated units
• Air-cooled units
• Humidity-controlled, or climate-controlled, units

While temperature-controlled storage alone can be beneficial, climate-controlled units tend to offer the best protection for your cherished belongings.

Climate-controlled storage benefits

Climate-controlled storage can come at a premium, but the benefits can outweigh the heftier price tag.

• Temperature control. Humidity and extreme temperatures can cause items to fade, crack or warp. Climate-controlled storage can prevent damage to your property by maintaining stable temperatures.
• Mold prevention. Mold is another concern. Too much humidity can create mold and mildew, affecting items such as upholstery, clothing and documents.
• Improved air quality. Climate-controlled storage allows for improved air quality that is far better than what a garage or an outdoor unit can provide.
• Cleanliness. Dirt, dust and debris can accumulate over time. Even if these elements don’t directly damage your belongings, they can be difficult to clean off when you take your items out of storage.
• Pest control. With their indoor location, climate-controlled storage units help keep pests away, so mice and other nuisances don’t get into your belongings. Most storage units also regularly treat their facilities to ensure a pest-free environment.
• Security. Storage units feature various security measures designed to deter theft and protect your belongings. These can include gated entry, keycard access, video monitoring and security patrols.
• Insurance. Most storage unit companies require renters to purchase storage unit insurance. This not only helps protect you against theft, but also against natural threats such as fire and flooding. 

Items needing climate-controlled storage

Without climate control, many personal or business items are subject to damage.

Paper can fall victim to mold and mildew, affecting books and files. Plastic can warp and melt, while clothing and upholstery can stretch, fade and decay from mold and mildew. Even metal is not immune; high humidity can cause rust.

The following items can especially benefit from climate-controlled units:

• Mattresses
• Antiques
• Fine art
• Wine
• Electronics
• Rugs
• Documents, books and magazines
• Furniture 
• Clothing
• Appliances
• Vinyl records
• Musical instruments
• China
• Photos
• Business inventory
• Vehicles (motorcycles, classic cars) 
• Sporting equipment
• Collectibles

Climate-controlled storage allows you to safeguard your items and avoid having to replace them later or risk losing irreplaceable items to damage from heat or humidity.

Is climate-controlled storage worth it?

The cost of storage is often higher for climate-controlled units than for other storage units, but it can certainly be worth it, depending on your needs. When determining whether climate-controlled storage is worth the expense, you should weigh a few factors.

Weather

Perhaps the most important factor when deciding whether climate-controlled storage is worth it for you is the weather where you live.

Extra Space Storage recommends climate-controlled storage for high-humidity areas and regions where temperatures fall below 32 degrees or go above 90 degrees. If winter temperatures are below freezing or you live in a hot, subtropical climate, climate-controlled storage is likely a necessity for you.

Type of items

To determine whether you need climate-controlled storage, assess the items you intend to store in the unit.

Electronics, appliances, furniture, vinyl and wine can all be significantly impacted by extreme temperatures. However, if you only plan to store items such as decorations, patio furniture and tools, climate-controlled storage may not be worth the extra investment.

Storage term

Even without extreme temperatures, extended storage can take a toll on your belongings over time. Climate-controlled storage can better preserve your stuff over longer rental periods.

However, if you are only storing things for a temporary period during a mild season, you may not need to spring for the extra cost of climate-controlled storage.

Value

It can be easy to move things into a storage unit and forget about them — out of sight, out of mind. 

But costs add up over time, and your storage expenses could end up exceeding the value of the items you’re storing. While this may not matter for family heirlooms and other priceless belongings, climate-controlled storage may not be the most economical option for lower-valued or easily replaceable items.