There are times when you have to choose between beloved belongings and free space. Thankfully, there's a barrier between hoarding all of your belongings in a giant pile and selling everything off: a barrier called storage units. Although storage units, such as Guardian Storage Ltd Storage Units, offer a great way to organize excess belongings, you'll want to prepare the unit for long term care. Moisture, dust and invading pests can ruin your belongings if you're not able to maintain the storage unit on a daily or weekly basis, so take the time to understand a few storage dangers and how to protect your property.

Moisture Reduction To Slow Rotting And Mold

Moisture can cause wood and paperwork to swell up and deteriorate--a problem that can become worse if there's pollution in the city or town that is carried in humid air conditions.

A dehumidifier is the main tool in the battle against humidity, but don't buy one quite yet. Make sure to inspect the area for any moisture leaks such as wall cracks or an uneven door seal that could be fixed first. There's not reason to give the dehumidifier more work than it needs to. Bring up any issues you find with the storage facility staff.

Once you've secured the storage room as much as you reasonably can, measure the storage room area to figure out the type of dehumidifier you'll need. Every dehumidifier has an effective area for removing humidity from the air; if the room is too big, the dehumidifier will only be able to dry the immediate area. If you're unable to get specifics from the labels or manuals of a dehumidifier, contact the manufacturer.

Pest Inspection And Control

Especially in the case of wood objects, pests can cause heavy damage and make your storage room a useless container for wood pulp. Termites in the local area may not be noticeable if other storage unit users aren't storing wood, but once your wooden property is introduced, a new problem could manifest.

Termites aren't the only issue. Many transient pests could leave waste behind, staining white or light colored clothes and paperwork. The problem can be solved by sealing your property in containers, but strong containers may be more of an investment than you're willing to put forward. In some cases, basic containers could still be accessed by some pests, leaving only the most expensive containers as your choice.

As you look into ways to seal away your property, make sure to request the services of a pest control professional. Notify the storage facility owner of any obvious infestations, although you may need to hire your own as a precaution in case there's unknown threats that can't be reasonably detected by non-professionals.

Contact a storage facility manager to discuss mini storage, vehicle storage units and other storage options.