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Snowpocalypse: How to Prep Your Storage Unit for Winter Weather

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In many parts of the country, the Snowpocalypse is upon us. While snow is great for shredding, it’s not so great for your storage unit. With several regions receiving more snow than they have in the last 20 years, it’s important to prepare not only your home and car for extreme winter weather but your storage unit, too – something you’ll be especially grateful for come spring and the big meltdown. Winterizing your storage unit is important to combat below freezing temps, exposure to moisture, and to eliminate unnecessary trips back and forth.

Come out of the Snowpocalypse with your storage unit fully intact and all of your belongings in as good of condition as they entered. Keep your camping gear, mountain bikes, and other equipment in top shape. Follow these tips from StorQuest Self Storage for winterizing your storage unit.

Preparing Your Storage Unit for Winter Weather

1. Prevent Water Damage - One of the most important factors when prepping your storage unit for winter weather comes in preventing water damage. Heavy snow accumulation can often mean flooding in outdoor storage units. To prevent water damage from occurring, place boxes and other items on top of pallets. By raising your items off of the ground, pallets help prevent water damage to your stored items.

2. Take Care of Temperature Sensitive Items - While the temperature may not fluctuate tremendously during the winter, it’s important to prepare temperature-sensitive items, such as art, musical instruments, and paper documents, for colder temperatures and the eventual change in weather that comes in the spring. Check temperature-sensitive items for damage. If you have concerns about their well-being, consider upgrading to a climate-controlled storage unit. Climate-controlled storage units are maintained within a set temperature range, which helps prevent damage to items needing a specialized environment.

3. Water-Tight Bins Are Key - We’ve all seen the effect water has on cardboard boxes – and it isn’t pretty! They get soggy, unusable, and fall apart upon being lifted. Cardboard doesn’t protect the integrity of your stored items, which is why we suggest using water-tight plastic bins. Using water-tight plastic bins helps protect the contents within and doesn’t create waste. While cardboard boxes can normally be reused again, that option dissipates when the boxes become wet. Plastic bins help prevent water damage and can be used repeatedly over time.

4. Cover Furniture - Many of us use our storage units as a home for extra furniture. Whether you’re a realtor staging homes or just in transition, it’s important to protect furniture in storage units. Covers can help protect wood furniture from the effects of drastic temperature changes. Using furniture covers, sheets, or blankets can help prevent low temperatures from having a negative effect on the wood. Also, consider using waterproof covers and tarps to protect furniture from moisture due to extreme winter weather.

5. Sort Through Belongings - In preparing your storage unit for winter weather, it helps to sort through your belongings to determine what you actually need to keep and what you can get rid of. Often, you may not remember everything you have stored. Verifying what you have and what you need allows you to make room for different items and helps you determine what should be removed to prevent damage from potential winter weather concerns.

6. Wrap Items to Protect from Pests - Small rodents and pests may be the last thing on your mind when it comes to preparing your storage unit for winter weather, but those creatures should come as a top concern. Like the rest of us, pests flock indoors during the winter to escape the cold and moisture. Wrapping items in plastic helps prevent pests from nesting in your belongings. You can also place cedar blocks around your unit to help prevent pests from nesting in your storage unit during the winter months.

Be Prepared for the Snowpocalypse

Following these tips for preparing your storage unit for winter weather can help keep your belongings in their current condition. If you live in one of the areas affected by Snowpocalypse 2017, make sure to visit your storage unit now to take precautions and prevent potential water damage. While the snow may have already fallen, it’s not too late to protect your belongings.

Let’s plan. Let’s store. Let’s go.  

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