If you’ve been comparing storage options, you’ve probably seen the phrase “climate controlled storage.” It sounds impressive — but is it always necessary? Here, we take a clear, practical look at what climate control really offers, and why high-quality indoor storage (like ours) is more than enough for most households and businesses.
Why most people don’t need to pay extra for climate control
Most modern indoor storage facilities, including Indoor Self Storage, are designed specifically to keep your belongings in excellent condition.
For example, wide corridors, large roller shutters and the deliberate provision of gaps above storage units work together to maximise air circulation. This flow prevents pockets of stagnation and evens out temperature differences. Combined with naturally low humidity levels, this creates an ideal environment for nearly all storage needs: business or domestic.
Self storage and temperature control
If you need long-term storage for specialistor delicate items such as fine art, high value antiques or very sensitive musical or electrical instruments, you might be one of the few households or businesses that would benefit from rooms with climate control.
Climate controlled facilities are designed to keep room temperatures strictly between around 10°C and 25°C while tightly regulating humidity levels.
If you have only a small number of highly temperature-sensitive items, it may be simpler to keep those safely while using standard indoor storage for the rest.
From furniture, kitchenware and bicycles to sports equipment and work tools, most household goods and business stock store perfectly well in a standard indoor self storage room. Just make sure you store clothes, soft toys and similar items in breathable containers.
If you intend to use storage for several months or years, you can expect additional seasonal changes in temperature, especially in more exposed upper level rooms. While most items will adapt to these gradual fluctuations, you might want to choose a ground floor room for extra temperature stability, especially if you’re storing items such as wine, art, antiques, musical instruments or electrical goods.
Why climate controlled storage isn`t always practical
The earlier you start your search for climate controlled storage the better because these facilities are few and far between. They are often located in cities where they can target customers with niche storage needs. When comparing prices, you will need to factor in local pricing variations as well as the cumulative cost of driving to and from the facility.
Climate control systems consume a lot of energy, so in addition to the base unit prices, these facilities usually add a premium for climate control, often between 20% and 50% of rental costs. These systems also use considerable energy, which not only increases costs but has a wider environmental impact.
Prioritise secure, flexible and cost-effective storage
The majority of reputable indoor storage providers are clean, secure and well-maintained and offer light, dry and airy storage rooms.
Unless you need to store highly temperature sensitive items, such as fine art collections or specialist antiques, you’ll get the best results by focusing on finding a storage company that offers robust security, flexible contracts and a variety of room sizes to suit your needs.
If you’d like to see what modern indoor storage can offer, we’d be happy to show you around – just get in touch.with the team at Indoor Self Storage Totnes or Dartmouth.
