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Winter is coming soon. Soon, it will be time to put away your beach gear, your ATV, and your patio furniture and instead pull out your seasonal holiday decorations from your storage unit, which you keep in your house. This is a great time to make sure your storage unit is ready for the cold weather that is coming. In case you didn’t know, each season has a different way to store things. People have to deal with heat and humidity all summer long. Winter? The cold and water are your main enemies. In this guide, our storage experts at Divine Moving & Storage share their tips for properly preparing your storage for cold weather. Make sure your things stay in good shape this holiday season with this guide.
Winterization 101: Tips for preparing your storage for cold weather
A traditional storage unit is the best choice for your back, wallet, and gas tank. It could be that you already have one, or that you’re helping a friend with theirs. As Game of Thrones fans say, “Winter is coming,” and you need to get your storage unit ready. Proper winterization will help your unit and the things inside it stay in good shape during the harshest part of the year, which is winter. Here are some tips to help you start with your preparation.
Consider Purchasing a Weatherproof Lock
As a first step, think about how good your storage unit’s lock is when you’re not at home. Many storage units will give you (or sell you) a lock when you buy your first month of storage. It’s likely that all of these locks will be able to lock up your unit when it’s 75 degrees outside, but that’s not always true when the temperature starts to fall. Some locks can’t stand the cold. Some can freeze and become unusable, making them useless.
You don’t want to try to fit a key into a lock that’s frozen. This is bad for your lock, your key, your unit, and everything inside. If you live in an area that gets cold winter weather, buy a lock that can withstand the cold. These all-weather locks are only a little more expensive than regular locks, but they will save you a lot of time and trouble in the colder months. Whenever you reserve a storage unit at Manhattan storage for the first time, make sure that lock is weatherproof.
Know which items in your storage unit are most likely to freeze in cold weather
The best way to know how to winterize your storage unit is to know which items are the most likely to freeze. It also means that you know how to store those things the right way. In this section, we talk about both of these things for some of the most common things that people put away.
1. Delicate items of memorabilia
Among the things in your storage unit that you probably already know, many of them are very fragile and valuable. They are also the most sensitive to cold weather. Things like trading cards, documents, old photos, and vinyl records should all be wrapped in plastic and sealed tightly. They should also be stored in a safe place. A humidifier will help keep the moisture out, which will stop the freezing that causes cracks in the walls, tears, and other damage. If you know that you won’t have enough space in your car, take advantage of 24-hour storage Manhattan so that you don’t stress on your moving day.
2. Things that have liquid in them
People who learned about physics in middle school might have remembered that liquids expand when they go from being liquids to being solids. It doesn’t matter whether you have a lot of snow globes, some old lava lamps, or a lot of different kinds of drinks that need a place to stay. You’ll need to be careful about how you store things with liquids in them. Cover these things well. The blankets, old clothes, or other materials that make good insulation should be thick enough to cover them well. Make sure that these liquid-based items are cushioned and insulated with this step. It also acts as a barrier to keep your other things dry in the event of an accident.
3. Vehicles (With Liquid)
This is just like when you don’t use pipes in the winter. Before you store your vehicles that run on gasoline or another liquid in your storage unit, they need to be flushed out. Do this whether you’re putting your ATVs into storage or your lawnmowers into storage and make sure they’re completely dry before you put them away. They have a much greater chance of cracking because of the expanding liquid in the cars that haven’t been flushed well. Make sure you know how to flush your recreational vehicles on your own, or you can take them to a shop to have it done for you. You can take a look at the 5 benefits of storage rental in NYC and pick the best storage type for you. We at Divine Moving and Storage have it all.
4. Electronics and things that use batteries
Many people don’t know that battery cells have liquid inside of them. This liquid can also expand and crack the battery, which can make it not work (and possibly even crack the entire apparatus that contains the battery). These things need to be stored in a way that is safe for them. If the batteries can be easily removed, take them out and store them in a well-insulated part of your unit. As even if some of your electronic devices do not run on battery power, it’s critical that you put them away properly for the winter. This way, they don’t get water inside of them and lose years of their lives or break completely. If you can, keep your electronics in their original boxes.
5. Wooden furniture
Use plastic wrap or a blanket to cover your wooden furniture. Make sure it isn’t too wet. When it’s cold outside, mold and mildew won’t grow. This is a crucial step when preparing your storage for cold weather. Don’t forget to get covers for your furniture. When you’re choosing a moving and storage company, make sure that they are recognized by the Better Business Bureau. So that you avoid the scammers.