26 October 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Moisture damage is one of the main things that people worry about when it comes to using storage units. This is mainly because of the devastating effect that moisture can have on valuables such as paintings, pictures, electronics, mattresses, furniture, and clothing. The fact that it also encourages termite infestations, corrosion, mold attacks, and mildew growth only serves to make it a priority as far as taking preventative measures is concerned. The following are storage unit tips that will come in handy in helping to keep your storage unit moisture-free.

Keep damp items away from your storage unit

The moisture that is contained in damp clothing usually evaporates. When it does, it increases the overall humidity of the storage unit. This increase in humidity levels usually exposes items such as paintings to damage. It also encourages mold growth, something that may end up damaging your furniture.

Keeping damp clothes away from your storage unit is an easy way of preventing against this humidity change. If you have damp belongings, dry them before storing them in the unit. The same should also be done for often-wet equipment such as wet suits, scuba gear, and surfboards. Doing so will go a long way towards ensuring that you have a stress-free storage experience.

Use a vapor barrier

If the storage facility that you are using is located in a highly humid area, shielding your storage unit from the external environment is a good idea. Investing in a vapor barrier will help to protect your storage unit from highly humid air, something that will then help to preserve your unit's just-right humidity.

Vapor barriers usually come in handy especially when using other methods of humidity control such as the use of desiccant packs, charcoal or humidifiers. This is because the vapor barrier will contain the storage unit's air, making sure that any gains made as far as humidity reduction is concerned are not lost as a result of the controlled air escaping or as a result of intrusions by more-humid air. They therefore help in guaranteeing a moisture-free environment for your items.

Cover your belongings

Covering your belongings with an impermeable material is an easy way of protecting against unplanned-for events such as roof leaks. However, covering valuables such as furniture with a plastic sheet can actually cause moisture damage. When covering moisture sensitive items, it is always advisable that you use blankets before using the plastic sheet. Using a blanket will help to absorb any moisture that may form due to condensation, something that will go a long way towards protecting your furniture from moisture damage.