Ways To Minimize The Chances Of Water Damage In A Storage Facility
When you place your belongings into a storage unit, you expect that they will be the same condition they were in when you go to pull them out. Unfortunately though, water can be damaging to your belongings. Moisture can cause mold to form on your items, lead to discoloration, make your items smell like mildew, or cause other types of damage. Placing your items in a climate-controlled storage unit can help minimize the odds of this happening, but those units cost more. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to minimize the chances of your items becoming damaged by water while they are being stored in a storage facility. Here is how.
Check Your Unit for Signs of Leaks
When you rent a unit, you always want to inspect the unit before taking possession. This allows you to see the condition of the unit and ensure pests are not present. As you inspect the unit, look for signs of leaks. You may notice water staining on the concrete ground of the unit, or rust on the roof or ceiling of the unit. If you notice signs that there was a leak, ask the storage facility for another unit.
Install a Vapor Barrier in Your Unit
Unfortunately, water can enter your unit in many different ways. It can seep underneath the ground of your concrete floor, causing puddling. It can enter through the crack between the door and your floor if rain is falling sideways. Or your unit may develop a crack in the exterior, allowing water in. As such, installing a vapor barrier is a good idea. A vapor barrier is thin plastic sheeting that can be laid over the ground in the unit and along the walls. It is inexpensive and the plastic protects your belongings. Follow these directions to install a vapor barrier.
- Go to your local hardware or home improvement store and purchase a roll of vapor barrier and sheathing tape. This product may also go by the name of plastic sheeting or polyethylene sheeting.
- Roll the barrier out so that it covers the floor in your storage unit. Cut the barrier using scissors. Use the sheathing tape to secure the barrier in place.
- Continue this process until the floor, ceiling and walls of your unit are covered in the barrier.
If you are in a hurry to move, you may consider placing plastic tarps over your furniture or valuables to protect them from moisture, instead of using a vapor barrier. However, a tarp will not allow your belongings to breathe. This can cause fabrics and leathers to dry out, which can damage their fibers. It may take a bit more time, but a vapor barrier allows air to circulate while keeping moisture out.
Use Charcoal or Kitty Litter to Absorb Moisture in the Air
Humidity can also cause your items to become moist or wet while they are in storage. Many people feel they can't control the amount of humidity in the air and this is just an issue they will have to live with. However, placing a bag of open kitty litter in the storage unit, or a large bowl of charcoal briquettes can reduce the humidity level in your storage unit. This is because both of these products absorb moisture. However, in order for this method to remain effective, you have to replace the litter or briquettes every two to four weeks. If you fail to do so, they will eventually reach a point they can't absorb anymore moisture and fail to do their job.
You do not want to pay to store your clothes or furniture, only to notice rotting wood or mildew on your clothing when you unpack the unit. Taking the time to inspect the storage unit for signs of leaks, installing a vapor barrier and reducing humidity levels with charcoal or kitty litter will help minimize the chances of your belongings being damaged by water while being stored.
Visit the site of a storage facility near you for more information.