Whether you're a downsizing business in need of temporary equipment storage or an electronics enthusiast on the move, if you plan on putting your electronics in storage for an extended period of time, you need to have the right options available. Regular upkeep can be difficult, even impossible depending on the situation, but a few secure storage features and preparation steps can keep your systems at or near the quality you left them. 

Integrity Inspection And Climate Control

A quick glance at any storage facility can give you a general idea about how clean or in tact the units may be, but you'll need to look closer in order to protect sensitive electronics. Inspect for cracks, doors that don't close properly, or ventilation issues that can lead to greater dust and infestation problems.

For every storage unit you consider, search the walls carefully for any breaks or drastic changes in temperature. Temperature changes may indicate a hairline crack or poorly-sealed weakness, which could open further as the building ages or stress is added.

Climate control is nearly mandatory when it comes to electronics, as it can reduce the amount of damaging humidity. Humidity can lead to corrosion of the metal contacts inside computers, copiers, displays and other electronics, which can cause sparking damage once the system is removed from storage and turned on after long periods of inactivity.

To verify climate control quality, turn off the lights inside the storage unit and shine a flashlight across the vents. Look for dust movement that seems to be coming from the ventilation and request a cleaning if you're not sure. A storage facility can use an air filter inside the unit to reduce any latent dust in the air for proper testing, even though eventual dust buildup is to be expected after opening the door or if the unit has been vacant for more than a few months.

Dehumidifier Use For Humid Areas

Even with climate control, if your chosen storage facility is in an area with weeks or months of high humidity at a time, moisture can still get into the facility. To protect your belongings, you'll need to understand proper dehumidifier selection and management.

In order for a dehumidifier to properly dry a storage unit, it has to be the proper size for the room. There's nothing wrong with overkill if you can't find a dehumidifier small or weak enough to be a perfect fit for the storage unit, but it's better to go overboard than to not have enough.

Dehumidifiers are rated to handle a specific square footage or meter. Anything larger than that amount will result in a gradual loss of effectiveness, meaning that the room will be less dry the bigger it is beyond the dehumidifier's power. When searching for a proper dehumidifier, ask the storage facility if they have any preferred brands/models and contact the manufacturer yourself for direct suggestions.

Contact a secure storage facility to discuss other options and storage techniques to keep your electronics ready for safe use after extended storage. 

For secure storage, contact a company such as Arctic Self Storage.