Putting Electronics In Storage? Keep Them Clean And Safe
Electronics such as computers, televisions, video consoles, and entertainment systems can take up a lot of space. If you're moving to a smaller place or simply need enough room and aren't interesting in selling, a self storage unit is a great next choice. There are a few preparation steps to consider before setting everything down in a storage room and walking away, and a few of these points can help you make sure your belongings are in the same shape they were when you left--give or take a few specks of dust.
Air Quality Control
When selecting a storage unit for electronics, dust and humidity are your enemies.
Dust causes excessive heat inside many electronics--especially in desktops, laptops, and video game consoles--and are hard to clean out without dismantling the electronics or paying a professional. Humidity leads to corrosion, which is a much bigger and harder problem to repair problem because of the need to physically replace printed-on traces made of metal.
To control these problems, the basic feature of any storage facility you choose should be an air conditioner. Air conditioning units have a basic level of air filtering needed to keep the device working, as well as a passive humidity-reducing effect.
Dust control is further improved with better filters, although you'll need to bring up a request for a better filter with the staff in some cases. There's no arbitrarily "best" solution to constantly demand; unless the storage facility specifically specifies sanitized rooms free of contaminants at a surgical room level, the most realistic request would be for a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
Security Features For Your Budget
Electronics are valuable belongings, and you need to scale the value of your belongings against the security features and the cost of the facility.
In most cases, you don't need professional, ex-government security guards and biometrics on every entryway.
The most basic form of security would be security cameras, and you should check the security camera quality thoroughly. Visit on a specific day and time unannounced, walk in front of the cameras, and leave. Ask to see security footage an hour or a day later to confirm that the cameras are actually recording. It's not uncommon for businesses to have fake or disconnected cameras for deterrent purposes while saving electricity by not operating the cameras.
Security guards aren't uncommon for storage facilities, but know that their salary factors into cost. At the basic level, confirm that security personnel patrol the facility and are present at night hours. A step up would be a security team that monitors or at least knows how to check and maintain the surveillance system.
Contact a self storage unit facility to discuss other features that are valuable for electronics storage. For more information, contact companies like Security Self Storage.
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