Storing items during a winter relocation

There are many reasons why you want to relocate in the winter. The first and foremost is the amount of money you can save on the relocation itself, due to favorable prices in the winter. Or perhaps you simply like the colder weather for your relocation. Regardless, the fact of the matter is that you will most likely need to be storing items during a winter relocation. And for this, you will most likely need a climate-controlled storage unit. Your moving company can help you with this. For Fort Worth storage, you will need apartment movers Fort Worth, for example. In any case, you need to know what to expect from these storage units. We will also provide you with some examples that involve winter storage. So, let’s begin with:

Storing items during a winter relocation – tips and tricks

The two most important tips that we can give you when it comes to winter storage are:

• Cover your items
• Get a climate-controlled storage unit

Cover your items

Your items need to have maximum protection in winter conditions. Even if you are storing them in other conditions, covering them is always a great idea. It will neutralize the effect that dust can have on your items, as well as anything else that might come in contact with your items. So, don’t leave anything to chance, make sure to cover all of your valuable items that are in storage.

Get a climate-controlled storage unit

Depending on what you are storing, a climate-controlled unit can be a real blessing. If you are storing items that simply cannot be ruined in cold and moist conditions then you don’t have to worry. However, most of the items that we want to store are quite vulnerable to the elements and moisture. The only real way to ensure that your items are well-protected is to place them in these climate-controlled units. All moving companies in Lewisville TX can tell you the same. Sure, this kind of storage unit is a bit more expensive than the regular, non-climate-controlled, one but they do the job of protecting your items way better. There is simply no replacement for these storage units when it comes to keeping your items safe.

Many items, such as paintings or electronics will do quite poorly in cold and moist storage units. And unless the storage is brand new, water somehow always finds a way to trickle in, if just for a bit. You can never know for sure that your storage unit is perfectly safe if it is not climate-controlled. Even if you do choose to place your stuff in this type of storage, you need to know that it is not perfect, either. Accidents can always happen so it is best that you do your part in covering and protecting your items, as well, just in case.

Examples

Here are some examples of everyday items that you may be planning on sending to storage. There are many items to choose from but we feel that these are the ones that are most commonly found in storage units, come winter. So, here are some of the basic examples of storing items during a winter relocation:

• Bicycle
• Vehicle
• Electronics
• Small Engine Equipment

Bicycle

When it comes to the bicycle, most of them are in storage units in winter. Most of us simply do not use our bicycles in the winter, due to weather. If you want to make sure that your bike is in storage with maximum protection, here is what you need to do:

Make sure that both of the tires are inflated and that your bike is in an upside-down position. Rest it on the handles and the seat. The goal here is to put as little pressure as possible on the tires themselves. You will also prevent any possible damage to the rims. You also need to make sure that all the cables, brakes, chains and everything else that requires lubrication have plenty of it before you move it into storage. Moisture can cause a lot of damage too. Therefore,  you should prevent moisture in your storage unit if you want to protect your bicycle.

Vehicles

When it comes to storing your summer vehicles, such as dirt bikes or even convertibles you want to pay special attention. These “toys” are rather expensive and if they get ruined, it will cost you quite a bit to get them up to speed. Make sure to empty the gas tank first. Change the oil. Remove all of the batteries and fluids from the cooling devices in your vehicle. Also, make sure to cover it with something like a blanket or a tarp. Steer away from anything plastic because it can get moist and you don’t want that.

Electronics

Electronics are susceptible to temperature changes. They can easily simply stop working under such influences. The most important tip, when it comes to storing them, is not to store them on the ground. The ground, even in a climate-controlled unit, is quite a bit colder than everywhere else. If you have original boxes for your electronics, definitely use those as they are built with storage in mind.

Small Engine Equipment

Finally, small engine equipment requires quite a bit of preparing before you can place it in winter storage. Proper maintenance is the key to these items and placing them in storage is similar to maintaining. First of all, make sure to use up all the fuel in the engine. This is really important as old fuel can seriously damage some of the parts if it is storage for a long time. The oil you can leave in but make sure that it is “fresh”. You want to clean everything thoroughly, as well.

The risks of storing items during a winter relocation

There are always some risks involving winter storage. Temperature changes and humidity are the main culprits here. Obviously, climate-controlled units will minimize this risk but it will still be present, still. For this reason, make sure that you protect your belongings in the most optimal way, regardless of the type of storage unit. You can also get some additional insurance if your items are particularly valuable and/or irreplaceable.