Whether you are moving to southern Arizona or you are a student in southern Arizona and need to put your belongings in storage for the summer, you may be curious about your self-storage options. While you will likely find many self-storage centers in your area, it is important to take the heat into consideration when you rent your unit. These tips will help you choose the right unit and keep your belongings safe from high summer temperatures and flooding during monsoon season.
Consider Climate Control
Your best option when searching for a storage unit in Southern Arizona is to find a climate-controlled unit. While humidity is not much of an issue in the desert, the extreme temperatures in the summer can be. A climate-controlled unit will allow you to safely store a larger range of items, including delicate clothes, papers and books, leather, and electronics. If you are looking for short-term storage or are mainly storing plastic furniture and appliances without computers, then you may be able to get away with a standard unit, but for long-term storage of a variety of items, climate control is imperative.
Don't Underestimate How Strong the Heat Can Be
If you do not opt for a climate-controlled unit, then be careful not to underestimate how strong the heat can be. During July, the average high temperature in Tucson is 101 degrees Fahrenheit. In an enclosed storage area, especially one without much insulation, the temperature can get significantly higher. This can cause fabric, paper, and leather to become brittle. Soft plastics may begin to lose their shapes, and canned food can spoil.
If you are renting a short-term storage unit, check the forecast for the highs and make sure you do not have anything in your unit that extreme heat can damage.
Make Sure the Facility Is Ready for Monsoon Season
Towards the end of summer, southern Arizona experiences its monsoon season, during which there are downpours of rain for a short period during the late afternoon on most days. During monsoon season, there are often flash floods, especially in areas that feature a lot of pavement or concrete. Storage centers make an ideal place for flash flooding since they are often uncovered and paved and feature narrow roads for the water to run quickly through.
Make sure that your storage center has adequate drainage to deal with monsoon season and/or that the units are lifted above ground. Also, make sure there are no vents near the floor of your unit where water could enter during a monsoon storm and that the ceiling is well sealed.
Look for Facilities with Extended Hours
During the day, you may find that going to your storage unit to load or unload items or sort through your belongings is difficult due to extreme temperatures. It is important to opt for a storage center that will allow you to access your unit during the early morning or late evening hours when the weather is cool enough to allow you to complete physical labor without putting yourself at risk for heat exhaustion.
Bring Gloves to Unlock Your Unit
If the door to your unit is in direct sunlight, it can become extremely hot to touch. Just like car steering wheels during the summer, the lock on your unit and the unit's door handle may be uncomfortable to touch and may even cause slight burns. To avoid an uncomfortable situation when you go to open your unit, make sure to bring gloves with you. If you have summer driving gloves, these will work. Otherwise, a simple pair of gardening gloves will allow you to unlock and open your unit quickly and without risk.
Now that you have these tips, contact storage facilities like Sentry Mini-Storage Inc and ask them about the features of their units.
Share12 May 2016
After I realized that my finances had hit an all-time low, I started looking into my accounts. I realized that one of my biggest bills was my monthly storage unit since I was renting a large unit. To save some money, I decided to talk with a storage unit manager to see what I could do. They were able to give me some great tips, and I was able to transfer to a smaller unit. This blog is all about lowering your storage unit bill so that you can get a handle on your finances. With a little research, you can free up some of your cash flow.