Gadget enthusiasts and small businesses downsizing with a lot of equipment on hand may consider self storage for all those computers, printers and peripherals. Unfortunately, if you're not careful, you may end up with a dusty and corroded mess when you return to the stored equipment. Take a look at a few things to consider when choosing a storage facility, and what to do if the best facility option still needs a bit of preparation.

Features That Are Great For Electronics

When keeping electronics in storage, the idea is to reduce dust buildup, block out pests and keep humidity low. In almost every situation, an air conditioning storage space is the best choice. Unfortunately, distance or cost may be an issue for some storage facility shoppers. If there isn't a convenient self storage facility within your price range, it's time to inspect the facility closer to make it work.

With any storage facility, inspect the structure thoroughly. Look for any cracks or areas where water or insects could get it. It can be hard to find hairline cracks or minuscule boreholes when dealing with an indoor facility, since it's harder to compare light leaks or temperature differences that could be a giveaway of problems with outdoor storage units.

If you can't find any leaks, it's time to add a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers work by removing the moisture from the air, but the strength needed from the dehumidifier depends on the size of the storage facility. With bigger storage units, the humidifier will only partially dry out the air, which may or may not be good enough for your equipment. There's no specific humidity ratings that's safe unless your electronics manufacturers have the information available for you, so it may be worth contacting the manufacturers for advice.

Storage Bins For Added Protection

If humidity and dust can't be completely controlled, consider putting the equipment in bins. You could invest in airtight bins at higher prices, but if the storage facility doesn't have any leaks and seems reasonably dry, any storage bin that isn't cardboard or porous to the point of allowing in moisture can be useful.

The issue is that you'll need a lot of bins depending on how many electronics you need to store, and some larger electronics may not be able to fit in smaller, more affordable storage bins. If you're investing a lot in storage bins, be sure to compare that cost against the cost of a storage facility with the temperature controls and protections that could take their place.

Nothing lasts forever, and if you plan on moving the bins and picking out electronics on a regular basis, replacement can get expensive. Contact a self storage facility, like LoDo Self Storage & Moving Center, to discuss available services and suggestions for protecting your goods.