Do You Need Temperature-Controlled Storage in Minnesota?

Temperature-controlled storage prevents damage arising from temperature extremes. While you may not need cold storage, temperature-controlled storage offers additional protection if you need to store inventory, equipment or tools before shipment or sale. Here are six types of items that can benefit from temperature-controlled storage in Minnesota:

• Electronics: Today’s devices are very sensitive to temperature extremes. Batteries often drain quickly after exposure to cold winter temperatures, and humidity never does them any favors either. Anytime you need to put these items in storage for the long term or an undetermined amount of time, you should find a temperature-controlled environment. Otherwise, you risk finding they no longer function after you remove them from storage.
• Antiques: Wood furniture is already vulnerable to temperature extremes and humidity because it can crack, warp or even rot. This goes double if you need to store pieces that date from the mid-century or earlier. In addition to furniture, art, stamps, coins, and photographs can also deteriorate without temperature control. These items cannot withstand severe conditions anyway, but that becomes more serious if they are older. Investing in temperature control can maintain your inventory and prevent loss.
• Appliances: It is easy to assume that since home appliances take a beating every day, they can also survive storage. Since Minnesota faces temperature extremes, it is a good idea to put these items in temperature-controlled storage. Washers, dryers, ovens and microwaves contain electronic and mechanical parts that can corrode without temperature control. Worse, they can even become breeding grounds for mold, which can cause trouble for you if you sell appliances for a living. You do not want to store excess inventory only to find it is all compromised right before you start a big sale. Temperature control is the only way your appliance inventory remains in new condition.
• Wine: If you run a wine shop or restaurant, you need to store wine in constant temperatures away from direct sunlight. Sudden fluctuation in environmental temperature changes the character of wine and gives it a metallic taste that is unlikely to appeal to patrons. If your wine shop, bar or restaurant needs extra storage for wine, consider temperature control to preserve its quality.
• Musical instruments: There is no compromise on this one. Even if they are only stored for the short term, musical instruments require temperature control. Stringed instruments are especially vulnerable, as extreme developments can snap strings. This includes pianos as well, which are a hybrid percussion and string instrument. The standard offered by music experts is to never store an instrument somewhere you would not be comfortable sleeping. Temperature-controlled storage units are much preferred to ones that lack climate control.
• Clothing: This is often a surprising addition to this list because clothes go through heavy use and laundry. It would seem like they could handle an environment that is not climate controlled. However, rapidly fluctuating temperatures produce humidity that leads to mold and mildew. If you sell used or new clothing, keep excess inventory in temperature-controlled storage.

At K-Way Express, Inc., our warehousing solutions also include temperature-controlled storage in Minnesota. To ask about rates or reserve space, call us today.