When you don't have room to store some of your belongings at home, a storage unit offers both convenience and security. Standard unheated units are acceptable for storing some items, but there are certain materials that can break, degrade, or otherwise be damaged when exposed to extreme or fluctuating temperatures. Here are a few belongings you should only store in a heated space.

What Items Need Heated Storage?

1. Wood

When wood grows hot, it expands, but when it is exposed to extreme cold, it will shrink. Both of these situations can lead to cracks and peeling paint. With musical instruments, these effects distort delicate pieces like keys, hammers, and strings, ruining their musical abilities. Older wooden antiques and instruments are especially susceptible to these changes, but even new furniture and decorations could be at risk if stored in a unit without temperature control.

2. Leather

Leather ages naturally over time, but temperature fluctuations can accelerate this aging process and cause it to deteriorate faster. Cold may also make the material more brittle and prone to damage, so avoid storing furniture and items made with leather where they will be exposed to extreme cold for long periods.

3. Artwork

Frigid temperatures can cause acrylic paint to act like glass, making it extremely fragile and prone to cracking. Canvas will expand and contract in fluctuating temperatures, leading to more cracks and warped material. In general, any valuable items should only be kept in a space with a constant, average temperature, but fragile art pieces especially require this extra care.

If you need a heated and affordable self-storage solution for your valuables, turn to Arctic Storage at Midtown. Serving Downtown, Northern, and North Eastern Anchorage, AK, since 1977, this facility offers both personal and commercial storage units to keep all your belongings safe. They also have locations in Foothills and Park Layne. Visit them online or call (907) 563-3342 to learn more about their unit sizes and free moving truck services.