How to Keep Moisture out of Storage Unit

Did you know that there is an optimal level of humidity for every room? This so-called relative humidity should be between 30% and 50%. This way, you are getting a room that’s comfortable to live in, but also safe from moisture, mold, and mildew. However, the trouble often happens when you try to keep this moisture level at its optimal. This is hard to do, and thus mold is often hard to fight against. This is an even bigger worry in storage units. Oftentimes you will leave your items and come back to check up on them from time to time. If you are not careful, mold and mildew can appear with ease. Then, it’s only a matter of time before all your stuff goes to ruin. Lucky for you, Brooklyn Movers are here to show you how to prevent moisture in your storage unit.

Make sure you know the humidity levels

The first important step in your fight to prevent moisture in your storage unit is to measure the humidity levels on a regular basis. This should give you a clear picture of what you need to do next. If the levels are getting over 50%, then you need to find a way to lower it. You might also need to take a better look at the unit and discover the cause. If you run into the mold, then calling professionals to deal with it would be the best course of action. Conversely, you will need to boost the humidity if the levels are dropping below 30%.

There are two ways in which you can check the humidity levels. First, you can get professionals to test that for you. The second way is to install a humidity gauge within the storage unit – or get a unit with it from Bronx movers. You should consider both options since they have their advantages and disadvantages – and both can cost you as well.

Prevent moisture in your storage unit by inspecting it

One of the best ways in which you can prevent mildew and mold in your storage is to inspect it for leaks. You can do this if you notice that the relative humidity levels are high, but it’s also a good idea to do it regularly anyway. This is especially true f you have outdoor storage. Make sure there are no cracks or holes there. If water is coming into your storage, it will be through there. Give extra attention to the details. Sometimes, a crack can be tiny – but the consequences of it can be huge.

Of course, just like with anything, make sure you check on your storage unit often, too. Sometimes the weather conditions can get quite bad, and damage the unit in a way that cracks appear. So, make it a habit to visit your storage regularly even if you are storing your goods for a longer time.

Be careful when choosing a unit

Of course, one of the best ways to prevent moisture in your storage unit is to just choose a good storage unit. This might seem simple enough, but of course – it often isn’t. Finding just the right storage unit, of the size you need and close enough to you might be easy, but if you add a high-quality and moisture-resistant requirement, things can take a turn. However, try to give it an extra mile and find the perfect storage for you. It may cost a bit more, but it will save you from a lot of trouble and stress in the long run.

Keep things dry to prevent moisture in your storage unit

Another great thing you can do to help keep the moisture levels at optimal in your storage unit is to – of course – keep everything dry. However, there is a thing to note here. You should try and have items completely, 100% dry and ready for storage. There should be no exception to this rule. If you store even one item that’s damp, it can turn your whole storage unit into ruin.

This is because one item, no matter how slightly wet it is, lets mold and mildew create with ease. From there, it will not take long for it to spread to other items, and completely damage them. In order to stop this, and to prevent moisture in your storage unit, dry everything off before you use storage services. Make sure that there is not even a trace of moisture. Make sure you pay extra attention if you are storing water gear like swimsuits and surfboards!

Use desiccants

The final thing you can do is to use a desiccant. These are the materials that can and do absorb moisture, and you can even make some by yourself! The most common example of this is the silica gel, which repels waters amazingly. Even better, you don’t need to make it! You can buy silica gel desiccant in most hardware stores.

A more natural way to prevent moisture in your storage unit is by using charcoal. This is a great alternative to silica gel that not many people know about. The briquettes can absorb huge amounts of moisture with ease. What’s more, they will remove the unpleasant odors as well! All you need to do is wrap them up in fabric and sew the fabric so you make a little bag. Then, all you need to do is hang the bag from the ceiling of the storage unit. However, unlike silica which you can try in the oven, you need to replace charcoal every two months.