Standard vs Heated & Ventilated Self Storage

At most storage facilities it is great to offer convenient storage in Drive-up and heated and air-conditioned storage in Climate Controlled, but what about when you need something in between? That is where Standard or Heated/Ventilated comes in. These types of units are the “in the middle” storage. It’s offered indoors but is not temperature controlled, therefore giving you an added layer of protection from the elements but generally at a much lower cost. These storage lockers are generally on higher floor levels so a decrease in cost is also attributed to the additional steps it takes to get your unit.

Standard storage is best to think about a home which has no heat and no air conditioning. There will be vents on the outside walls which allow air flow in so the atmosphere does not become stagnant but no type of heating or cooling will be present. However, since the units are indoors there is an added layer of protection from the heat and cold, as well as the wind and dust, so the temperature should vary from the outdoor temperature.

Heated and Ventilated storage is very similar to Standard storage but with one seemingly large difference, heat is blown throughout the area during cold winter months. Unlike Climate Controlled storage which is heated to stay within an exact temperature range, Heated and Ventilated storage only has heat blown throughout it to add warmth but not to any certain degree. During the spring and summer months, the space is ventilated, just like Standard storage lockers.

When deciding what to store in Standard or Heated and Ventilated storage units most items are acceptable so it is easier for us to list what is not best to store in these types of units:

• Antiques
• Paintings and photos
• Family Heirlooms
• Musical Instruments
• Wine
• Collectibles
• Leather, Suede, and other sensitive materials

These types of items are best stored in Climate Controlled storage which we’ll cover in our next post.