Before you rent a heated storage unit to use for storing your antique furniture, there are several things you should find out. All heated self-storage units are not equal, and when you plan on storing valuable antique items in a unit, you will want to know for sure that your belongings will be safe and protected. Here are three questions you may want to ask before signing the contract.

What temperature will the unit be?

This is a big question to ask because antique furniture could easily become damaged if the temperature is not right. Some heated storage unit facilities only offer minor amounts of heat and cooling. They may keep the units slightly above freezing in the winter, and they may set the thermostat to around 85 degrees in the summer. While this is better than nothing, it is not the ideal environment for antiques.

Other facilities might offer more temperature control than this though. They may keep the units 40 or 50 degrees in the winter and 80 in the summer. The more control the storage facility offers, the better off your belongings will be.

Is the humidity level monitored?

In addition to monitoring the temperature, you may want to find out if the facility offers humidity control. Humidity can be damaging to wood furniture and to other things, but it is not always something a storage facility controls.

The ideal humidity level for furniture and other valuable belongings is at 55 percent. If a facility tells you they offer humidity control, you may want to ask how this is done. The best way is through a dehumidifier, which is a device that pulls moisture out of the air. For dry seasons, putting moisture into the air might be necessary, and this is often done with a humidifier.

What protection is there from pests?

Pests are not as likely to enter into buildings that have consistent temperatures, and that is why most climate-controlled units are safer for storing belongings than non-temperature controlled units. You may want to ask the manager whether they take any other steps to keep bugs and rodents out of the units. Some facilities may have regular pest control services for this purpose, while others may not.

If you would like to find out the answers to these questions or look at a unit to rent, contact a company that offers heated self-storage units in your area.