Is Your Storage Unit Actually Secure?

Packing away your items in a separate storage unit can be a great way to de-clutter your home without having to get rid of important personal belongings. However, these items are of great importance. That means you must find a secure self-storage unit to fit your needs and keep these items safe. Clifton Rt. 46 Storage offers storage facilities designed to protect your belongings, giving customers peace of mind that their items are secure. Here, we talk about the different ways you can tell if a storage unit is actually secure.

Look for Signs of Structural Issues

When a storage unit has structural issues, like buckling walls or leaking roofs, this can leave your belongings susceptible to damage. Structurally sound units keep your items dry and safe from the elements. However, if a building has leaks in the roof or damages or cracks to the siding, rainwater, snow, groundwater, and other elements can easily leak in. That can wreak havoc on your personal belongings.

Additionally, poor structure on a storage unit can indicate that your items may not be safe from others. That is because cracks and damages can be a sign that your unit is easy to break into. That means poorly structured storage units can be more susceptible to theft, break-ins, and other circumstances. Ensuring your storage unit has a quality structure during a site tour can avoid damage to your items and furniture. It can also help to protect items from theft.

Review Current Security Measures

In many cases, storage facilities often hold many units within one building or area. That means facilities are responsible for holding thousands of items on their property. Storage facilities must have the right security measures in place to keep items protected.

When browsing for secure storage units, it can be beneficial to look for one with ample lighting throughout the space. If your unit is located inside a larger building, there should be lighting throughout the hallways and inside the units. If your unit is located outside, there should be street lighting throughout the property to keep areas well-lit. Areas with lighting can deter potential burglars, which can further protect your items. Additionally, renting storage facilities with other safety measures, like video camera systems and access codes to units, can give you further peace of mind that your items are safe.

Seek Out Professionalism

When something goes wrong with your storage unit, you want to know that the storage company you hired is reliable and professional. That way, you can have issues handled quickly and promptly. Dealing with theft or damage of personal items can be stressful to begin with. Having a team of professionals who have your back during these times can make the problem-solving process much more convenient. Clifton Rt. 46 Storage lives up to this expectation, having been around longer than other storage facilities in the area. We are a family-owned business, meaning customers can receive the utmost care in the handling of their personal items.

Secure Self-Storage at Clifton Rt. 46 Storage

Clifton Rt. 46 Storage is here for customers looking for safe, secure storage near Clifton, New Jersey. We are a larger storage facility, holding many drive-up units, among other types. That makes it easy to travel with and store important items. Because we are family-owned, we can deliver consistent, reliable rates for our units. That means customers in the area can rely on us for their storage needs. To learn more about our secure self-storage units, contact us today.

Why Not to Keep Food in a Storage Unit

Can you store food in your storage unit? Your Clifton Rt. 46 Self Storage unit is meant to make your life easier.  You can use it to safely keep or reserve items to use during emergencies, or fulfill a current or future need. However, with uncertainties such as a global health pandemic or food shortages, many people are concerned about stocking foods in their storage units, without knowing the risks involved.

Clifton Rt. 46 Self Storage is the go-to self-storage provider serving Clifton, NJ, and the surrounding area. You will always find a storage unit that meets your requirements, whether you need seasonal storage, business storage, or storage during home remodeling, decluttering, selling, or moving temporarily. Here, we discuss the basics of keeping food in a storage unit.

Reasons You Shouldn't Keep Food in a Storage Unit

Here is why storage unit owners don't advise storing food in a storage unit:

Possible Food Poisoning

Bacteria from incorrectly stored foods can cause food poisoning. Unfortunately, food contaminated with bacteria such as staphylococcus may appear, taste, and smell as usual. Unsafe food storage practices–such as keeping foods in storage units–can cause food poisoning bacteria to multiply to dangerous levels.

Food poisoning bacteria thrive and multiply quickest in the temperature danger zones between 5 °C and 60 °C. Storage facilities offering temperature-controlled storage units usually guarantee that the temperature inside these units is maintained within a strict range, usually 12 °C-30 °C. As such, bacteria can still thrive in storage units, making stored food items a health hazard.

Pest Infestations

Bringing foods into storage units opens up a unit to all sorts of unwanted pests. Ants, mice, and other types of unwanted bugs and critters will be drawn to the food inside your storage unit.

Gradually, unwanted pests will infest your storage unit. This infestation can also spread to adjacent units, causing an unpleasant and unsafe situation. Pests can cause severe damage to your stored belongings.

Besides chewing through your stored foods and belongings, pests like mice can leave their bacteria-filled droppings all over your items. As such, even when you don't find any major signs of a pest infestation, you still get exposed to diseases.

Possible Food Expiration

Foods with shorter shelf lives can expire quickly if not refrigerated. Storing foods in storage units does the complete opposite of refrigeration and exposes your food to high temperatures. High temperatures speed up food expiration, besides creating a proper breeding and living environment for bacteria.

Mold and Mildew Growth

Foods that easily attract or retain moisture are susceptible to mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew can grow on your belongings and infect your foods, causing a health hazard.

Odors

The longer you store perishable foods in your storage unit, the more they spoil. Spoiled foods develop a strong odor, which is made worse by the lack of proper ventilation. Odors from spoiled foods can cling to clothing, furniture, and other fabrics. These smells can render these items unusable because they are quite hard to remove.

Is There an Exception to Storing Food in a Storage Unit?

Storing foods in storage containers is generally unacceptable. However, there are a few exceptions to the rule.

Canned Foods Can Survive Storage

Canned foods are a staple for most households since they can last longer. If stored in extremely high temperatures, foods can spoil prematurely. Fortunately, most storage units' temperatures can allow canned foods. Ensure the canned foods are tightly and securely sealed before storage. In most instances, the storage unit owner is responsible for such storage conditions.

Grains and Spices Can Be Allowed Under Special Circumstances

Airtight storage containers are the only acceptable form for grain storage. Temperature is also a key consideration when storing grains, and temperature-controlled storage units can help store your grains, albeit for a limited time.

In addition, dried spices stored in airtight containers can last for an extended period in your storage unit. However, temperature also comes into play, meaning you should avoid storing in high-temperature storage units.

Find Reliable Storage at Clifton Rt. 46 Self Storage

Storage units provide the convenience of extra space to store your household or office items. You can store almost anything in a storage unit, from electronics to artwork, books, furniture, boxes, and vehicles.

However, most storage unit companies have restrictions against food storage. While the idea might be appealing, storing foods in storage units exposes you to health hazards, pest infestations, odors, etc.

Are you looking for a storage unit facility? Clifton Rt. 46 Self Storage is a reliable, family-owned storage company serving Clifton, NJ, and the surrounding area.  Our storage units are designed with state-of-the-art features, such as keypad code entry, video surveillance, and differently-sized storage units. Contact us to book your self-storage unit today.