Avoid Water Damage to Stored Items

Water damage is an important thing to consider before putting items in a . As it can be weeks or months before someone looks at the items in a storage unit, even a small water problem can be devastating. There are several ways that water can get into a storage unit. Flooding is the most obvious way that water can get in to a storage unit. However, areas that are at risk of flooding are not so obvious. Many area which look unlikely to flood are actually in a flood plain. Information on the location of flood plains is often available by doing a public record search or contacting the county assessor's office. Some maps are even posted online. Additionally, damage from a leaky roof or a leaky pipe can do a lot of damage if it is not noticed for days or weeks.



It is very difficult to repair items that have been damaged by a flood. Electronic items can be permanently ruined. Wood items can be very discolored, or warped to the point that sanding would do no good. For this reason, it is important to find out what kind of insurance the facility is covered by. However, it is important to realize that many times this insurance will cover the unit itself, but not items inside this unit. It may be necessary to take out an insurance policy to cover items in storage. Before doing this, an owner should check their homeowners policy to see if items may be covered under that. Even if they are not, it may be possible to add a rider that would provide additional protection for items in storage. Beyond insurance and the replacement values, some items are irreplaceable if damaged by water. Special items of clothing, such as a wedding dress or christening gown, may be permanently ruined by water. Important documents (such as contracts or titles) are useless if waterlogged.



Beyond water damage, there are other things that can damage items in a . Fire, pests, rodents, and theft are potential dangers. Because of this, a must be researched before items are put there in storage.