When storage company owners build their multi-unit facilities, they have the option of insulating the units or not insulating the units when the units are located outside. If you are not sure whether your storage unit is insulated or uninsulated, you only have to look at the walls inside your unit. The uninsulated units typically have bare stud walls with open spaces between the studs where the insulation would go, while the insulated units have lumber nailed over the tops of the studs to hold the insulation in place. You may have a preference for one type of unit over another based on the following benefits.
Insulated Storage Units Protect Your Items Against Extreme Cold
If you are looking to protect your items from extreme cold but you do not want the expense of a temperature-controlled storage unit, then an insulated unit is your best bet. Ask your storage unit manager what level of insulation is in the walls in the units. An R-19 or higher is all that is really needed, but R-29 is the same grade of insulation typically used to insulate houses. If the storage units have R-19 or higher, then your belongings are protected against the cold.
Insulated Units Provide a Little Extra Protection Against Outdoor Pests
Even though outdoor animal and insect pests are rarely found in storage units, you may prefer an insulated unit to an uninsulated unit because of the added protection against pests. In the event that a neighboring unit is overrun with insect pests because somebody is illegally using the unit to store dry goods or food, the insulated walls in the units provide an excellent barrier. Insect pests are less likely to chew through rolled, layered or foam-sprayed fiberglass insulation and two walls' worth of wood, thus preventing them from entering your unit (or at least slowing them down significantly). If you should see a renter stockpiling food goods in the same building as your unit, you should report him or her to the proprietor, because it is not allowed.
Uninsulated Units Provide a Little Extra Storage
If you have a lot of flat, square and/or rectangular items in storage, then you might prefer the uninsulated storage units instead. The space between the studs in the walls of these storage units lends itself nicely to storing square or rectangular items, and keeps the items out of the way of anything larger or bulkier that you store on the floor. If the units also have braces built in between the studs, the braces can act as little shelves for knick-knacks and figurines that you do not want to store in any heavy box, or you may be able to use two braces that face opposite of each other as supports for a plank shelf. When the overhead space in your uninsulated storage unit is open to the rafters, you may also be able to stack your boxes or storage containers a little higher than if there was an established ceiling.
For more information, visit a website like http://www.storageinphila.com.
