An unheated storage building in Dane County tracks the weather outside, from January nights below zero to July afternoons in the high eighties with heavy humidity. Anything you put in it lives through that full range.
For a lawn mower, a truckload of lumber, or patio furniture, that is fine. For a walnut dresser, a guitar, or twelve years of business records, it is not. This is the whole decision, and it comes down to what you are storing rather than how much you want to spend.
What temperature controlled actually means here
A temperature controlled unit is heated in winter and air conditioned in summer, so the interior stays in a livable range year round.
At Springfield Storage in Dane, the minis run from six-by-seven up to nineteen-by-twenty-nine and are held to controlled temperature and humidity. The storage condominiums on the same property are insulated to R-38 in the ceilings and R-16 in the walls, and each unit is temperature controlled. Condo dues cover heat and air conditioning, with individually metered power as the only separate utility cost.
A standard unit, sometimes called an ambient unit, has no heating or cooling. It is dry, secure, and protected from weather, and it tracks the weather outside. HideAway Storage on Schwartz Road is a standard facility. Schneider Storage carries more than one unit type, so ask what is open when you call.
What a Wisconsin winter does to stored belongings
Temperature swings are harder on materials than cold alone. Wood expands and contracts until joints loosen and veneer lifts. Leather dries and cracks. Adhesives in furniture and instrument bodies fail. Batteries and electronics suffer from condensation when a cold unit warms up quickly in spring.
Humidity does the rest. Concrete floors wick moisture from the ground, and warm air moving into a cold building condenses on whatever surface it meets first, which is usually your boxes.
Store it standard
Most of what people put in storage does fine in a standard unit.
Lawn and garden equipment, hand and power tools, contractor materials, patio furniture, camping and sporting gear, plastic bins of outdoor items, metal shelving, tires, and construction supplies all tolerate the temperature range without trouble. If an item already lives in an unheated garage or shed, a standard unit is not a downgrade.
Vehicles, boats, campers, and trailers belong at OW Storage, which is set up for them with assigned parking and units that have power access for battery maintenance.
Store it temperature controlled
Choose temperature controlled for wood furniture and antiques, leather goods, musical instruments, electronics and appliances, artwork, photographs, vinyl records, mattresses and upholstery, and paper archives you actually need to be readable in five years.
Business tenants storing inventory, product samples, or client files should default to temperature controlled. The cost difference is small next to replacing a damaged pallet of goods.
Pack differently depending on which you choose
In a standard unit
Get everything off the concrete. Wooden pallets or raised plastic decking under boxes and furniture allow airflow and keep cardboard away from floor moisture.
Cover wood and upholstered items with moving blankets or breathable cotton rather than plastic sheeting, which traps moisture against the surface and grows mildew. Silica gel packets inside sealed plastic bins help with localized humidity. Use plastic totes instead of cardboard for anything you are storing more than a season.
In a temperature controlled unit
Standard cardboard boxes and packing paper hold up fine over long periods. Items still need to be clean and fully dry before they go in, but ground condensation and humidity warping are not concerns.
Either way, pack and organize the unit itself with vertical shelving and a center aisle.
How to decide
Work through your inventory and find the most sensitive item in it. That item sets the requirement for the whole unit, because you are not going to rent two spaces.
If everything on the list is tools, outdoor gear, and materials, rent standard. If the list includes furniture you would be upset to replace, instruments, electronics, or records, rent temperature controlled and stop thinking about it.
When the list is genuinely mixed, call and describe it. We have walked enough people through this to tell you quickly which way to go.
Where each type is available
Temperature controlled: Springfield Storage, 7289 Muskie Dr, Dane. Minis from six-by-seven to nineteen-by-twenty-nine, plus storage condominiums from 735 to 11,744 square feet.
Standard: HideAway Storage, 4380 Schwartz Rd, Middleton. Schneider Storage, 6814 Schneider Rd, Middleton, carries more than one unit type.
Vehicle, boat, and RV: OW Storage, 4373 Schwartz Rd, Middleton.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need temperature controlled storage in Wisconsin?
It depends on what you are storing. Tools, outdoor equipment, and construction materials do fine in a standard unit. Wood furniture, leather, electronics, instruments, and paper records should be in a temperature controlled unit.
Is temperature controlled the same as climate controlled?
The terms are used interchangeably across the industry. Our temperature controlled units are heated in winter and air conditioned in summer. The Springfield minis also control humidity.
Can I store a mattress in a standard storage unit?
Not recommended. Mattresses and upholstery absorb humidity and can develop mildew through a Wisconsin summer. Use a temperature controlled unit.
Do I still need pallets in a temperature controlled unit?
No. Pallets solve a concrete-floor moisture problem that a temperature controlled building does not have.
What does it cost to upgrade to temperature controlled?
Call or text (608) 695-9597 for current rates.
Talk it through before you rent
Describe what you are storing and we will tell you which unit type it needs, walk you through the space, and map out a layout. No obligation, and no fee to open an account.
Call or text (608) 695-9597