A Delicate Balance: Properly Storing Electronics in Heat & Cold

Many of the most common questions we get when advising our customers on how to choose the right storage concern temperature, including: “What is the proper way to store electronics in a storage unit in Massachusetts?”

There is a delicate balance on using and storing your electronics at proper temperatures, and  climate controlled units achieve that balance.

Here are our top tips on storing electronics, and the proper temperatures to maintain while in storage in Boston.

Disassembly and Packing

Before disassembling, take a photo of complicated wiring configurations on your home theater and computer systems. It will make setting up your systems again so much easier.

When you are ready to disconnect and start packing your electronics, remove extras items that didn’t come with the unit including CDs, DVDs, cables, ink cartridges, memory cards, batteries and all other detachable cords.

Stay organized and make finding your electronics easy by keeping cords together with their associated devices. Wrap cords neatly and secure with a plastic zip tie to their matching device. Label cords just in case contents shift in the box while moving.

Protect TV screens and computer monitors by using anti-static foam, especially if stored in a box with other electronics. Always pack your electronics in boxes, the original box if you have it, to protect them from dust and potential damage from other items that you are storing. You can wrap other electronics in bubble wrap or even utilized household items, like towels, to protect them in transport and storage.

We prefer moving electronics in a smaller vehicle rather than a moving van to keep them together and give them a smooth ride to the storage facility. Hand moving these items also allows you to keep your eyes on these expensive items throughout the entire move.

Climate Controlled Storage

Living in the Boston area has so many perks. We especially enjoy the beauty and fun in the change between four seasons. Unfortunately, Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate and freezing temperatures, rain, snow, and summer scorchers affect not only our residents, but our electronics too!

The trick to properly storing electronics in heat and cold is to avoid those temperatures altogether! Electronics are best stored in HVAC regulated environments between 50 and 80 degrees. Humidity control is another important factor in climate controlled indoor storage as moisture can be one of the biggest culprits for electronics damage. To further protect your electronics you can add silica gel packets to the storage box to help capture excess humidity.

Cold temperatures cause lasting damage to electronics: reducing the life of the battery, cracking and ice crystal formation in high humidity climates. Electronics such as cell phones, laptops and gaming devices can be permanently damaged when stored in the cold.

Store your electronics off the ground to keep them away from cold or wet floors. Use a pallet to create a ground barrier or place them on top of other securely stacked boxes or furniture. Avoid stacking boxes too high as you could encounter stability problems with the potential of tipping.

Storage Solutions for Electronics

We offer climate controlled units in various sizes at our Framingham and Newton locations. You’ll find our packing supplies and free use of dollies and carts especially helpful in moving and storing your electronics. Check out our latest storage unit special online and call to claim your indoor storage unit today!