Both indoor and outdoor storage units are available for lease, but if you have chosen to use an outdoor storage unit, there are a few considerations you need to think about. Outdoor units have easy access, and this can be great if you are using them for business. At many storage facilities you can drive right up to the front of your unit. The downside is that they seldom have air conditioning and offer less protection against the weather. The following are four tips to help you when utilizing an outdoor public storage unit.

Be careful what you store in your unit

Although any storage facility will give you a list of items that are not allowed for safety reasons, it is the things that they don't tell you about that can be a problem. For example, with an outdoor unit, there may be issues with heat. Outdoor units will have no air conditioning and the heat inside these units can be greater than the peak temperatures outside the unit. Depending upon where you live, the summer temperatures can get hot enough outside to harm certain items inside your unit. Examples include tapes, felt pens, crayons, electronics, and make-up.

Remove all batteries and keep them out of your storage unit

Regardless of how harmless it may seem, you should take the batteries out of any appliance, toy, or electronic device. This is to protect the device. Batteries will drain even when they are not in use. Over time, they can crack or leak. The result may be damage to your device. Simply take out the batteries and use them for something else. You can purchase new batteries when you are ready to use the device again in the future.

Check an outdoor unit after the first rain

Any storage unit that has a roof or a side facing the outdoors can leak during a rain. This may not be something management is aware of, and the last tenant may not have been aware of it either. The best way to protect your belongings is to inspect the unit after the first hard rain comes. Before the water outside is completely dry, check your unit for signs of leaking. The chances are, everything will be fine, but it is better to be safe than sorry. Also, items closer to the door will be at most risk, so make sure you seal any goods in containers or wrap them in plastic wrap.

Always buy insurance

Although many storage companies are requiring their customers to have insurance, if there is no requirement, you should take it upon yourself to get a policy. It will protect you financially in the case of theft or fire.

The four tips above will help you a lot with an outdoor storage unit. In general, keep in mind that items in an outdoor storage unit are susceptible to the elements more than they would be in your home.