If you need to temporarily move some items out of your home, or put them away for several months while relocating or downsizing, then using a storage unit makes a lot of sense. At the end of the day, self-storage offers a level of security and convenience that other storage solutions can't match.
That being said, there are certain things that you can't store in a self-storage facility. Some of these things may seem obvious; others you may find a little surprising. Let's discuss 4 key categories that are not allowed in storage units.
Hazardous Materials
Examples of these items may include gasoline or dangerous chemicals. The fact is, it's dangerous to leave hazardous materials unattended in storage units for any length of time — and especially for weeks or months on end!
Flammable or combustible materials could catch on fire, and cause severe property damage to your own possessions, as well as those of others. Of course, the worst-case scenario would be if a hazardous material in storage actually led to someone's death.
Add to this the fact that many storage units are not climate-controlled, meaning that fluctuations in temperature could increase the risk of hazardous materials expanding, escaping, or exploding.
Weapons
For the most part, storage providers simply do not permit guns or other weapons (such as explosives) on their premises. One reason for this is the inherent risk associated with such items: gun ammunition could conceivably blow up by accident, and explosives could detonate.
In addition, safe storage laws and concerns around security also play a big role in this prohibition. After all, self-storage providers would never want to be responsible for any weapon-related injury or fatality, whether on their own premises or somewhere else.
Perishables
Obviously, a self-storage unit is not the best place to keep perishable items, like meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, and other foods that can easily be spoiled by the heat (or just go bad without a refrigerated environment). As you can imagine, leaving perishables to rot in one storage unit can result in an unpleasant odor pervading the surrounding units as well. Of course, food inside storage units can also attract all manner of rodents and pests, like rats.
The bottom line? Self-storage units are no place for perishables — period.
Living Things
Do we really have to say it? Living things, whether plants or animals, are 100% not allowed to be stored in your self-storage unit.
When it comes to plants, many of the issues around storage are similar to the ones mentioned under the "Perishables" section above: plants can easily die without sufficient water or sunlight; they may begin to smell; and they can attract pests (even if those pests tend to be flies and other insects, rather than rodents).
As far as animals go: If you're having trouble finding a new home for your dog Fido, hiding him away in storage for a few days is most definitely not the answer. Not only will putting an animal in storage endanger the animal's life — it could potentially endanger the lives of others, if an employee needs to open your unit for any reason.
If you have any questions about what you can and can't store in a storage unit, feel free to reach out to our friendly team of experts at Blue Mountain Self Storage today. We'd be happy to answer all of your questions, and help you find the right storage solution to meet your specific needs and circumstances.
