If you are planning on taking a long trip and want to store your personal belongings for the time being, you might want to consider getting a storage unit. However, the last thing that you want is for you to come back from your amazing trip only to find that your personal belongings have been damaged due to the way that you stored them. You also don't want to pay for heated storage if you don't have to. Here are some tips for telling if you need heated storage for your personal items or if you can get away with just a normal storage unit.

1. Are you going to be gone during cold months?

The easiest thing to look at is if you are going to be gone when the weather is cold where you live. If the answer to this question is no, then you don't need heated storage because you will already have the heat situation covered. The heat outside during the warm months will keep the storage unit nice and toasty. You might need air conditioning for art pieces or antiques that could be damaged by excessive heat, but you won't have to worry about getting a heated unit.

2. Are you going to be storing wood?

The next thing that you need to look at is how many wooden items you are going to be storing. If you are going to be storing musical instruments that are made out of wood, you need heated storage, no questions asked. The cold can make the wood contract and can damage the instruments permanently. If you have wooden furniture that has a high antique value, then you might want to consider heated storage. If you have wooden furniture that you stole from your frat house and plan on tossing the minute you have money, then don't bother.

3. Are you going to be storing art?

If you are going to be storing art during the cold months, you absolutely need a fully climate controlled storage unit. You want to make sure that the humidity levels are maintained and that it isn't too hot or too cold in a way that is going to result in your art being damaged.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in heated storage, such as Discount Storage. If you only have one or two items that would be susceptible to the cold, they might have some options for you.