Attics are a pretty common place for storage. From holiday decorations, to out-of-season clothing, it’s the major storage space present in your home, and storing things in there is very much relieving and convenient. However, many people do not know how bad their belongings can get up there in the attic until they pay a visit and find out that everything has been destroyed.
Though it may seem as the perfect space to store your belongings, using your attic space as a personal storage unit is a ‘solution’ that might create more problems than it solves, especially to specific vulnerable items. To save you the heartache of damage, we have compiled the 10 things/items we suggest you should never store in your attic.
1. Leather
Due to its sensitivity to temperature fluctuations, Raw leather can become stained by moisture in humid environments or form cracks under overly-dry conditions. In order for leather to preserve its good conditions ,it should be stored in a temperature-stable environment and not in an environment where temperature constantly fluctuates, such as in an attic.
2. Electronics
Although attics can be a compelling space to store old electronics, especially big ones, you should think twice before you actually store your electronic devices in your attic due to the potential damage they may face. On a hot day, attics without air conditioning can reach up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and that is way too hot for your electronics to survive! TVs and phones can easily overheat or even warp if left in intense heat, therefore you do not want to leave them in the heat of your attic. Keep in mind that computers function best when used at between 50 and 95 degrees fahrenheit.
3. Paint
Temperature fluctuations in your attic might turn your next art project into a disaster rather than a masterpiece. Both overly-hot and cold environments can impact the consistency of paint, either making it too thick or too thin. Additionally, if the can isn’t sealed tightly enough, high temperatures may cause it to dry out quickly. We suggest keeping your paint stored in a cool, dry place, such as a utility room closet.
4. Batteries
You may not know this, but batteries cannot survive in hot, humid areas. At high temperatures like the ones you might find in your attic, batteries can rapidly lose power or may even start leaking, potentially leading to a chemical burn. To avoid that, you may want to store your batteries in a place that is dry and is at room temperature, like your kitchen cabinets or your office drawers.
5. Wooden Items
The worst choices for storing valuable items made of wood are places where there are extreme temperature changes and high humidity, such as an attic. Excessive humidity can seriously damage or destroy wood. It makes it more susceptible to warping and rotting. Oppositely, wood may start to crack and break open if stored in environments that are too dry. Try to store wooden items in places where you can keep the temperature relatively even.
6. Photos
We all carry with us a fair share of old photos and memories from our past and we because they are so treasured to us, we want to keep them for a long while. Though we might make the mistake of storing our old photos in our attic, a place that may seem like the perfect storage unit for our old memories, but in fact it isn’t. Excessive humidity is very damaging to photos. If they are kept in stacks, humidity can cause the photos to stick together and become ruined when trying to pull them apart. Photos need to be stored in an environment with consistent temperature, such as inside your home’s office space.
7. Books And Paper Documents
Just like photos, books and paper documents that are stored inside an attic may stick together and become ruined when trying to pull them apart. Additionally, Excessive humidity encourages mold to grow, which could seriously damage your books and paper documents. The damage may include curled pages, warped book spine, and smeared writing. Try to store your books and paper documents in room temperature environments and spaces that will keep them in good conditions.
8. Cosmetics
An attic is the last place you want to store your cosmetics at. High temperatures can melt precious cosmetic products and high humidity can spur the growth of mold on them. This is extremely dangerous, especially if you accidentally apply these moldy products on your face. For your better health and safety, store your cosmetics in a clean, dry environment where neither heat or humidity can enter. This can be in your bathroom drawer or your vanity room.
Conclusion
It is important to take precautions when storing any of these items, and many more, in areas that have drastic temperature fluctuations and high humidity, such as an attic. It is a much better solution to store them in a climate-controlled environment such as your home.
For your convenience, Eco Choice HVAC & Insulation Los Angeles offers services to take care of your attic insulator for you. Our technicians have the knowledge and experience to repair, replace and install any type of attic insulation. Request a free estimate today! (888) 585-7047