Safeguarding electronics and computers from being damaged after they have been placed in storage is a fairly straightforward task, and a crucial one. Breakage, cracking, flooding, mold or rust can turn a high-end piece of equipment into a useless trinket; therefore, there are a number of steps you should take to make certain that items such as your computer, media component, power tool, printer and scanner will come out of storage in the same working condition as when they went in.
Choosing the storage facility into which you are going to place these items is a vital factor, as you need to be able to control the temperature in your storage facility. If you are going to be storing electronic equipment in a geographical area that experiences extreme cold or hot temperatures then you need to use a storage facility that provides climate controlled storage. The temperature in these storage facilities is generally kept between 50 and 80 degrees with the use of central air and heat, which prevents electrical components from being damaged by cracking and corrosion.
Moisture control is of equal importance. While moisture can be somewhat reduced by climate control, a storage facility that makes use of a dehumidifier in order to keep out dampness is a very important element when it comes to storage underground or in humid climates. When you make the decision about which storage facility you wish to rent, it is a good idea to avoid both subterranean and ground-level facilities.
There are other things that you need to do yourself in order to make sure that your electronics and computers can be placed safely into storage and that you are protected from problems. One good tip is to make sure that you have backed up all of your data in a number of different ways and stored this in various locations. You should remove all tapes from camcorders, data backup devices and VCRs, and take CDs and DVDs from drives and players.
It is also a very good idea to cover up electronic equipment with a canvas or a cotton sheet in order to prevent the build-up of dust while still permitting air to circulate. Computers and any other electronic devices should never be wrapped in plastic if they are being put into storage for a long time. Plastic actually serves to trap moisture and helps to foster the growth of mildew and mold.
Boards or pallets should be made use of to raise equipment off of the floor; a number of storage facilities will offer the use of pallets for no extra charge. Devices should be stored in their original packaging and boxes whenever possible. Monitors, scanner glass, screens and any other fragile parts should be protected with cardboard, foam, and tape or bubble wrap. Boxes containing glass parts should be marked as being fragile so that no heavy objects are leaned against them. It is also a good idea to ask the manager of your storage facility for any further advice regarding the safe storage of electronics and computers. myMovingNews
