If you are using a steel storage container or other type of shipping unit to store your items, it will be placed outside. This means it is also exposed to the element, and that places your belongings at considerable risk. One of the bigger problems inside storage containers is that condensation occurs, which usually starts on the ceiling. This is due to simple thermodynamics: warm air is better able to hold on to moisture.

Shipping containers, because they are made from metal, are more prone to changes in ambient temperature. When the container is warm because it is exposed to the sun, the air inside it starts to get humid. This happens either because air gets in from the outside, or because the items stored within it evaporate any moisture they still hold. At night, the air cools down and this will lead to water droplets forming on the ceiling. If they get large enough, they will fall down and your items will become water damaged. Plus, the water that falls on your items will again condensate, leading to a constant cycle.

How to Lower Condensation

It is not possible for a container to be air tight, hence it will always be affected by changes in temperature. Luckily, this doesn’t mean that you have to simple accept that you will have a micro rain system going on in your container, as there are things that you can do:

• Make sure the container’s interior is dry before you put anything in it.
• Check that the walls and roofs are free from holes by looking if any light comes through if you are in the unit with the doors closed.
• Make sure the seals on the doors are weatherproof and fully secure. Do also check they are clean and free.

Once you know that there is no reason for excess water to enter your container, you can start putting your belongings in. You will then need products that help to absorb moisture. There are a range of products on the market that you can use for this, although any type of dehumidifier will work. Dehumidifiers are usually used inside homes, where people place them in bathrooms and kitchens, for instance. They contain little absorbent balls that suck the moisture out of the air. These will work just as well in a storage container.

How to Use a Dehumidifier Inside a Storage Unit

The best dehumidifiers require electricity to work, so this is probably not an option. There are also quite a lot of good disposable ones, however, and they are perfectly suitable for storage containers. Make sure that you have plenty of them, however. Usually, the dehumidifier will tell you how big of a room it can handle, and it is recommended that you half that for a storage container. In other words, get plenty of them. Try, as well to have them both on the floor (to get the moisture out of your belongings) and near the ceiling (to catch regular condensation).