Do Storage Containers Get Damp?
In short: A plain steel container can get cold enough inside for condensation to form, which leaves stored things damp and fusty. Our containers are lined with spray-foam insulation to keep the temperature inside steadier and reduce condensation, they are waterproof and ventilated, and a few simple packing habits keep your things dry.
Why containers get condensation
Air always holds some moisture. When warmer air meets a cold steel wall or roof, the moisture turns to droplets, in the same way a cold window steams up. A bare steel container warms up by day and cools quickly at night, so condensation can form on the inside and drip onto whatever is stored.
How our containers are different
Each of our containers is lined with spray-foam insulation, which keeps the inside temperature steadier, so far less condensation forms. The containers are completely waterproof, designed to spend a long time on container ships at sea, and each has several ventilation areas.
What you can do
- Drain fridges, freezers and washing machines, and leave their doors slightly open.
- Make sure everything is dry before it goes in: no damp washing, wet garden tools or freshly painted furniture.
- Stand things on pallets and leave a small gap at the walls so air can move.
- Cover furniture with breathable dust sheets rather than sealing it in plastic, which can trap moisture.
- If any of your items contain water or other fluids, empty them before storing.
For winter in particular, see our news article on keeping stored furniture dry through a Lincolnshire winter.
Questions people ask
A plain steel container can, because condensation forms when warm, moist air meets the cold metal. Our containers are spray-foam insulated to reduce this.
Yes. They are completely waterproof and designed to spend a long time on container ships at sea.
It is better to use breathable dust sheets. Plastic sheeting can trap moisture against wood and fabric.
Drain it and dry it before storing, and leave the door slightly open.