Convenient shipping containers offer a secure, spacious, and waterproof storage option made of highly durable stainless steel. People love their easy access, affordability, and flexibility, making them a logical storage option suited to Canada’s diverse climate.
Despite their appeal, though, increasing temperatures in the summer can produce dangerously hot conditions in shipping containers. This can create a risky storage environment that can lead to damage.
Heat and moisture create ideal conditions for problems ranging from dry heat causing warped wooden chair legs and tabletops or cracks in expensive leather chairs to moisture-related issues that damage upholstered furniture or items such as clothing.
The question is: how do you protect your shipping container from the unavoidable impacts of summer heat? In this blog, we will share seven professional storage container tips to ensure your belongings stay cool even when the thermostat hits record-breaking temperatures.
1. Install shipping container vents
Ventilation is the first step to protecting your stored items from heat and moisture-related damage. By managing poor air circulation, you simultaneously remove warm air and reduce condensation. The result is no cracking, warping, or mould.
You have two choices:
- The easiest is to rent or buy vented shipping containers with vents.
- The more complicated choice is to install vents.
So, what should you look for when venting a shipping container? You have a few options.
Louvred Vents vs. Fixed Vents
The first option is slatted vents that come in both louvred and fixed designs. The louvred vents are adjustable, while the fixed vents are not. Both also prevent rain and snow from entering the container to avoid moisture damage.
Rooftop Turbines (a.k.a. Whirly Birds)
The second option is the rooftop turbine. They use wind to effectively circulate air by pulling out hot air that is sitting stagnant in the shipping container. When the weather is calm, they still do their job, working like a fixed vent to help maintain airflow.
Cross-Ventilation
When you want to maximize airflow in shipping containers, it is best to install a fixed or louvred vent at each end of the shipping container. This works like opening windows in your home to create a cross breeze. The consistent airflow will help keep the container cool while reducing condensation.
2. Get a heat-proof roof
As mentioned, steel is the main culprit when it comes to heat in a shipping container. When sitting out in an open area, the roof of the container is exposed to the sun all day long, which is where the majority of the heat is absorbed. Shipping containers are painted to protect against rust, with darker colours increasing heat absorption.
A heat-proof roof might sound impossible considering these factors. However, there is actually a simple solution to help reduce the impact of the hot sun beating down on your shipping container roof: paint.
This very cost-effective solution adds a lighter-coloured coat of paint to the shipping container roof to help repel the sun’s penetrating rays. The best colours include light gray or white, but you can up the reflective factor by choosing specially designed reflective paint.
If the roof can’t absorb light and damaging infrared radiation, it can’t conduct the heat produced by the sun, resulting in not only a cooler roof surface but also a cooler container interior.
3. Install insulation
Although you might not want to spend more money on your storage container, owning a shipping container is actually a smart investment. With just a little time and minimum investment, you can increase your return on investment using insulation to improve temperature control and the interior storage climate.
Installing insulation in your shipping container is an easy and affordable DIY project that helps protect your belongings all year round. You can make the most of the space, not only increasing your use of it over the time you own it, but also raising its value if you decide to sell it.
Although insulation does eat into the square footage of your storage space, having a four-season storage solution far outweighs that small space sacrifice.
You have a few choices when insulating your storage container:
- Rigid mineral board: This insulation is relatively easy to install, cost-effective, and performs well. However, it can be a bit more finicky, requiring caulking to ensure all joints are properly sealed.
- Spray foam insulation: Spray foam requires professional installation, but also offers the highest R-value. It both prevents air leaks and reduces moisture, which is perfect to protect your stored items.
- Fibreglass: Fibreglass is the most affordable and easiest to install insulation solution. It can be cut by hand to fit snugly between the corrugated spaces of the walls. The only downside is that it is not quite as good at preventing air leaks and moisture as the other two options.
4. Get air conditioning
The ultimate cooling solution for storage containers is a portable air conditioner. This isn’t something you necessarily need to consider for basic stored items. However, for higher-end items, it might be worth considering. Obviously, an AC guarantees your shipping container will stay cool in the summer, but it does present some logistical challenges; namely, you’ll need a power source.
That said, if you have a power source and want to protect your belongings, there are a few things to consider when choosing the right AC for your container:
- Square footage: Air conditioners are designed to cool a limited amount of space. Thus, when selecting your unit, you need to measure your container so you know how many square feet your air conditioner needs to handle.
- Sun exposure: Another consideration is the location. For example, if your container is shaded by a building or trees, you won’t need as powerful a system as you would for a container with 100% sun exposure in an open field or parking lot.
- Insulation: A non-insulated container will require more power than an insulated container. For example, a container with reasonable insulation that is up to 400 square feet and stored in the shade would be fine with 12,000 BTUs, while a container without insulation or, worse, sitting in the sun all day might need up to 18,000 BTUs.
5. Use a dehumidifier
If you’re storing items that are vulnerable to mould, such as upholstered furniture or clothing, a dehumidifier might be required. They are specifically designed to help control humidity levels, removing moisture from the container. If you aren’t sure you need a dehumidifier, you can first use a humidity monitor to keep an eye on moisture levels. If they seem low, you won’t need to invest in a dehumidifier.
As well, like air conditioning, you will need a power source. You should also consider installing a discharge line to remove condensation from the dehumidifier’s tank. If you don’t have a power source, or want a more affordable solution, another option is using “desiccants.” These little packets contain special chemicals that absorb moisture. You can place them in storage boxes for clothes and linens or scatter them about your furniture.
6. Keep the doors shut
Just like you keep your patio doors and windows closed to maintain cooler temperatures in an air-conditioned, insulated home, keeping the storage container doors shut helps stabilize temperatures. Closed doors are especially important on very hot days when the heat and humidity can enter the container while the doors are open and get trapped inside once the doors are closed.
Although we mentioned that uninsulated container walls act as a heat conductor, they do offer minimal temperature management that helps prevent cool air from leaving and hot air from entering. If your container is insulated, you have even better control over temperatures, which means keeping the doors open too long will reduce the effectiveness of your insulation.
When the doors are shut, you also help maintain a more consistent temperature. This can reduce the risk of condensation on walls caused by quick temperature changes from cold to hot or vice versa.
Ensuring your doors are in good condition can also help maintain consistent temperatures. Checking the hinges for rust and ensuring the doors close with a tight seal will help prevent heat from entering the container.
7. Position the shipping container in the shade
As mentioned in tip #4, a shipping container sitting in the shade will remain much cooler than a shipping container exposed to the rays of the hot sun. Something as simple as moving your shipping container to a cool, shady spot in the summer will significantly reduce the heating effects of direct sunlight. If you don’t have a spot with full shade, an area offering at least some partial shade can still help when it comes to reducing heat gain.
Another important tip is to avoid placing your shipping container directly on the ground. When the container is in direct contact with grass, dirt, or even gravel, it can lead to rust, while also preventing proper air circulation.
Creating space between the ground and container floor using 6-inch pressure-treated blocks at each corner creates enough airflow to improve air circulation in the interior.
Contact Secure Container Solutions
Although steel shipping containers are the ultimate storage solution for an endless list of items, taking steps to optimize performance will help prevent heat and moisture damage. Incorporating these helpful shipping container tips into your summer storage strategy will provide years of safe storage designed to keep your belongings damage-free.
At Secure Container Solutions, our selection of storage bins offers many storage solutions, whether you plan to rent or buy your container. For more information on shipping container summer maintenance, contact Secure Container Solutions at 647-560-2745 or click here.
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