dpgllg writes
“As far as cost it is $1 less a month to store it underground then in the cheapest outdoor facility near me.
I checked the national weather service for the average monthly humidity for the area. The average outdoor humidity is 52% low to 74% high the underground is 50 to 60%. I agree that air movement is a plus but I don't see that this would affect the carpet cloth etc. I could be wrong but looking at the numbers just don't know.
I can check on RV anytime during normal business hours and if needed can pull it out with 72 hours notice. At this time I have no plans on taking a trip during the winter. My wife still works so any trips are planned in advance.
The security is better as no one is allowed in without an escort. No one roaming through at night. My outdoor storage only has some video cameras and the lot is not fenced in. I think security is definitely better. If I go to a fenced in lot the monthly cost goes up to $75 a month. Money is a factor for me as I am now on disability and only getting about 1/2 of what I was making while working.
The carport is a great idea except I have no room to store the RV at my house let alone erect a carport to house it. I have to use a storage facility.
Thanks!
Dave”Well Dave, seems like you already have your mind made up..
BUT, perhaps you should read up on humidity and mold?
Here is an CDC article that you should find helpful..
CDC ARTICLE ABOUT DAMPNESS“Facts about Mold and Dampness
There is always some mold everywhere - in the air and on many surfaces. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold grows where there is moisture…
Mold and Your Home
Mold is found both indoors and outdoors. Mold can enter your home through open doorways, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, bags, and pets can and be carried indoors.
Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery..
You Can Control Mold
Inside your home you can control mold growth by:
· Controlling humidity levels;
· Promptly fixing leaky roofs, windows, and pipes;
· Thoroughly cleaning and drying after flooding;
· Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas.
MOLD PREVENTION TIPS
· Keep humidity levels as low as you can—no higher than 50%--all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. Bear in mind that humidity levels change over the course of a day with changes in the moisture in the air and the air temperature, so you will need to check the humidity levels more than once a day.
· Be sure your home has enough ventilation. Use exhaust fans which vent outside your home in the kitchen and bathroom..”As a severe allergy sufferer with asthma I understand the risks associated with humidity levels of 50% or higher..
I run a dehumidifier in my basement year round to ensure the humidity in the basement never reaches 50% or higher (typically my basement is kept at 35%-40% which is the safe area..).
A couple of points to consider..
Outdoor humidity in the winter DROPS well below 30% (IE very safe from mold growth), underground humidity WILL be a min of 50% upwards of 60%+ which is ideal for mold to grow.
Outdoors will have WIND movement, underground, no wind or air movement, perfect conditions for stagnant high humidity to support mold growth not to mention a nice wonderful musty smell.
From Mayo Clinic on humidity..
MAYO CLINIC ON HUMIDITY“Ideal humidity levels
Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air. The amount of humidity varies depending on the season, weather and where you live. Generally, humidity levels are higher in the summer and lower during winter months. Ideally, humidity in your home should be between 30 and 50 percent. Humidity that's too low or too high can cause problems.
· Low humidity can cause dry skin, irritate your nasal passages and throat, and make your eyes itchy.
· High humidity can make your home feel stuffy and can cause condensation on walls, floors and other surfaces that triggers the growth of harmful bacteria, dust mites and molds. These allergens can cause respiratory problems and trigger allergy and asthma flare-ups.”While these articles talk about humidity levels for humans the same applies to storing your trailer..
If the humidity isn’t comfortable for YOU to live in, then your trailer won’t be comfortable..
Too little humidity allows for dust mites to grow and too much allows mold to grow.
It is pretty well accepted that 35%-45% RH should be the target humidity for us to live in.. Your trailer is no exception..
Yeah, $1 per month is cheap parking but at what expense??..
Storing something in a dark DAMP area (underground) is no better than having a unfixed roof leak.
Once the mold has started growing it will be difficult to stop or remove completely, basically trashing your expensive trailer..
According to the storage at Brady’s Bend they mention this for “climate” controlled storage they offer..
BRADYS BEND STORAGE“Climate Controlled Storage
· No mold or mildew with a 65 degree temperature and average 65 percent humidity.
· Clean, well-lit, and painted storage rooms.
· Periodic security and satisfaction check of all units.
· Lit, secure entrances and exits to facility.
· Rooms available with up to 11? heights.”Which completely goes against what the CDC states as a safe humidity for mold prevention..
WHO are you going to believe?
A storage place wanting to rent out unusable space or CDC which should know something about moisture and mold??..
And at the Brady facility they state this for their “General UNCONDITIONED space”
“General Unconditioned Storage
· Budget-friendly option for boats, campers, RVs, and 5th wheels.
· Winterization of vehicles is unnecessary due to a constant 54 degree temperature.
· Rooms available with up to 12? heights.
· The humidity in this section is significantly higher than our Climate Controlled Storage.”Notice that LAST point in bold..
The Wampum storage SAY’s the exact thing the Brady storage say’s. as far as conditioned/unconditioned..
As far as “security” goes.. WHO is “watching” the “security guards”.. NOBODY IS..
Security guards are often the lowest paid part time jobs you can find.. Hard to find truly honest guards..
As far as the myth of storing anything underground is good, perhaps you need to read what happened to the 57 Plymouth that was buried in a concrete vault..
LINK TO BURIED 57 PLYMOUTH UNEARTHED“A concrete vault encasing a 1957 Plymouth Belvedere buried a half-century ago may have been built to withstand a nuclear attack but it couldn't beat back the natural onslaught of moisture, organizers of the car's unveiling found Friday.
After the curtain went up at the ceremony, complete with a couple drum rolls, a multilayered protective wrapping caked with red mud was removed, revealing the vintage vehicle covered in rust.
There were a few bright spots: shiny chrome was still visible around the doors and front fender, and workers were able to put air in the tires.
But the reveal in front of thousands of people at the Tulsa Convention Center affirmed what many feared: the past 50 years had not been the kindest to Miss Belvedere.
"I'll tell you what, she's a mess," said legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington, who was unable to start the thing up as initially planned. "Look at her."
Event organizer Sharon King Davis, a fourth generation Tulsan whose grandfather helped bury the Plymouth, joked that the car needed a little Oil of Olay to help it out.”If that car would have been stored above ground in a dry building there would have been very little damage to the vehicle.. Now it is a worthless hunk of scrap metal.
As I said.. Meh..
A
nd yes, I am aware of underground document storage facilities, one of the largest is Boyers PA..
They CONDITION not just the the air but humidity also, they have rooms within rooms which have independent air handlers that control temperature and humidity levels.
BOYERS UNDERGROUNDANOTHER BOYERS LINKVery different from the “storage” for vehicles, RVs, boats which is not very well conditioned.
There is no need or advantage to burying your RV in a underground storage center, it is made to live outdoors..
I personally do not even consider underground storage for my antique autos which are extremely hard to find parts for.. Let alone my Travel Trailer which can be easily replaced.
If you want cheap storage, have at it..
