5 Financial Risks You Take Storing Antiques and Electronics Without Climate Control

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October 22nd, 2025

If you live in Lakeport, CA, you know our weather is anything but boring. The heat of a Lake County summer can feel intense, and when the cool, damp season hits, the air near Clear Lake changes completely.

This big shift in weather is exactly why you need to think carefully about how you store your valuable items. When you decide to store your family antiques, important business electronics, or a priceless collection, you face a huge question: Is saving a little money each month on a regular unit worth the risk of totally ruining your goods?

For high-value items, choosing a standard storage unit (one without climate control, or "non-CC") is often a bad financial trade. You might save a small amount monthly, but you expose your valuables to risks that could lead to thousands of dollars in damage or complete loss. At Lakeport Storage, located right at 1296 Craig Ave., we believe in protecting your investment. Climate-controlled storage isn't just a fancy extra; it’s a necessary safeguard against our unique local climate.

Here are the 5 major financial risks you take when you choose regular storage over climate control for your antiques and electronics.

Risk 1: The Permanent Devaluation of Your Antiques

Antiques, especially pieces made of fine wood or leather, are very sensitive to temperature changes. Here in Lakeport, we see huge swings. Our summer highs can climb toward 94 degrees F.

When a valuable wooden table or leather couch is constantly hit with these extreme changes—going from high heat to cool, damp air—the material is always expanding and shrinking. This stress leads to damage that you can’t easily fix:

Wood Furniture: Joints loosen, surfaces start to peel, and the wood itself can crack or warp.
Leather Items: Heat can dry out the leather, causing it to crack and break down the glues used in the furniture.

This kind of damage makes a family heirloom worth less, or forces you to pay for costly repairs. A medium climate-controlled unit, which is perfect for furniture, starts as low as $99$ per month. This small monthly cost is a smart investment to keep your high-value antiques in perfect condition for years to come.

Risk 2: Rust and Corrosion in Electronics (The Silent Killer)

Most people focus on heat when they think about climate control, but humidity is often the biggest enemy, especially for electronics. In Lakeport, we have months of high humidity, particularly during the wet, cool winter season. In December, the air can be nearly 79 degrees F humid. This moisture gets into everything, and a non-CC unit cannot stop it. Electronics—like computers, high-end audio gear, or business inventory—are full of metal parts and circuit boards.

When high humidity sits in a dark space without proper air flow, it causes rust and corrosion on these internal parts. If you are storing thousands of dollars worth of equipment, moisture damage can quickly turn it into worthless junk. This isn't just a scratch; it’s a total financial loss. Climate control works by stabilizing the humidity, making sure your electronics and appliances stay dry and ready to use.

Risk 3: Total Loss of Irreplaceable Documents and Photos

Some items aren't just about money; they are truly irreplaceable. We’re talking about legal documents, business records, old family photo albums, and rare books.1Paper absorbs moisture easily. When that high Lake County humidity fills a non-CC unit, it creates the ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. Once mold starts, it can spread quickly through boxes of paper, ruining decades of history in a very short time.

You can’t put a price on a box of wedding photos or a rare family history book. When they are ruined by mold, they are gone forever. Climate control keeps the air inside your unit stable and dry, preventing mold growth and protecting the physical structure of your most sensitive paper items.

Risk 4: Melting and Breaking Down of Collectibles

If you collect anything—like vintage vinyl records, comic books, sports cards, or stamps—you know that the value of your collection depends totally on its condition. All types of media are highly vulnerable to weather extremes. Heat can cause vinyl records to warp, photographic negatives to stick together, and the chemical layers in old tapes (like cassettes or VCRs) to break down. Since collectors often store these items for a long time, they will face multiple seasons of Lakeport’s challenging weather.

Why gamble with the financial worth of your hobby? If the condition is ruined, the value drops. Climate control preserves the quality of your collection and extends the life of these sensitive items, keeping their market value high.

Risk 5: The Cost of Having to Replace Everything

The final financial risk is the stress, time, and money you lose if you have to replace items that were damaged simply because you chose basic storage.8When you choose a unit at Lakeport Storage, you are paying for peace of mind. Our climate-controlled units offer a consistent environment all year long, protecting everything from your instruments to your leather goods.5 We offer a range of sizes, including a 5x10 unit (perfect for documents and electronics) up to 10x20 units (for an entire home’s contents).

You can stop worrying about the next 94 degree day or the next damp winter. The cost of protecting your high-value belongings is always less than the cost of having to replace them.