It is not much of an exaggeration to say that modern families live or die by their electronic and electric appliances. Electricity lights, heats and cools our homes. We cook with electricity, clean with it and rely on it for safe food storage; and much of our communication, entertainment and work now relies on electricity.

There are a few categories of electric or electronic gadgets and tools that end up not being used for weeks or months on end. For example:

• legacy media
• computer peripherals and storage junk
• seasonal entertainment
• power tools

These can end up in garages, attics and outbuildings, or perhaps in a storage unit.

Storing battery-powered devices

When you know that you are not going to use a battery-powered device for a few weeks, take the batteries out. This is because batteries can deteriorate, even under stable conditions, and a battery leak can damage surrounding components. Even more scary, some types of battery, particularly lithium-ion batteries, can spontaneously combust, causing a fire.

To learn more, see our post on storing battery-powered devices and gadgets. Or read Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s battery safety advice.

Managing electronic junk

It’s not unusual to hang on to old phones, tablets, laptops and even PC towers, either through sentiment or because you have concerns about data security. But it may be better to remove the data and recycle the device through a reputable company. That way, valuable materials can be retrieved and re-used. And increasingly, service providers are ending support for older devices, which means you may not be able to access the data anyway.

The same goes for legacy AV equipment and media – the cost of converting cinefilm and VHS to digital will go up and at the same time, your film media may be deteriorating. Rather than nursing an ancient, temperamental projector, it may be time to convert your films and let it go.

Out of the attic

Some electronic devices are designed to withstand heat, cold and damp – but a lot of gadgets and ‘buzzing things’ are marked as ‘for indoor use only’. This is because they will only work within certain environmental parameters – bring them into a space that is too hot, too cold or too wet and they very quickly start to go wrong.

Many householders in the UK make use of their roof space for storage, including for electronic gadgets and power tools. And although the void beneath a pitched roof is sheltered from the rain, that is about all it has going for it.

Attics, particularly if uninsulated, are prone to extreme changes in temperature. When you go up into your loft in the summer, it is noticeably warmer than the rest of the house; and in winter, it is usually much cooler. Temperatures fluctuate in roof spaces, and this means that humidity also goes up and down.

Electronic and electric items, in particular, legacy electronics and media, such as turntables and vinyl, reel-to-reel tape players and cinefilm players are particularly vulnerable to changes in temperature, so the attic is not an ideal place to keep them.

Furthermore, access difficulties make it harder to inspect things kept in the attic, so they are at risk from leaks or pest damage.

Is climate-controlled storage the best answer?

Climate-controlled storage can be a slightly pricier option for keeping seldom-used electronics, but it will give you peace of mind so that you don’t have to worry about your devices and tools deteriorating.

Calculating monthly storage costs

Costing up different storage options can help with decision-making. You can get an idea of how much it will cost to store your goods with our handy post. You will also need to factor in self-storage insurance – most companies will insist on you insuring your stored goods. Get a quick quote from Store and Insure to find out how much it should cost each month. We can tell you the monthly cost to insure your stored goods, and should you need to claim, there will be no excess to pay.