Basement Storage Safety Hazards

In our recent blog posts, we’ve covered a variety of spaces in the home and what storage safety hazards they can present. We’ve looked at the closet, the garage, and the attic, and in this post, we’ll cover the final area of your home where things are often stored — the basement. At EZ Storage® in Detroit, we can help you find the ideal self-storage unit so that you don’t have to store as many things in your basement.

If you have questions about our storage solutions, or you want to know more about what units we have available in the greater metro area, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Water Damage

Basements are often home to your water heater and other appliances, which means there’s plumbing running through the walls and across the ceiling. Storing things such as photos or family heirlooms in the basement can present a risk for water damage, should the water heater or plumbing leak. The last you want is for precious mementos to be damaged beyond repair by a faulty pipe.

You’ll also need to consider how watertight your basement is. When there’s heavy rain or snow outside, does your basement tend to leak? If so, you’ll want to be sure anything you have stored down there isn’t susceptible to water damage. If water or moisture is finding its way into your basement, you may need to take a look at your home’s foundation. With anything that is stored in the basement, try to put it on shelves to keep it off the floor, so if the basement does flood, your items are protected.

Fire Risk

If your home has a forced air furnace, it’s likely also found in the basement. It could be controlled by gas or electricity, but when it comes to storage, you’ll want to keep things stored as far away from the furnace as possible. Flammable items such as propane or paint should never be stored in a basement, due to the fire risk they pose. Anything flammable or combustible should be stored above-ground and in a proper locked container.

For any antique items that are made of wood, consider storing those elsewhere as well. A climate-controlled storage unit could be the best option for your antiques, and you can remove the risk of them being damaged or burned, should there be a fire in your basement.

Low Clearance

As with our other posts on safety hazards, we also want to talk about hazards to you, the homeowner. Obviously, water and fire damage pose a risk to you both personally and financially, but as you’re storing things in the basement, it’s important to be aware of where things are placed.

If you have an unfinished basement, there might be a low ceiling that creates a hazard as you carry things down the stairs. If you’re storing things in a closed crawl space, be mindful of how heavy or bulky the items are, since those objects can be harder to move in and out of storage. Always be aware of your surroundings when putting things in the basement, as it can save you from injuring yourself or others.

Find a Self-Storage Unit Today

It’s perfectly acceptable to store certain things in the basement, such as household goods and outdoor items. Things like family photos, bedding, and artwork should be stored elsewhere to protect them from moisture and other risks. At EZ Storage®, we can help you find an affordable self-storage unit in Detroit that protects all of your belongings for as long as you need. There are, of course, certain things that can’t be put into a storage unit, but we’ll gladly answer all of your questions regarding what can and can’t be stored.

We look forward to hearing from you!