You may have heard “watertight” in your quest to find the perfect container. But are storage containers truly “watertight?” When a container is brand new, we call them “one-trippers” in the biz, they ARE watertight! Most containers come with only one set of doors and it’s pretty easy to fortify that opening with a strong seal (gasket) that will prevent any exterior moisture from reaching your goods inside!
“How’s the gasket?” (You should ask it!)
Storage containers must be made watertight to protect items from various forms of weather they encounter. Goods need to stay dry when sailing the high seas! Otherwise, we’d have salty/soggy televisions and clothing!
So, what’s done to keep water from seeping into the seams at the door end of a storage container? A gasket is installed. Gaskets are mechanical seals that fill the spaces left near the doors of a storage container, like around the hinges and where they meet. They’re rubber and are perfect for keeping water out and away from stored items.
Can gaskets be trusted? SURE if they’re not busted!
Storage containers are pretty easy and don’t require MUCH maintenance. Some lubrication and cleaning regularly to keep dust/debris away that affect their sealing ability is usually just fine. That said, older units can have gaskets that are deteriorating. Rubber IS organic and like most things organic, exposure to the elements, sunlight, ozone, or chemicals can cause rubber to degrade. If your gasket is damaged or showing signs of wear, it’s time to replace it.
Additionally, if you have rust that occurs behidn the gasket on the steel of the container itself, that can cause an issue. The rust can actually cause the gasket to be pushed forward, therefore causing a breakage in the seal and a point for water to penetrate.
But even with water kept at bay, science will always have its way.
So, the containers are kept from the elements and exterior moisture. But did you know that with temperature changes your container can condensate on the inside? That’s right, due to extreme temperature changes and humidity in the air, when the air inside a container reaches the dew point, moisture droplets can form, especially on the ceiling. It doesn’t happen often but it’s just a possiblilty we like to make our customers aware of. With Florida’s humidity, especially during the winter months, when it’s chilly in the evenings/mornings but hot in the afternoon, condensation can form.
Ok, so what now? Keep the interior dry! Here’s how:
Your container is there to keep your stored items from the elements and protect them theft. That said, it’s not often recommended to be used as a “set and forget” type of storage. A good way to ensure your goods are staying dry is by opening the doors, more often than not, and visually inspecting that things are hunkydory. You’ll be letting stagnant air out, increasing ventilation and you’ll be keeping eyes on everything!
Increasing ventilation is another way to reduce condensation. The storage containers that American Trailer Rentals has for rent and sale are the highest quality and therefore have many more vents when compared to other containers.
Another option is investing in dessicants. Yep, just like the bags you’d hang in your closet or bathroom, or the type that can go under a sink. You can place multiple in a container and that should help pull the water from the air.
Lastly, always know that you can’t beat science. If you know a container has the slightest potential to condensate, we wouldn’t recommend storing anything that is at risk of water damage, has sentimental value, or any important documentation.
So in a nutshell, containers will keep your equipment from getting soaked or stolen (if you lock her up!) but we can’t control condensation!
Need a container? Call us or request a quote today!
