# Storage unit advice: inside vs outside access? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243 "2015-12-12T14:15:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![birchtree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@birchtree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/birchtree)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/1 "2015-12-12T14:15:17Z")
The only previous storage unit I’ve rented was an inside 2nd-floor space. It was a time-consuming hassle moving stuff in/out, rolling small hand carts down long hallways, waiting for elevators, etc. This time, I’d like an outside-access unit, where you drive right up to the door. Are there any _disadvantages_ to an outside-access unit? I assume the temperature and humidity would vary more than an inside unit, because the outside unit’s roll-up door can’t insulate very well; are there any other disadvantages? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/2 "2015-12-12T14:33:11Z")
More loading and unloading in the rain or snow or blazing sun? More concern for water getting in under the door. You need to ensure nothing sits on the floor of the unit. Don’t use wood as blocks to raise stuff either; wood absorbs and transmits water. Increased exposure to theft? Especially if your unit faces the periphery of the complex. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/3 "2015-12-12T14:36:36Z")
Isn’t it more of a matter of what is available in your area? Generally from what I’ve seen, exterior access happens in less urban, less densely populated areas. If you live in an urban or close-in suburb, you likely don’t have the option of exterior access. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/4 "2015-12-12T15:27:14Z")
I’ll echo **LSLGuy** : less security is the obvious disadvantage. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/5 "2015-12-12T15:32:38Z")
An outside unit is considerably dustier than an inside unit. Those doors do not provide a tight seal. The security thing is not really an issue as long as you use a good lock. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/6 "2015-12-12T15:35:30Z")
Second the dust. I worked at a small company that used a couple of storage units for little-used stuff, and a lot of dust came in under the door. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/7 "2015-12-12T18:06:46Z")
Dust, security, water under the door (and mold as a result) and BUGS. So very many bugs, the one and only time I ever used an outside-access storage unit. Anything that survived the mold had to be carefully evaluated for creepy crawlies before going into the ‘keep’ pile. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/8 "2015-12-12T19:02:07Z")
If you can make it inside during the Zombie apocalypse, then you can barricade the doors and have access to all the other storage units too. Outside ones may require constant battling for each one. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/9 "2015-12-13T00:36:38Z")
I’ve rented a couple outside storage units and most of my stuff was rendered into trash due to dust and humidity. Beware of dust particularly if the units are surrounded by gravel. My current inside unit has been relatively much better though it has some degree of excess humidity. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/10 "2015-12-13T02:16:27Z")
I’m still finding mouse turds in boxes of stuff my wife and I had in storage. The only thing chewed on in the locker was a gallon jug of anti-freeze. It was full when I put in in the locker, it was half empty when I emptied the locker 2 months later. It was an outside access locker. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/11 "2015-12-13T14:20:40Z")
Mice. If you are using outside storage, carefully protect (large tupperware) anything you don’t want mice eating and crapping on. I used an outside storage facility out in the sticks, and had to discard books and clothes when I saw their condition after being stored for a few months. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/12 "2015-12-13T14:26:43Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > Dust, security, water under the door (and mold as a result) and BUGS. So very many bugs, the one and only time I ever used an outside-access storage unit. Anything that survived the mold had to be carefully evaluated for creepy crawlies before going into the ‘keep’ pile. Buy some [Insectacidal Soap](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecticidal_soap) at the hardware store, & mop the place, occasionally. Leave a thick line of Diametious (sp?) Earth around the inside. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/13 "2015-12-13T14:43:35Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > I’m still finding mouse turds in boxes of stuff my wife and I had in storage. The only thing chewed on in the locker was a gallon jug of anti-freeze. It was full when I put in in the locker, it was half empty when I emptied the locker 2 months later. It was an outside access locker. My eyes are bleary this morning and I read this as “moose turds” and I sat here shocked for a few minutes before I re-read and got the real story. Yikes 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/storage-unit-advice-inside-vs-outside-access/740243/14 "2015-12-13T22:13:52Z")
Ours is too small to be an outside one, and I’m just as glad. We tend to pile stuff in he hallway as we move things in and out, and that seems much safer and cleaner inside. I suppose if we stored really big stuff outside would be good.