Storage Tips

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General Storage Tips for Our Affordable Storage Units in Minot

Use wooden pallets on the floor of your cheap storage unit in Minot to increase air circulation and help keep your items dry.
Store upholstered furniture up off the floor.
Cover furniture with a dry soft cloth or old sheets instead of plastic.
If you are using plastic bags or covers to store items, put small holes in the plastic to help vent air. This will help prevent moisture from forming on the inside of the plastic as the temperature changes from season to season.
Visit your space regularly to help ensure that your items remain in good condition.
Leave air space around the walls of your unit to help with air circulation.
Pack your belongings in your space by need, with frequently-used items in the front.
Check your homeowner's or renter's insurance policy to make sure it covers self-storage.

Motorcycle Storage Tips

Top off the tank. After putting some fresh fuel in the tank, add the recommended amount of fuel stabilizer to keep the gas from deteriorating. Turn it on and let it run for a few minutes so the treated fuel can cycle through.
Fill up your fluids. Double-check your bike's brake, clutch, and coolant fluids, replacing or refilling if necessary. Check your bike's antifreeze to prevent engine freezing.
Oust old oil. Change the oil and filter plug before storing your ride to avoid a sticky situation later on.
Conserve your battery's charge. Remove the battery from your bike altogether and trickle charge it all winter.
Tend to your tires. Taking the weight off your wheels is the ideal way to avoid flat spots or uneven wear. But, if you don't have the right setup for that, fill your tires to the maximum recommended volume and rotate the front tire once a week to keep the flat spots away.
Wax on, rust off. Washing, thoroughly drying, and then waxing your ride before putting it away for the winter will prevent corrosion and other damage. Spray your exhaust pipes with WD-40 to keep moisutre away. For extra protection, stuff a clean towel or some crumpled up plastic bags into the intake and exhaust pipes to keep water and critters out.
Pick a place for your ride to rest. Store your motorcycle in a safe and clean facilty like Minot Econo Storage!
Protecting your motorcycle during the cold winter months is important. Besides freeing up space in your garage at home, Minot Econo Storage offers cheap storage units in Minot, convenient access and security features for worry-free long-term and short-term storage.

Winter Boat Storage Tips

Run your boat once more. Pay attention to any issues that may need repair or replacement over the winter, especially with regards to the engine. Look for cracks in the hull, which will worsen if left unrepaired.
Drain your boat. Remove the boat from the water and drain the bilge, water tanks, head, pipes and seacocks. Raise the bow to accelerate drainage if possible. If there is an electronic water heater, isolate it by removing the in and out lines and connecting the latter two together. Spray the bilge with a moisture-displacing lubricant. Add antifreeze into the bilge and water tanks to prevent freezing. (Do not drain the engine water intake until you winterize the engine.)
Clean your boat. Thoroughly scrub the entirety of the boat with soap and water, from the hull to the interior. Remove any plant life and barnacles that have attached to the hull. Open any lockers, drawers, refrigerators and freezers and clean as well. Once the boat is scrubbed, leave enough time so that the boat is completely dry. Repair any blistering if you have a fiberglass boat. Afterwards, apply a coat of wax onto both the hull and the superstructure and polish evenly.
Winterize the engine. Flush the engine (including the coolant system) with freshwater to remove salt, dirt and corrosion. Refill the coolant system with antifreeze. After briefly warming up the engine to loosen impurities, replace the oil and all filters while looking for any milky aspect to the old oil, since this indicates water intrusion. Apply fogging oil into the carburetor and spark plug holes. Remove and store away drive belts to avoid snapping due to tension. Finally, top off your engine with a full tank of gas mixed with stabilizer. Run the engine for about 15 minutes to make sure the additives reach fuel lines. (Be especially careful if your engine uses E-10 fuel, since it absorbs moisture 10 times more than typical gasoline.)
Lubricate moving parts. Grease the steering system and control mechanisms. Lightly apply moisture-displacing lubricant on all moving metal parts such as hinges, latches and linkages. Detach the propeller, inspect for fishing line and seal damage, lubricate, and return to its position.
Remove and charge the battery. Take out the battery and completely charge it. Clean the battery terminals and lightly coat them with grease. Do the same for the battery cable ends. Store the battery in a warm, dry place, noting that you will not place it back into the boat until the spring.
Remove sensitive materials. Anything and everything that does not form part of the vessel should be removed and stored away, including life jackets, fire extinguishers and flares. If the interior of the boat is fitted with organic materials such as fabric and leather, remove these as well to prevent mildew deposits. Also remove all electronics, since these are easily damaged with extreme cold, and wrap exposed cable ends with electric tape. Store electronics in a warm, dry place as with the battery.
Seal exhaust ports. If your boat employs exhaust ports, seal them with duct tape to prevent critters from entering and clogging these components.
Cover and store your boat. Protect your boat with a cover and if possible, store your boat with the bow tilted slightly upwards to encourage drainage.
Check every few weeks. Repair any problem areas or components over the winter. Uncover and inspect your boat for new problems that might arise during storage. Check the battery to see if it is still charged. Remove any water that might have pooled in lower areas of the boat.
Change the boat oil: Water that has gotten into the oil can corrode the engine. By changing the boat oil before storing you can avoid any long-term damage while stored.
Freshen up to the Coolant System: Like the oil, draining and refreshing the coolant system with anti-freeze can prevent freezing and corrosion of the engine.
Protect with Fogging Oil: This pro tip will go further to protect your engine during the winter months. Turn over your engine without starting it and spray the fogging oil where your manual instructs.
Loosen or remove driving belts: This is a simple step that can save you stress and money. Remove or loosen drive belts before winter boat storage to prevent them from cracking under the stress.
Grease the steering: Another preventative measure to get your boat ready for when you take it back out. Grease the steering and control mechanisms well so everything runs smoothly when it’s time to steer again.
Maintain the battery: Prevention is the name of the game. Disconnecting the battery and charging it every once in a while throughout the winter can prevent the battery from draining and dying over the winter.
Fill that tank: This may seem counterintuitive, but condensation can build up in an empty tank causing corrosion and even worse damage if it freezes. Add some gas and fuel stabilizer to make sure your tank is good to go during winter boat storage.
Pay attention to the interior: Organic materials like canvas, leather, or other fabrics should be removed to avoid mold and mildew. And any electronics that could freeze should be removed to avoid damage.
Wax on, rust off: Cleaning your boat inside and out and finishing with wax will help prevent rust on your boat’s body.

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