Climate Controlled vs. Standard Storage Units in South Dakota: Is It Worth the Extra Cost?

South Dakota goes from -30°F to 100°F in the same year. That temperature swing destroys certain belongings in a standard storage unit. But climate-controlled storage costs more. Here’s how to decide if it’s worth it for your stuff.

What “Climate Controlled” Actually Means

Let’s clear up a common misconception first. Climate-controlled storage doesn’t mean your unit is a comfortable 72°F year-round like your living room. It means the facility keeps the temperature within a controlled range — typically between 55°F and 80°F — and often manages humidity levels too.

Some facilities use the term “heated storage” instead. That’s a step down: the unit has heat in winter to prevent freezing, but no cooling in summer and no humidity control. It’s better than a standard unit, but it’s not true climate control.

Standard storage is exactly what it sounds like — a metal or concrete box with a roof, walls, and a door. Whatever the outside temperature is, the inside is roughly the same (maybe 10-15 degrees warmer in summer due to the greenhouse effect, which actually makes things worse).

When you’re comparing options, ask the facility specifically: Do you control temperature year-round? Do you manage humidity? What’s the temperature range? Don’t assume “climate controlled” means the same thing everywhere.

Why It Matters in South Dakota

South Dakota’s climate is the whole reason this question matters. If you lived in San Diego, you probably wouldn’t think twice about it. But here’s what your stored belongings face in a standard unit through a typical South Dakota year:

Winter (December–February): - Sustained temperatures of -10°F to -30°F for days or weeks at a time - Freeze-thaw cycles that crack wood, warp plastic, and burst sealed containers - Moisture from condensation as temperatures fluctuate

Summer (June–August): - Interior temperatures in a standard metal storage unit can hit 120-140°F when it’s 95°F outside - High humidity creates the perfect environment for mold, mildew, and rust - UV exposure through any gaps or vents fades fabrics and damages photos

Spring and Fall: - Rapid temperature swings — 70°F one day, 30°F the next - Condensation forms on cold surfaces as warm moist air enters the unit - This condensation is the silent killer: it soaks into cardboard boxes, wood furniture, and fabric, causing mold and warping

The bottom line: a standard storage unit in South Dakota puts temperature-sensitive items through the equivalent of being left in a car all year. Some things handle it fine. Others don’t survive.

What Should Go in Climate-Controlled Storage

Not everything needs climate control. Here’s a clear breakdown:

Items That NEED Climate Control in South Dakota

• Wood furniture — Solid wood expands and contracts with temperature and humidity changes. Over a South Dakota winter-to-summer cycle, this causes cracking, splitting, warping, and joint failure. Antiques are especially vulnerable.
• Electronics — TVs, computers, stereos, gaming consoles. Condensation on circuit boards causes corrosion. Extreme cold can crack LCD screens. Extreme heat degrades batteries and solder joints.
• Photographs, documents, and books — Paper absorbs moisture and warps. Photos stick together. Mold grows on book pages. If it’s irreplaceable, it needs climate control.
• Leather furniture and clothing — Leather dries out and cracks in low humidity, grows mold in high humidity. South Dakota gives you both in the same year.
• Musical instruments — Guitars, pianos, violins — anything with wood and precise tolerances. A piano left in a standard unit through a South Dakota winter is essentially destroyed.
• Vinyl records and CDs — Vinyl warps above 100°F. CDs and DVDs degrade in humidity.
• Artwork and paintings — Canvas stretches and contracts. Paint cracks. Frames warp.
• Wine — Temperature fluctuation is wine’s worst enemy. If you’re storing a collection, climate control is mandatory.
• Medical supplies and pharmaceuticals — Most have specific temperature storage requirements.
• Business documents and inventory — Tax records, legal files, product inventory that can’t be damaged.

Items That Are FINE in Standard Storage

• Metal tools and equipment — May develop surface rust, but a coat of oil or silicone prevents this. Structurally fine.
• Outdoor and sporting equipment — Camping gear, hunting equipment, fishing rods (remove line from reels), bicycles
• Lawn and garden equipment — Mowers, trimmers, garden tools. Drain fuel and oil first.
• Plastic bins with durable contents — Sealed plastic bins protect against moisture. Store durable items (clothing in vacuum bags, plastic toys, seasonal decorations) and they’ll be fine.
• Automotive parts — Tires, wheels, bumpers, body panels
• Construction materials — Lumber (already dried), hardware, fasteners
• Farm equipment and implements — Tractors, tillers, implements. These live outdoors anyway; a standard unit is a massive upgrade.

The Gray Area

Some items could go either way depending on value and how long you’re storing:

• Mattresses — Fine for a few months in a standard unit if elevated off the floor and wrapped in plastic. Longer than 6 months? Climate control prevents mold.
• Upholstered furniture — A couch will probably survive one winter in standard storage. Two or three? Moisture and temperature cycling take their toll.
• Clothing — Everyday clothes in sealed bins are fine. Wedding dresses, fur coats, vintage clothing? Climate control.
• Appliances — Refrigerators and washers are built tough, but electronic control boards can suffer from condensation.

The Cost Difference

In the Yankton, SD area and across southeast South Dakota, climate-controlled units typically cost 20-40% more than standard units of the same size.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

Over a year, the difference for a 10x10 unit is roughly $300-$420. That’s the cost of climate control.

Now compare that to replacing what’s inside the unit. A solid wood dining table: $800-2,000. A leather couch: $1,500-3,000. Family photo albums: priceless. An upright piano: $3,000-10,000.

If the contents of your unit are worth more than a few hundred dollars and contain any temperature-sensitive materials, climate control pays for itself the first time it prevents damage.

How to Decide: A Simple Framework

Ask yourself three questions:

1. What am I storing? Check the lists above. If more than 25% of your stored items are in the “needs climate control” category, get a climate-controlled unit.

2. How long am I storing it? Short-term (1-3 months) in spring or fall? Standard is probably fine for most items — the temperature extremes haven’t hit yet. Over a full winter or summer? Climate control becomes much more important.

3. What’s the replacement cost? Add up the value of everything going into storage. If it’s over $2,000 and includes sensitive items, the $25-40/month premium for climate control is the obvious choice.

Climate-Controlled Storage Options in Southeast South Dakota

Climate-controlled units are less common in rural South Dakota than in cities. Yankton has a few options — Fort Knox Storage and some larger facilities offer heated or climate-controlled units. But availability is limited, especially for larger sizes.

For standard storage — especially large units for vehicles, boats, farm equipment, and general household overflow — Lock N’ Leave It Storage has facilities in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman, SD. Their enclosed units protect against wind, rain, snow, and sun exposure, which addresses the biggest threats to stored items even without full climate control.

If you need large-scale storage for durable goods, equipment, or vehicles in southeast South Dakota, Lock N’ Leave It’s oversized units are hard to beat on value.

The Bottom Line

Climate-controlled storage is worth the extra cost if you’re storing anything that temperature, humidity, or moisture can damage — and in South Dakota, that’s a real risk from November through March and again in the humid summer months.

For durable equipment, vehicles, and outdoor gear, a solid standard unit does the job. The key is matching the storage type to what you’re storing.

Need storage in southeast South Dakota? Lock N’ Leave It Storage serves Tyndall, Springfield, Freeman, and the surrounding area with secure, enclosed storage units built for South Dakota conditions.

👉 Visit locknleaveitstorage.org or call to discuss your storage needs and find the right option.