Houston, Texas
Why the Term “Rush Hour” Should Just be Changed to “Rush” Finding the right storage facility in Houston can be a bit of a challenge. Although Houston is the fourth largest city in the country, its 473 storage facilities have enough units to accommodate its population. Traffic is a big problem to consider when trying to find a storage facility. If you’re storing things that you won’t go back to more than a few times a year, traffic is not much of a problem. However, if you’re storing things that you need to go back to frequently, keep reading. LA isn’t the only city with bad traffic. Studies show that traffic is only getting worse in Houston. You can’t avoid traffic too much, but you can make sure to find a storage facility that isn’t inside “the loop” (the Interstate 610 freeway that forms a 38-mile loop around downtown Houston). The average Houston driver claims that rush hour traffic times are: 6:30AM-9:00AM, 11:00AM-1:00PM, 4:00PM-7:30PM. But of course, this does not account for traffic caused by football games in NRG Stadium and Rice Stadium, and added traffic of students of Rice University during the school year. If you ask us, that doesn’t leave much time in a day to access your storage unit. If you really want to store your things in or around the loop because of proximity to your home, consider opting for a facility that offers 24-hour access to your unit. Events and Even More Traffic Football games are not the only thing that will affect your access to your storage unit. Houston has a plethora of local events that cause road closures pretty often. The MLK Jr. Grande Parade is a parade that marches through the heart of Houston and draws 300,000 supporters, the Chevron Houston Marathon is an annual run which begins and ends in downtown, and has 20,000 entrants and 200,000 spectators, and the Buffalo Bayou Regatta is the largest canoe and kayak race in Texas, with over 200 vessels hitting the waters in downtown Houston. These events are just the tip of the iceberg, and they’re bound to cause some road closures and more than a few traffic jams along the way. Humidity Doesn’t Just Affect Your Hair Houston has a humid subtropical climate , which means hot and humid summers and mild to cool winters. In the summer, temperatures can go up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to make precious things in your storage unit start to grow mold. Because of this, one of the most vital things to know about storage in Houston is the importance of having a climate controlled storage unit. Some facilities actually also have humidity control because of humidity ranging from over 90% in the morning to around 60% in the evening. Be careful though, because not all facilities offer these units, and we highly advise against storing valuable items in units that don’t have this option. Some things you should consider storing in a climate controlled unit are: wood, metals, wine, and art pieces. If you’re not sure of what should or should not go into a unit, talk to a storage facility manager. It’s better to be safe than sorry! Houston also faces the challenge of dealing with tropical cyclones, which are hurricanes or tropical storms. During hurricane season, the city experiences heavy rain which can possible lead to significant damage to the city. What does this mean for storage? Well, flooding is a big problem in Houston because of its flat land, so you want to be sure that the storage facility you choose takes precautions against leaks and flooding to avoid water damage to your belongings. Storage and Crimes Houston has some of the worst crime rates in the country. The city has an annual property crime rate of 105,990, and is safer than only 4% of the cities in the U.S. As scary as that is, you shouldn’t be afraid to store things at a storage facility. In fact, your belongings might be safer in storage than they might be at home! Storage facilities take a great deal of security measures to ensure the safety of your things. Some things to look for in a facility are whether or not it’s well lit, if there are 24-hour surveillance cameras, and if there is on site foot patrol. If you want to opt for fancier security, you can also find facilities in which units have their own individual alarm systems.
Why the Term “Rush Hour” Should Just be Changed to “Rush”
Finding the right storage facility in Houston can be a bit of a challenge. Although Houston is the fourth largest city in the country, its 473 storage facilities have enough units to accommodate its population. Traffic is a big problem to consider when trying to find a storage facility. If you’re storing things that you won’t go back to more than a few times a year, traffic is not much of a problem. However, if you’re storing things that you need to go back to frequently, keep reading. LA isn’t the only city with bad traffic. Studies show that traffic is only getting worse in Houston. You can’t avoid traffic too much, but you can make sure to find a storage facility that isn’t inside “the loop” (the Interstate 610 freeway that forms a 38-mile loop around downtown Houston). The average Houston driver claims that rush hour traffic times are: 6:30AM-9:00AM, 11:00AM-1:00PM, 4:00PM-7:30PM. But of course, this does not account for traffic caused by football games in NRG Stadium and Rice Stadium, and added traffic of students of Rice University during the school year. If you ask us, that doesn’t leave much time in a day to access your storage unit. If you really want to store your things in or around the loop because of proximity to your home, consider opting for a facility that offers 24-hour access to your unit.
Events and Even More Traffic
Football games are not the only thing that will affect your access to your storage unit. Houston has a plethora of local events that cause road closures pretty often. The MLK Jr. Grande Parade is a parade that marches through the heart of Houston and draws 300,000 supporters, the Chevron Houston Marathon is an annual run which begins and ends in downtown, and has 20,000 entrants and 200,000 spectators, and the Buffalo Bayou Regatta is the largest canoe and kayak race in Texas, with over 200 vessels hitting the waters in downtown Houston. These events are just the tip of the iceberg, and they’re bound to cause some road closures and more than a few traffic jams along the way.
Humidity Doesn’t Just Affect Your Hair
Houston has a humid subtropical climate, which means hot and humid summers and mild to cool winters. In the summer, temperatures can go up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to make precious things in your storage unit start to grow mold. Because of this, one of the most vital things to know about storage in Houston is the importance of having a climate controlled storage unit. Some facilities actually also have humidity control because of humidity ranging from over 90% in the morning to around 60% in the evening. Be careful though, because not all facilities offer these units, and we highly advise against storing valuable items in units that don’t have this option. Some things you should consider storing in a climate controlled unit are: wood, metals, wine, and art pieces. If you’re not sure of what should or should not go into a unit, talk to a storage facility manager. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Houston also faces the challenge of dealing with tropical cyclones, which are hurricanes or tropical storms. During hurricane season, the city experiences heavy rain which can possible lead to significant damage to the city. What does this mean for storage? Well, flooding is a big problem in Houston because of its flat land, so you want to be sure that the storage facility you choose takes precautions against leaks and flooding to avoid water damage to your belongings.
Storage and Crimes
Houston has some of the worst crime rates in the country. The city has an annual property crime rate of 105,990, and is safer than only 4% of the cities in the U.S. As scary as that is, you shouldn’t be afraid to store things at a storage facility. In fact, your belongings might be safer in storage than they might be at home! Storage facilities take a great deal of security measures to ensure the safety of your things. Some things to look for in a facility are whether or not it’s well lit, if there are 24-hour surveillance cameras, and if there is on site foot patrol. If you want to opt for fancier security, you can also find facilities in which units have their own individual alarm systems.
Storage FAQ's
We recommend that you get insurance for your belongings because the contents of the units are not insured through storage facilities.
No, no one in the storage facilities has access to your space unless you specifically ask them or give them the right to do so. For example, you may want them to have access to your unit for things you may want delivered directly to your unit.
Generally the prices of storage units in Houston vary based on the size of the storage unit and the location of the unit in the facility. Prices range between 14.0 and 394.0, but representatives can better assist you once they have the details of your storage needs.
Yes, storage managers can provide you with tips and techniques on how to most efficiently utilize your storage space. Their hope is that you can have easy access to your items and that your storage space is worth every penny of your money.
Security is every storage operator's priority. Speak with the storage manager of a facility of your liking in Houston to find out what security measures they take to protect your belongings.
No, storage facilities do not provide movers. However, managers and team members would be happy to provide you with a list of reliable and reasonably priced movers in Houston. See our <a href='#'>resource guide</a> for movers in Houston.
Once you move in and feel that you need to move into a smaller or bigger space, storage facilities are happy to accommodate your move. Before renting a space, it is recommended that you speak to a storage facility representative to help you find the best sized unit for your needs. If things change through the course of your lease, they will help make the transition to your next unit as efficient and simple as possible. We also have a <a href='/size-guide/' class='size_guide_pop_over'>size guide</a> that may answer some preliminary questions you may have.
In Houston, there are 383 storage facilities, with a total of 394 storage units. Storage unit sizes generally range from 4' X 4' to 14' X 50'. Call one of your local facilities to have a representative find what size unit is best for you.
Students and active military members are clients that have unique needs because of the nature of their schedules. Most storage facilities in Houston offer discounts to students, and discounts and different policies for active military members. Please call your local facility or see our <a href='/university-self-storage/'>students</a> and <a href='/military-self-storage/'>active military members</a> pages to get detailed and updated information.
Most storage companies in Houston only provide invoices upon request.
Storage managers would be happy to help you determine which size unit is best for you so that you're not paying for a 14' X 50' unit when you really need a 4' X 4' unit. Please reference our <a href='/size-guide/' class='size_guide_pop_over'>size guide</a> for more information.
Yes, climate-controlled spaces are available in Houston due to the varying weather. Temperatures range from 39.2 to 53.6, which can dramatically affect things in your storage unit. For storing items such as wine, wooden items, electronics, metals, artwork, etc. storage facilities recommend that you rent a climate-controlled unit. For questions and more details, please contact a local facility.
Most facilities in Houston schedule professional pest control services every month, and twice a month during summer months.
No, storage facility employees do not have copies of the keys used for the units. If you lose your key, check with the facility for lock cutting fees. They may also be able to sell another lock and key to you.
Yes, most storage facilities sell boxes of various sizes, tape, bubble wrap, labels, and other items for your packing and moving needs.
Storage companies in Houston offer a month-to-month lease. If for some reason you would like to cancel your lease during a particular month, please contact one of the facility managers to assist you.
Most storage facilities in Houston accept deliveries for their customers so that they don't have to go through the process of moving every time they need something to be placed in their storage units. They will keep your items in the office and will inform you when they arrive so that you can place them in your storage unit at your convenience.
Drive-up storage units are typically more expensive and not as clean as interior units. Drive-up units are more exposed to the elements (water, dust, etc.) and are therefore not as clean as interior units. Interior units, on the other hand, have a much better climate. Essentially, the desire to rent a drive-up unit comes from clients thinking that they will be visiting their unit very frequently, which is surprisingly not the case. Most people don't come to their units as often as they think they will, so given the cost and cleanliness issues, it's better to rent an interior storage unit.
You have 383 facilities to choose from in Houston. Access hours range from 8 to 24 hours a day. Please contact your local facility for more specific information about your unit.
Most storage facilities accept cash, credit cards, or checks. Always ask about autopay, it's faster and much more convenient.
Some factors to keep in mind when choosing a storage facility in Houston are: weather, peak rush hour times, items that you will be storing, and location within Houston.
Houston, TX Military Storage
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Houston, TX University Storage
Houston, TX Military Storage
Houston, TX RV and Boat Storage
Houston, TX University Storage
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