Thing 3: Electronics, Batteries, and Old Media
From an old television and a spare computer to boxes of cherished family photos and VHS tapes, the garage often becomes a digital and analog graveyard. Unfortunately, the combination of humidity, dust, and temperature extremes makes it one of the worst possible places for these sensitive items.
The Triple Threat: Humidity, Dust, and Temperature
Modern electronics are marvels of miniature engineering, but their intricate components are incredibly fragile. Humidity is the silent killer. Moisture in the air can condense on cold metal surfaces inside a device, leading to corrosion on circuit boards, short circuits, and complete failure. This is especially true when a cold device is brought into a warm house, causing immediate condensation to form deep inside its casing.
Dust is another major issue. Garages are inherently dusty environments filled with dirt, pollen, and debris. This dust gets pulled into electronics by cooling fans, clogging heat sinks and vents. When a device can’t cool itself properly, its components—like the processor and graphics card—can overheat and suffer permanent damage. Dust can also coat the sensitive lenses of DVD players or game consoles, rendering them unable to read discs.
Finally, temperature extremes wreak havoc. High heat can shorten the lifespan of all electronic components and is particularly damaging to batteries, causing them to degrade and lose their ability to hold a charge. Some batteries can even leak corrosive acid when exposed to heat. Cold temperatures can make plastic parts brittle and prone to cracking, and as mentioned, create a serious condensation risk.
Older media formats are even more vulnerable. The magnetic tape in VHS and cassette tapes can become brittle and snap in the cold or stretch and degrade in the heat. The delicate emulsion on photographic prints and negatives can be destroyed by humidity, causing images to stick together or grow mold.
Protecting Your Digital and Analog Memories
All electronics, batteries, and media should be stored within the climate-controlled envelope of your home. An office closet, a shelf in a spare room, or a drawer in a media console are far safer choices. For long-term home storage, take these extra precautions:
1. Use Sealed Bins: Store electronics and media in clear, plastic bins with gasket seals. This provides a physical barrier against dust and moisture.
2. Control Humidity: Add a few desiccant packets (silica gel) to each bin. These packets absorb ambient moisture, keeping the relative humidity inside the container low.
3. Label Everything: Clearly label each bin with its contents. This not only helps with garage organization but also reduces the need to open bins frequently, which lets in fresh, humid air.
Ultimately, the best way to preserve precious analog media like photos, slides, and home movies is to digitize them. A digital copy stored on a hard drive (which is itself stored indoors) and backed up to a cloud service is the safest way to ensure those memories last forever.
