Damp is a build-up of moisture in a building, its materials or the things inside it, such as furniture, carpets and clothing. Left alone, it can lead to mould. GOV.UK guidance describes four kinds: condensation damp (moisture in the air settling on colder surfaces, the most common kind), penetrating damp (water getting in from outside through defects in walls, roofs, windows or floors), rising damp (moisture from the ground rising through walls and floors) and traumatic damp (water from leaking or burst pipes, overflows or flooding).
At Wigwam
Our units are clean, dry and secure, and our indoor units are purpose-built inside our buildings, sheltered from the weather. In storage, damp often arrives with the belongings themselves: a sofa moved on a wet day, clothes packed before they were fully dry, or a fridge that wasn’t completely defrosted. That makes it the kind you can do the most about:
- pack everything clean and completely dry, and let anything from a damp garage or a wet day dry out at home first;
- lift things off the floor and leave a small gap at the walls;
- use breathable covers, such as blankets or dust sheets, for long stays;
- look in now and then, especially over winter.
If you ever spot a damp patch, a drip or water coming in from outside your unit, please tell us straight away on 0800 2545585 so we can deal with it.
Why the kind of damp matters
Our contents protection covers sudden water damage, such as burst pipes or water leakage. It doesn’t pay for gradual damp from the air or from things packed damp, which is why packing dry matters so much. If you use your own insurance, ask your insurer the same question.
Related terms
Related questions
- Are storage units waterproof?
- Who is responsible if mould appears in my storage unit?
- Does contents protection cover damp and mould?
Further reading