Why Temperature Stability Alone Isn’t Enough
Climate-controlled storage facilities are often marketed as the safest option for valuable goods. Consistent temperatures, reduced humidity, and tighter building envelopes make them ideal for storing electronics, furniture, documents, and high-value items. But while these conditions safeguard belongings from heat and moisture, they can also create an appealing, stable habitat for pests.
Rodents, insects, and stored product pests don’t take seasons off inside a climate-controlled building. Without a proactive strategy, a single introduction can spread quickly through shared walls, ducts, and units. Here’s what facility managers need to know to protect tenet property and maintain a spotless reputation.
Why Pests Target Climate-Controlled Facilities
- Reliable Shelter: Climate control keeps temperatures mild year-round. Pests such as rodents, ants, spiders, and cockroaches thrive when conditions are predictable. Warm mechanical rooms, insulation voids, and storage units filled with boxes provide safe harborage.
- Ample Food Sources: Even though food is prohibited in storage units, tenants often store items that unintentionally attract pests—pet food, pantry staples, bird seed, scented candles, or upholstered furniture. Rodents and insects can chew through cardboard and plastic to reach organic materials.
- High Traffic & Shared Spaces: Frequent tenant move-ins and move-outs create opportunities for pests to hitchhike in boxes, furniture, or fabric items. Shared hallways, loading areas, and elevators make it easy for pests to travel throughout the building.
- Hidden Entry Points: Even new buildings have vulnerabilities. Gaps around loading docks, doors that don’t fully seal, drain lines, and utility penetrations can allow insects and rodents to slip inside.
Common Pests in Climate-Controlled Storage
- Rodents (mice and rats): Rodents squeeze through openings the size of a dime, damaging wiring, insulation, and stored goods while leaving behind droppings and odors.
- Cockroaches: German cockroaches often arrive in boxes and appliances. Their rapid reproduction makes early detection essential.
- Ants: Species such as odorous house ants, Argentine ants, and pavement ants can nest inside wall voids and insulation. Their colonies often have a lot of queens and move often.
- Fabric Pests: Clothes moths and carpet beetles feed on natural fibers like wool, silk, and leather, making them a major risk for stored clothing and upholstered items.
- Stored Product Pests: Beetles, moths, and weevils can infest dry goods, grains, spices, or even scented natural products.
High-Risk Areas to Monitor
- Loading docks and entry points where pests can enter during tenant loading.
- Mechanical and electrical rooms that provide warmth and clutter.
- Hallways and elevator shafts that allow pests to travel between units.
- Units containing upholstered furniture, fabrics, or cardboard-heavy storage.
- Rooflines and utility penetrations where rodents and insects search for gaps.
A Proactive Pest Management Strategy
1. Perform a Facility-Wide Pest Risk Assessment
Regular inspections identify structural vulnerabilities like cracks, gaps, poor door seals, or moisture sources. Fixing these early prevents infestation before it begins.
2. Invest in High-Quality Exclusion
Climate-controlled buildings rely on tight seals. Ensure weatherstripping, sweeps, and dock seals are maintained and upgraded as needed.
3. Install Rodent and Insect Monitoring
Discreet devices placed strategically throughout the building help detect pest activity early. Trend reporting can guide maintenance priorities.
4. Keep Entry Points Clean and Organized
Remove clutter around loading areas, empty trash frequently, and eliminate vegetation or debris near the building’s perimeter.
5. Educate Tenants
Clear signage and move-in guidelines encourage tenants to avoid storing prohibited items and report any concerns.
6. Partner with a Professional Pest Control Provider
A comprehensive pest management program includes scheduled inspections, monitoring, sanitation recommendations, and fast response when issues arise.
Tenant Trust Depends on Prevention, Not Reaction
Climate-controlled facilities offer premium protection—but only if the environment is kept pest-free. Investing in consistent monitoring, strong facility maintenance, staff education, and professional pest expertise protects your building, your tenants’ belongings, and your reputation.