Home > Storage Resources > Climate-Controlled Storage vs. Drive-Up Storage: What Elkridge Renters Really Need
If you’ve searched for storage in Howard County, you’ve seen it: almost every facility tries to sell you climate control — as if it’s the only smart choice. But here at Store Here in Elkridge, we’ve helped thousands of renters, homeowners, and contractors store everything from furniture to business inventory — and guess what?
Most of them didn’t need climate control.
We don’t offer climate-controlled units, and we don’t hide that. Why? Because for the majority of storage needs in this area, it’s unnecessary — and we believe in helping you get what fits your life, not what fattens our margins.
Climate-controlled storage units regulate both temperature and humidity. Most facilities aim to keep internal temps between 55°F and 85°F with moisture control. These units are typically recommended for:
If you’re storing high-value, irreplaceable items for long periods, climate control might be worth considering.
But here’s what we’ve seen time and time again at our Elkridge facility: Most customers just need clean, dry, drive-up space for real-life belongings.
We don’t offer climate-controlled units — and we don’t need to. Instead, we’ve invested in making our outdoor-access, non-climate storage better protected, more accessible, and more affordable than the average facility.
Here’s what sets Store Here apart:
Our storage isn’t temperature-controlled — but it is well-managed, well-protected, and well-suited to Elkridge weather.
We get this question all the time. So here’s the real local answer:
Probably not.
Unless you’re storing for over a year or dealing with items that are extremely heat-sensitive (vinyl records, leather sofas, certain electronics), our non-climate units are more than enough — especially when you take a few simple steps:
Elkridge has hot summers and chilly winters, but it’s not extreme. Most furniture, boxed items, tools, and seasonal gear do just fine with passive ventilation and protection from the elements.
Let’s be honest — most climate-controlled storage pitches are designed to upsell. And we get it: the margins are better.
But at Store Here, we’ve chosen a different approach: clear pricing, no unnecessary features, and storage that works for the average Elkridge household.
Our customers aren’t storing priceless art. They’re storing bikes, boxes, tools, sofas, and family overflow. Many are renters managing overflow from apartment living nearby, or families managing logistics during military transitions at Fort Meade.
They choose us for:
Explore our non-climate, drive-up storage units in Elkridge — just minutes from Columbia, Jessup, and Fort Meade.
We’re happy to walk through what you’re storing and help you make the right call — even if that means recommending climate control at another facility. That’s how we’ve earned the trust of so many local customers.
Reserve your unit online today. Or call us at 410-883-5508 to talk with our team.
Store Here Self Storage – 7120 Old Waterloo Road, Elkridge, MD 21075
Local storage that fits your life, your budget, and your timeline.
About Huntsman Cancer Institute
Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission is to understand cancer from its beginnings, to use that knowledge in the creation and improvement of cancer treatments, to relieve the suffering of cancer patients, and to provide education about cancer risk, prevention, and care.
