Non climate controlled storage - the attics

[Guest]

We live in a 100 year old house that is scarce on closets to say the least. We've been at this prepping thing for over 2 years now & we are busting at the seams! :D I've been looking for a list of items we can store in the attics (we have LOTS of space there). Our plan is to move everything that can tolerate the heat to the attics to free up the inside storage space. We already have our charcoal up there (soon to be in buckets), sugar, laundry soap, & tools but what else can be stored up there? :confused:Thanks!

[justanothergunnut]

unless you live in the desert where attic temps can reach 140 to 150 degrees,, I see you live in texas rice,beans,pasta,wheat, dried soup mixes even freeze dried or dehydrated foods.. its not always the temp that causes problems but extreme variations in the temp. High desert areas are bad for this it can reach 100+ during the day and drop down to the high 30's at night. Extreme elevated temps will shorten the projected storage life span but I dont think it is a concern for most folks as we should be rotating our preps anyways...

[Klayton]

Hmmmm I see it a little different, and I may be completely wrong. But it is not just the high temperature in the attic, it is the extreme fluctuation of temperature daily, and the moisture level (your tools are going to rust up there).

We stored a few things in the attic for awhile, but we decided against it and now our car sits in the driveway and our non-temperature sensitive preps are in the garage, less fluctuation, insulated, and electricity (dehumidifier in the summer months-of course the water is drained outside where it can be used and NOT simply poured down the drain).

Well, just me thinking outside the box as usual.

[1Admin]

I'd use (and have) a garage over the attic. Probably less chance of rodents also.

[trkarl]

I keep a lot of clothing, canning jars, and other non perishable goods in our attic in closeable tubs. Haven't had a problem with them.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

We already have our charcoal up there (soon to be in buckets)

To Becky or anyone else when you store the charcoal is it in sealed buckets with O2 absorbers or what are you doing to protect it from moisture, mainly humidity?
#2 question, why am I storing charcoal & what advantages does it have?
I'm trying to sort this out in my head. Where I might bugout to doesn't have alot of wood. We burn some wood, grasses and dried cow patties for fire when camping out there but I'm not sure how long it would take to look like Haiti and run out of useable fuel. If I bugin there is enough for a while maybe a year if all people who are living around here are using it. I also don't have a ton of storage but it doesnt weigh alot so it could be good to at least have some. I dunno, help a brother out here folks

[arcangel911]

Depending on location, and your setup....

Another thing to store in attics is apparently the water heater or a makeshift one. Granted, you maybe asking why, but those temps save a ton when it comes to hot water. It is just a thought and only that.

[Sunshine]

@ Matt: I store regular charcoal in it's original bags side by side in a garbage cans. I keep those cans outside under a lean-to. That's how it was suggested in a wonderful book I got called Don't be afraid of your food storage..... just Dutch It. This is a cookbook that give you basic recipes then tells you what to add to make it better and best. It explains how to cook using charcoal as your fuel with your dutch oven.

[andyn1976]

Sounds like a good book. Have to find that one.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

@ Matt: I store regular charcoal in it's original bags side by side in a garbage cans. I keep those cans outside under a lean-to. That's how it was suggested in a wonderful book I got called Don't be afraid of your food storage..... just Dutch It. This is a cookbook that give you basic recipes then tells you what to add to make it better and best. It explains how to cook using charcoal as your fuel with your dutch oven.

Thanks Sunshine! the Charcoal doesnt get effected by the humidity over time?

[Sunshine]

@Matt: We've had no problems. But we've only been storing it for about 6 months now. We'll have to wait and see what the Texas summer does to it.
FYI if your charcoal gets wet, it will dry. It should take a few days if it's really wet. Then it's as good as new and ready to use.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

@Matt: We've had no problems. But we've only been storing it for about 6 months now. We'll have to wait and see what the Texas summer does to it. YI if your charcoal gets wet, it will dry. It should take a few days if it's really wet. Then it's as good as new and ready to use.

K, Thanks, dunno if i can wait for it to dry post SHTF, it's a backup to the backup so i gotta keep my powder, er charcoal dry!

[BeckyinTX]

Gonna have to think about putting the water heater up there. Would have to reinforce the floor to hold the weight maybe & figure some sort of way to know when it starts leaking. Good idea!

@Matt: We store charcoal for a few reasons. 1- it's my understanding charcoal is good forever & can be stored in areas not climate controlled. 2- I need charcoal to get the temperature right in my dutch ovens, which I will use to bake with. We have to have a way of baking brownies. :) 3- we use it in our volcano stove. 4- I can usually find it cheap here in BBQ country. 5- it can be stored in old 5 gallon paint buckets, which we can get free.

BTW, in the outside stow of the travel trailer we stored some opened charcoal in an empty dog food bag over the winter & had no problems lighting it in the spring.

[lcas-271]

As is I don't like the idea of storing food products in an attic. With the high temps that can be reached during the summer, I'd be worried about a possible decrease in vitamins in the food. Anyone know the chances of that?

Have you considered adding a solar attic fan? The research that I've been doing shows a possible temp. difference of only 5-8 deg above the ambient temp. And with multiple air changes per hour the humidity could be slightly lower.

LCAS-271

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Gonna have to think about putting the water heater up there. Would have to reinforce the floor to hold the weight maybe & figure some sort of way to know when it starts leaking. Good idea!
@Matt: We store charcoal for a few reasons. 1- it's my understanding charcoal is good forever & can be stored in areas not climate controlled. 2- I need charcoal to get the temperature right in my dutch ovens, which I will use to bake with. We have to have a way of baking brownies. :) 3- we use it in our volcano stove. 4- I can usually find it cheap here in BBQ country. 5- it can be stored in old 5 gallon paint buckets, which we can get free.
BTW, in the outside stow of the travel trailer we stored some opened charcoal in an empty dog food bag over the winter & had no problems lighting it in the spring.

Thanks Becky, good points!