I have always been one of those people who is concerned about keeping their house as clean as possible, which is probably one of the reasons I started thinking more seriously about using professional storage. I didn't want to have to worry about tripping over things that I didn't use on a daily basis, so I began focusing on making things right. Within a few short months, I was able to rent a storage unit, pack things up, and move them out of my house, and it made a huge difference. This blog is all about moving towards renting a storage unit and sorting things out.
Electronics are not like other fragile goods. A few layers of bubble wrap on the outside may protect the outer case from crushing hazards, but there are still some internal risks to keep in mind. Before tossing all of your electronics into a standard fragile goods box, here are a few electronics risks to plan around as you move to a new home.
Momentum And Movable Parts
Especially in desktop computers, electronics may have a few internal components that aren't well secured. If they're able to move around too much, they may come out of their sockets and become projectiles or simply snap apart at their connector areas.
Video cards/graphics cards, sound cards, network cards, and other types of expansion cards are some of the major hazards when it comes to internal damage. These cards should be secured with a mounting screw that isolates movement, but this isn't always the case. Even if the screws are in place, they may become loose over time and not checked unless you have at least yearly computer hardware inspections--something that rarely happens unless you're a computer hobbyist.
During a rough drive while moving, these cards can bounce like a diving board. Unlike diving boards, these cards aren't designed to be bent violently. A heavy enough jolt can snap the expansion card at its connector, which is simply a shorter sliver of circuit board.
Another thing to check is hard drive or solid state drive (SSD) mounting. Many custom computers have hard drives that are simply placed inside a mounting cage, but not secured with a screw. These drives can become projectiles that smash the motherboard or other internal components.
As an alternative to securing the components, you could remove the components and place them in anti-static bags. Be sure to wear an anti-electrostatic discharge (ESD) wrist strap to reduce static buildup, which happens from simply walking on carpet, or especially while moving in and out of a vehicle.
Isolation And Padding For Screens
If you're moving televisions, monitors, or entertainment systems with sensitive screens, you need more than just a layer of thin padding.
Be sure that all screens are not facing hard objects, and that no corners are facing the screens. Without using a ridiculous amount of padding, any corner that jabs into the flat, broad face of a screen can simply turn the padding into an extended punch from the corner. The cracking force will be spread out, and even if the screen itself doesn't crack upon impact, the screen could be knocked out of its mounting and break later.
For objects with internal, fragile components that you can't reach, ask a moving services professional for shock-absorbing containers. Containers with spring-supported anti-shock protection can make even rough rides a smoother trip.
Contact a residential moving service professional to discuss other ways to get your electronics to your new home safely.
Share9 November 2017
