How do you keep a shipping container house cool?

28 Oct.,2024

 

7 Ways to Keep Your Shipping Container Cool in the Summer

Whether you rent or own a shipping container, when summer comes around it can get mighty hot in there. Depending on the contents you have stored in your shipping container, the scorching weather could damage your items, causing you major costs and inconvenience.

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Since shipping containers are made out of steel, they absorb heat from the sun and in the summertime, high temperatures can wreak damage to the interior of the shipping container. 

To keep your shipping container cool during the summer, it&#;s important to prepare it for the hot months ahead and we&#;re here to help. Let&#;s take a closer look at seven ways to keep your shipping container cool in the summer. 

1. Install shipping container vents

The cross-ventilation method works well for shipping containers. By installing a vent at each end of the shipping container, a steady airflow is created within the interior to keep all your items dry.  

Which type of vents should you choose for your shipping container? The most common vent models are louvre, fixed and rooftop turbines. If you want to make a large investment, louvred vents are the most expensive from fixed and rooftop turbines. The benefit of louvred vents is that you can adjust the flaps to adjust the airflow.  

Fixed vents are the basic model but you cannot adjust the flaps to alter the airflow. Unlike louvred and fixed vents, rooftop turbine vents are installed on the roof of the shipping container and effectively provide adequate airflow to keep the items in your shipping container dry. 

2. Get a heat-proof roof 

The roof of a shipping container absorbs most of the heat from the sun&#;s rays and that heat spreads throughout your shipping container&#;s interior. In most cases, your shipping container comes with a coloured roof such as red, green or blue. The darker your shipping container&#;s roof, the hotter it gets.

An easy solution for keeping your shipping container cool in the summer is to paint the roof in a light colour such as white or light gray. To maximize the light paint&#;s effectiveness, instead of using a basic white paint, choose a white reflective paint that will help repel the sun&#;s rays. 

3. Install insulation

If you own a shipping container and plan to keep it for years to come, it&#;s a good idea to invest the time and effort to install insulation. The only drawback with insulating your shipping container is you lose some space in the interior due to the insulation taking up space in the walls. But the overall benefit of insulating your shipping container is that you get year-round warm winters and cool summers. The three most common types of insulation are rigid mineral board, spray foam insulation or fibreglass. 

4. Get air conditioning

If you want to kick it up a notch from vents, installing a portable HVAC air-conditioning unit will certainly make your shipping container cool during the summer. However, the essential thing you need in your shipping container is a power source for plugging in the HVAC air-conditioner.  

Another factor to keep in mind when choosing an HVAC air-conditioner for your shipping container is to base it on the size of your container&#;s interior. For instance, a portable air-conditioning unit with 12,000 BTU can cool a shipping container that is up to 400 square feet.  If your container is situated in a location with blazing hot summers or is larger than 400 square feet, you should choose a more powerful commercial HVAC system.

5. Use a dehumidifier

If air conditioning isn&#;t your thing, getting a dehumidifier is another option if you have a power source in your shipping container. Dehumidifiers pull the moisture out of the air to control the levels of humidity inside the container. If you decide to use a dehumidifier, adding a discharge line helps by getting rid of condensed water that builds up in the dehumidifier tank. 

6. Keep the doors shut

The most common moving parts of a shipping container are the doors. Over time they can naturally wear down due to constant opening and closing. Before the hot summer temperatures arrive, conduct a thorough inspection of the doors and hinges on your container to ensure the heat doesn&#;t seep in.

Here are some tips for maintaining the doors on your shipping container: 

  • Clean the rust and dirt off the door hinges 
  • Inspect the door seals and check if they are intact 
  • Check the rubber gasket seals, hinges and door latches on each door and use a spray lubricant on them for easy closing and opening 

By regularly maintaining the doors on your container, it keeps the heat out, especially if you have vents, air-conditioning or insulation installed inside.   

7. Position the shipping container in the shade

Another effective strategy to keep your shipping container cool in the summer is to place it in the shade away from direct sunlight. Once you have found a spot in the shade, put four 6-inch pressure-treated blocks (corner blocks) on solid ground or gravel, and place the container on top of them to improve air circulation.

By placing the container on top of corner blocks it reduces the chance of water accumulating underneath the container. As we all know, water and heat create dampness, humidity and mildew inside a container. You want to avoid this from happening during the summertime as it can damage the contents in your container. 

Contact Secure Container

We hope these tips have helped you think about the best ways you can keep your shipping container cool in the summer. If you apply some of these before the weather gets hot, you&#;ll be able to regulate the temperature in your container and keep your contents damage-free. 

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At Secure Container Solutions, we have a variety of storage bin rentals in different sizes for sale and for rent. For more information on how to maintain your shipping container during the summertime, contact Secure Container Solutions at 416-817- or contact us here.

Keeping Your Shipping Container Cool in the Summer

Keeping Your Shipping Container Cool in the Summer

The sun is powerful and can really heat things up. Think back to the last time you left your vehicle sitting outside all day in the hot sun. When you opened the door to get in, the blast of hot, humid air was probably stifling. You might have even burned your hand when touching the steering wheel or seat belt and scorched your leg on the sizzling hot seat.

Unless specifically built to be refrigerated, shipping containers are just like your car &#; external conditions dictate the internal temperature. The shipping containers are typically made from steel, which conducts heat very well. Temperature control is significant if you&#;re living in your shipping container, using it as an office, or storing items that are especially susceptible to heat and humidity. As you&#;d expect, there are many benefits of having access to a climate-controlled environment.

In hot climates, particularly in the summer, shipping containers can easily reach more than 100 degrees. So, to keep the inside cool and keep your contents safe, you&#;ll need to plan ahead. There are plenty of inexpensive and efficient ways to keep your shipping container cool. This blog will summarize a few you should consider when buying your shipping container.


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Heatproof the roof

The roof of a shipping container absorbs heat from the sun, which then seeps into the shipping container's interior. Typically, depending on the shipping container you purchase, it will have a colored roof &#; blue, red, green, etc. These darker colors will attract the sun, just like if you wore a black shirt, instead of a white one, outside on a hot summer day.

One way to keep the top of your shipping container cooler is to paint the roof white, light gray, or another light color. Even better, use white reflective paint that will repel the sun&#;s rays instead of absorbing them. This approach works - check out this video.

If you&#;re using your shipping container as a home or business, another way to keep it cooler in the summer is to purchase a larger-than-necessary roof to extend over the structure. This will help shade the container and the windows from direct sunlight.

Install venting or air units

If you have the budget, consider installing some venting or other equipment to increase airflow and condition the air inside your shipping container. There are several options here, including:

  • Storage container vents: Adding two shipping container vents at each end will provide enough airflow to keep contents dry. This is called cross-ventilation. Vent types include fixed, louvered, and rooftop turbines. While fixed vents are simple and effective, they don&#;t alter airflow. Louvered vents are more expensive, but they allow some flexibility over airflow. Non-powered rooftop turbine vents that can be mounted on the roof are a popular and effective (but costly) ventilation option and will provide enough airflow to keep contents dry.
  • Air conditioning: AC can certainly do the trick. If you&#;re using your shipping container for an office or workshop and have a power source, consider HVAC as a basic window air conditioner. The unit's cooling capacity will vary depending on the container's size or space inside the shipping container. A unit with 12,000 BTU will sufficiently cool a room up to 400 square feet. If you&#;re in a harsher climate, you may want to look into a more robust commercial through-wall HVAC system.
  • Exhaust fans: You can check into adding exhaust fans that are typically available in sizes of 10 to 36 inches. Most exhaust fans come standard with fan guards and gravity shutters, and some include variable speed control.
  • Dehumidifier: If you have electricity in your shipping container, a dehumidifier might be an option. These machines pull the moisture out of the air to control the humidity. Consider adding a discharge line to eliminate the condensed water collected in the dehumidifier tank efficiently. 

Don&#;t wait, insulate

Much like a home&#;s attic, basement, or main structure itself, insulation is necessary to control the shipping container's temperature and moisture. Whether the shipping container is used to store different kinds of belongings or converted into a home or business, maintaining the right environment inside is critical.

You can use many kinds of insulation for your shipping container, each with its benefits and shortcomings. One common approach to insulating is using spray foam, which helps you avoid energy loss and protect it from high humidity and sun glare. Spray insulation serves as a versatile, long-term improvement that can be installed quickly with minimum hassle.

Wait, there&#;s more

Here are some additional tactics on trying to keep control of the air quality inside your shipping container in the summer &#; or year-round if you&#;re in a harsh climate:

  • Place your shipping container in the shade out of direct sunlight.
  • Place an open bag of cat litter at each end of the shipping container to absorb moisture. It&#;s inexpensive but requires monitoring and regular replacement based on the humidity level.
  • Install cross-ventilation windows.
  • Install extractor fans to purge hot air.
  • Arrange items inside the shipping container in a way that will increase airflow &#; stack them off the floor on shelves or clean pallets and avoid storing items too closely together.
  • Regularly check the humidity inside your shipping container with a moisture meter or temperature gun. That way, you&#;ll know if you need to do something to better control the air quality before any contents get damaged.
  • Set the shipping container on gravel or 6-inch pressure-treated blocks for better air circulation.
  • Keep the shipping container on high ground to avoid flooding and standing water.
  • Keep the roof clear of leaves and moss since they trap moisture.
  • Separate containers by 6 feet for better airflow.
  • Keep air vents unblocked.
  • Avoid storing anything inside with high moisture content.

Keeping your shipping container cool in the summer is no sweat if you plan ahead by considering the tactics we&#;ve discussed. Not only will it protect your property, but it will also allow you to keep the container in tip-top shape longer. Interested in learning more? Feel free to give us a call at 866-247- or us at .

Sources

 

https://www.equipmentworld.com/business/article//climate-control-modifications-for-shipping-containers

https://www.sprayfoamexperts.co.uk/solutions-for-cooling-shipping-container

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