Founded in 1890, Hansen Bros. Moving & Storage the parent company of Portabox has successfully weathered many history-changing events including the Great Seattle Fire, WWI, the Spanish Flu of 1918, the Great Depression, WWII, the 2008 recession, and 9/11 among many other public crises. We are taking the current COVID-19 threat very seriously and will promptly adhere to any and all directives from local, state and federal government officials. Hansen Bros. and Portabox have been categorized as an essential industry business (moving & relocation) within the current mandate established by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee.

As essential services, we will maintain normal operations until such time as either company management determines we must close our offices or we are directed to do so by a governmental authority. We are taking extensive precautionary measures including the adoption of all CDC guidelines and the establishment of our own policies intended to minimize health risks for all customers, employees, contractors, vendors, and community stakeholders. We are proud to be able to support the needs of our customers during this crucial time but are prepared to quickly change course as required.

Stay safe together with Hansen Bros. and Portabox

The COVID-19 crisis is fluid and there are many uncertainties and factors outside of our control that may, with little or no advance notice, impact our delivery of moving & storage services. Please be aware the current crisis could potentially result in small inconveniences such as a delayed project start time or significant inconveniences such as the complete rescheduling of services.

Although there are many unknowns to be navigated, you can be certain that Hansen Bros. and Portabox will be timely and transparent in our communications regarding servicing your moving & storage needs, and our professional relocation consultants will work diligently to offer creative solutions in the event your project is impacted by the current health crisis.

Steps We're Taking:

  • Company-wide Implementation of all precautionary measures recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
  • Office staff and crews are being monitored daily for symptoms and/or known exposure by management and asked to go home, contact their healthcare provider, and self-quarantine as directed. Staff that experience symptoms and/or aware of exposure when not at work have been directed to stay home and notify their supervisor.
  • Office staff and crews are receiving daily briefings on precautionary measures and have been directed to follow them on and off the job.
  • Office staff and crews are being instructed to maintain appropriate “social distance” of 6 feet minimum between one another, customers, and all other people.
  • Office staff and crews are being provided with appropriate hand sanitizer and surface disinfecting supplies. They have been directed to disinfect truck cabs and moving equipment between each move to the best of their ability. These supplies will continue to be replenished as we are able, based on availability from retailers.
  • We are limiting visitation to our branch offices. If you wish to purchase moving boxes or supplies, please simply call in your order and we will happily deliver to your vehicle outside.

We are all in this together.  The team at Hansen Bros. and Portabox is proud to continue offering our services in accordance with the necessary precautions outlined above. We are here to make the process of storing belongings seamless & safe for you.

Guidelines for storing car parts

Step 1 of 2

MM slash DD slash YYYY

Car parts can deteriorate quickly if they are not stored properly. Even if you plan to store them short term in temporary storage Seattle, you need to make sure that your auto components are prepared and packed well and kept in proper conditions. If you are storing car parts these days, don’t just chuck them in your wet basement. Instead, find a suitable self-storage and keep them in a dry and safe place. However, before you can store them in your new storage unit you need to do a few things to prepare them. Here’s what you need to do.

When you are storing car parts, you need to watch out for the moisture

You probably already know that vehicles do not like to be parked for too long. They can deteriorate surprisingly quickly when they do not operate for some time. Well, the same goes for automotive parts. Naturally, there are things that you can do to make sure that your parts stay operational even after long-term storage. Your number one priority, of course, is to find a suitable Lynnwood self-storage facility that can provide your parts with suitable conditions. But what are the perfect conditions for storing automotive parts? When in storage your number one enemy will be moisture. If your parts are stored in a humid environment, it will not take long before they become unusable. That is why chucking your gear in a wet basement is out of the question.

Water droplets on a car
Your number one enemy will be moisture

If you have enough room you can keep your car parts at home

So your first assignment is to find a dry place where you will keep your parts. Of course, the first place to look for storage space is in your home. If you have a workshop or a garage that is not susceptible to temperature fluctuations, it is the best place to keep them. That way you can always keep an eye on them and you do not have to pay for storing them.

Unfortunately, that is not always possible. Of course, if you have a few small pieces you can always find a place to keep them. But if you are talking about exhaust pipes, axles, engines, or something similarly large it can be hard to find enough space to keep them at home.  That is why most of the time people use short term storage Seattle to store their auto parts. But how to find a good storage facility?

How to find a suitable storage facility to store automotive parts

It is not easy to find a suitable storage facility. Especially if you try to do it online.  Of course, you will search for them online, but if you want to make sure that the conditions are right you will have to visit the facility in person before you decide to call moving and shipping services to transport your parts there. Naturally, you will also have to think about the price. Some facilities offer discounts if you decide to sign a long-term commitment. That is why it would be good if you would know how long you plan to store them. That way you can find a cheaper deal.

Things to watch out for when visiting storage facilities

When you are visiting storage facilities, you need to keep your eyes wide open to all signs of neglect. Pay attention to the overall hygiene of the place. Are the corridors clean? How do their offices look? See if all light bulbs are working. How is security? Are there any guards? Do they have surveillance or an alarm system? Are the walls clean and painted? Can you see some chipped paint or naked bricks? Look for signs of mold.

Finally, if moisture is present in the room you should be able to smell it. These are the signs that should help you to identify places where you shouldn’t keep your valuable auto parts. On the other hand, if you can afford it, you can rent mobile storage containers Seattle and rest assured that your part will have perfect conditions while in storage.

Forklifts in a storage facility
Keep your automotive parts in a suitable place

Clean your parts thoroughly

If you have found perfect storage, you can start preparing your parts for storage. As we already mentioned, cars and their parts do not like to rest too much. They can quickly become unusable very quickly. However, it is not because they like to move around, it is because of the oils and liquids that become sticky and start causing corrosive processes. That is why your task is to clean them from old oils and fuels that were once helping them run. Of course, you cannot clean mechanical parts with water. You need to find a suitable cleaner or you can take them to your mechanic and let them do the cleaning.

Lubricate your parts properly

Once you clean your parts, you need to give them some grease that will protect them from outer effects. Of course, it all depends on the part and its material. But you can find a suitable automotive part lubricant in every online auto store. If you are not sure what to get, do some research or ask your mechanic.

How to pack automotive parts

Finally, it is time to find suitable packing material to store your vehicle parts. Of course, it all depends on the size of your part. If you have smaller parts you can wrap them individually in a cloth and pack them in a regular cardboard box. On the other hand, if you have an engine to store for example. You can wrap it in a moving blanket and put it in a wooden crate or leave it on a pallet.

Nice and shiny car engine
Protect your engine with a wooden crate if you can

When storing car parts the most important thing is to find suitable storage

This is the way of storing car parts. As you can see the most important part is to find a suitable and dry place. If you manage to find it, clean and pack them properly, you can rest assured that your parts will have a long shelf life.

Latest Posts