Canal Winchester, OH: Top Things to Know About Storage

Tolerable Traffic

Overall, traffic in Canal Winchester isn’t too bad.  Rush hour lasts from 7AM to 9:30AM and 4PM to 6:15PM.  Even during rush hour, there are certain highways that are exceptionally packed, which include the following:  70, 71, 270, 670, 315.  That pretty much sounds like all of the highways in the city, so which ones are you supposed to avoid?  Out of all of them, highway 71 is probably the worst, and 270 is probably the best.  You can’t avoid driving through particular routes, but you can avoid storing next to certain highways.  Try not to store your stuff in a facility close to either the 71 or 270 highways so you can avoid traffic.  If it’s absolutely necessary for you to do so, opt for a facility that gives you 24-hour access to your unit.  You may not be able to avoid a highway, but you can avoid going on it at peak rush hour times.

Hot and Cold

Canal Winchester’s weather reaches extremes quite often.  The area has a humid subtropical climate, and is accustomed to high temperatures and precipitation throughout the year.  The summers are very hot and humid, and the winters are snowy.  Rainfall mainly occurs in spring, and the season often brings severe thunderstorms that cause power outages and closing of schools and local roadways.  Sometimes electric and phone lines are also damaged.

When looking to store your things at a facility in this city, there are a lot of things that you should take into consideration.  First, you should definitely store in a climate controlled unit.  The severe humidity and changes in weather can negatively impact your belongings.  Second, look for a facility that has covered loading/unloading zones for the rainy spring season.  You don’t want to have to postpone a trip to your unit because of fear of getting drenched.  Third, also consider finding a facility that has heated loading/unloading zones.  The winters can get very cold with temperatures going below freezing quite often, which would make it really difficult for you to get your things from your unit.  Lastly, ask facility managers what precautions they take against flooding and thunderstorms.  You might want to store in an indoor unit to avoid having to deal with leaks that can occur due to severe thunderstorms.  Make sure you take all of the necessary precautions so the weather doesn’t catch you off guard.

Boats in the Canal

Canal Winchester is a mellow city, but it definitely has its quirks.  The Canal Winchester Labor Day Festival is a local tradition that attracts over 40,000 visitors each year.  The three-day event is filled with food, music, a beer tent, a car show, the Labor Day parade, and canal boat races.  Needless to say, this is quite a busy time of year for the little city. The canal boat races draw out a lot of boats that need to be stored somewhere.  The residents of this city are actually pretty big on boats and fishing, so boat storage is quite important.  Whether or not you decide to participate in the event, as a boat owner you need to be careful with how you store your precious vehicle.

Before putting your boat in storage, you need to do a little prep work so that it stays in good condition while in hibernation.  Start with flushing the engine with non-toxic antifreeze and make the antifreeze circulate until it comes out of the exhaust.  Clean out the stern drive, grease all fittings, and check fluid levels.  Add fuel stabilizer to the tank, change the gear oil in the lower unit, wash the engine, and then lubricate the exterior of the engine.  Drain the fresh water tank and hot water heater, and be sure to put non-toxic antifreeze in the water heater as well.  Lastly, pump out the holding tank.

Given how humid Canal Winchester is, you should definitely try to keep your boat in a climate controlled area.  Although this would be ideal, it’s very expensive.  If you end up storing your boat outdoors, you can also shrink-wrap your boat or just make sure it is covered with a tarp.  You should also invest in a dehumidifier or moisture absorber to keep your boat dry and mildew-free.

If you follow our instructions to prep your boat before storing it, you’re likely to find it in good condition when you take it out for the spring and summer.  If you’re a little overwhelmed by all that needs to be done, don’t hesitate to ask your storage facility’s manager for help.  This stuff can get a little complicated, so most managers and staff members are more than happy to help you properly store your boat.