So you’ve had your shipping container for a little while now. Over time you might have noticed a few issues that you need to address. We have some tips on how to combat these problems if they ever occur during the life of your container.

Initial Inspection:
It is always a good idea to inspect the container when it arrives to ensure that it is up to your standards. Catching a problem early can save you stress and money in the long run. Although dents and rust are expected when purchasing a used container, you should keep an eye out for any irregular looking dents or extreme signs of rust.

Rust:
Most people believe shipping containers to be rust proof, however, that is not the case. The steel the containers are made out of slow the corrosion process but does not eliminate it. Extreme changes in climate can cause the container to go from wet to dry quickly which causes rust.

Rust can be removed by hand buffing or sandblasting down to the surface metal. It can then be primed and painted over to prevent any future rust spreading. The good news is as long as the rust is just cosmetic and not structural you shouldn’t have too much to worry about

Smell:
Sometimes shipping containers can have an odor that lingers after transporting various products overseas. Most of the time the smell will go away on its own but what do you do in extreme circumstances?

Airing out your container is a solution that usually works in a short amount of time. There also options of laying coffee grounds in the container to soak up the smell or specialized products that are designed specifically for this purpose.

Moisture:
Issues with condensation in your container can be handled similarly to odor issues. “Container sweat” occurs when the temperature of the container changes suddenly and it drops below the dew point.

The first step is to air your container out so it dries naturally if outside conditions allow. Desiccants bags can be placed on the floor for an easy low budget solution but are not always the proper solution depending on the cargo you are storing.

Modifications like insulation can help control the internal temperature to not drop below the dew point to create moisture. Depending on your surrounding, ventilationcan also equalize the temperature.

Door Problems:
If you container doors are not properly closed the temperature can fluctuate. Checking to make sure the doors are sealed tight should be done every time you close your container. We have another helpful article that will guide you through any problems you might run into when closing your container door.

At Container Alliance we strive to get you the best condition container we possibly can. There are always outside factors that can affect your container over the years. Our goal is to make sure you are prepared for any possible snags you might run into in the future.

Shipping Container Maintenence

So you’ve had your shipping container for a little while now. Over time you might have noticed a few issues that you need to address. We have some tips on how to combat these problems if they ever occur during the life of your container.