Storage advice damp garage

[Jenson87]

Hi all
I’m reaching out for some advice on how best to store in the cold wet months
My cerb is off the road and engine stripped.
The garage has started to show mould on the wooden shelves, it’s a new home single garage.
I’m worried how this can affect the car, or if it will start to rust underneath.
Should I get a car cover?
I’m not sure what best to do.

[Daniel-vwbsa]

I keep my Tamora in a carcoon over the worst of the winter, doing its job superbly at the moment in keeping it moisture free. I’d certainly recommend one or something similar.

[phillpot]

Seal up the door as best you can ( up and over?) And get a decent dehumidifier.

[Funky Squirrel]

At low temps a heater keeping the garage a couple of degrees above ambient is more effective than a dehumidifier.

[Simon_GH]

I leave the door open (usually just a foot or so) on a regular basis to help with the damp. Ultimately, as others have said, it’s either a carcoon to create a more suitable environment or go down the dehumidifier and heater route.

Insulating a garage will help manage the changes in temperature which cause moisture to form as the air cools and loses capacity to hold water but it won’t be a quick job.

[Byker28i]

I've got the MX-5 in there for work at the moment, and temp sensors as the solar batteries are there as well.

Yesterday it got to 93% humidity, so when it wasn't raining I opened the doors to blow through. Went to 100% humidity

My heater is propane, so I suspect that puts out a lot of moisture. I probably need to vent the garage after working in there/heating it

[Jenson87]

Ok great suggestions and advice, I’ll get on it. Thank you all

[barchetta_boy]

You have 2 choices, either increase air circulation and accept ambient humidity (RH) which will get to 95-100% when it's raining outside, or seal the place up better and dehumidify. But it's one or the other. No point throwing a dehumidifier into a leaky garage.

You can get plastic disposable chemical-filled dehumidifiers which can be useful for short term use in a smaller, sealed environment (eg inside a car with the windows closed).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/ANSIO-Dehumidifier-Conden...

[Supateg]

Some good comments here, first you need information & data

Buy one of these, log it to see what’s going on.

https://uk.govee.com/products/wi-fi-thermo-hygrome...

Generally

Mould grows happily about 70% + humidity
Cars are happy 55%-70 ish humidity (unless it’s a museum or priceless collection!)
Cars in garages are happy(in this weather) 10 degrees or above.

Higher temperatures reduce dew point > ie lower dew point away from garage temp.

Lower humidity reduces dew point > ie lower dew

Any water entering the garage ie single brick damp wall or being blown under the door or gaps is very bad for the above..

You know if conditions are poor when you get mould in the vehicle interior

Hth a tad….i do ramble especially after vino https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/4.gif

Edited by Supateg on Monday 6th January 19:02

[ridds]

My garage leaks like a sieve, so does my shed.

A £90 Amazon dehumidifier worked amazingly in both locations for me.

Of course it cannot cope with damp air getting blown in but it drops the humidity inside the buildings very fast when winds / rain stops.

Constant drain is needed and protect it from 0°C temps. It kills them very quickly.

[barchetta_boy]

Is it refrigerant type or dessicant? IIRC correctly dessicant is better at low temps. I have a refrigerant based Calorex unit

[Simon_GH]

Byker28i said:

I've got the MX-5 in there for work at the moment, and temp sensors as the solar batteries are there as well.

Yesterday it got to 93% humidity, so when it wasn't raining I opened the doors to blow through. Went to 100% humidity

My heater is propane, so I suspect that puts out a lot of moisture. I probably need to vent the garage after working in there/heating it

Propane produces water and CO2 when burned. Electrically-derived heat is dry but will cost more to run.

[frontfloater]

I use one of these Sealey de-humidifiers in my kitchen when I have damp laundry hanging on an airer. They are suitable for fairly small confined spaces, so a garage should be ok.

It removes about a gallon over 5-6 hours, and effectively turns damp clothes into ironable ones. There is a screen showing the ambient humidity level, and you can pre-programme it to stop at a set figure, or on a timer. You can fit a drain-hose so the tank doesn't get full and cut out. It can also be used as a cool air blower on hot days.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/363546497110

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-SDH20-Dehumidifier...

[Byker28i]

There's a thread for garage dehumidifiers

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

with the Meaco DD8l getting good reviews, with the claim the desicant ones are better/more efficient for cold garages
There are also on off at homebase at the moment with 25% off, so £150 at checkout
https://www.homebase.co.uk/meaco-dd8l-desiccant-de...

I have a Meaco Arete 25l from when we had the old house. When it's sunny and I'm out tomorrow I may run that in there to see what it can shift. Probably not a lot in a day

Edited by Byker28i on Wednesday 8th January 13:30

[Byker28i]

Simon_GH said:

Byker28i said:

I've got the MX-5 in there for work at the moment, and temp sensors as the solar batteries are there as well.

Yesterday it got to 93% humidity, so when it wasn't raining I opened the doors to blow through. Went to 100% humidity

My heater is propane, so I suspect that puts out a lot of moisture. I probably need to vent the garage after working in there/heating it

Propane produces water and CO2 when burned. Electrically-derived heat is dry but will cost more to run.

Yup, probably the source of my excessive moisture as working on the MX-5 currently, hence venting the doors when it's warmer.




I noticed I had a massive gap at the top of the up and over doors, so I bought some garage rubber trim seal which has the most amazing strong double sided tape.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09LLTHDKP.

There was enough left over to wedge under the door near the MX-5 to stop drafts as I work on the rear axle...

[phillpot]

Byker28i said:

My heater is propane, so I suspect that puts out a lot of moisture. I probably need to vent the garage after working in there/heating it

A direct fired propane heater will produce around a kilo of water for ever kilo of gas burnt.

[phillpot]

Byker28i said:

My heater is propane, so I suspect that puts out a lot of moisture. I probably need to vent the garage after working in there/heating it

A direct fired propane heater will produce almost a kilo of water for every kilo of gas burnt.