heated garages

My cars are currently kept in an unheated garage over the winter. Here in Wisconsin that can mean temp variations from +100 to - 30. Although not ideal, I've had no real problems.

As for heated spaces my thought is to keep an eye on humidity. Certain heating systems (hot water for example) can be very humid and if you don't control that it can be a problem. Forced air heat (typical furnace) can be dry, which is also no good for things like rubber and such.

You want the right mix of heat and humidity for long term storage.

 

If the garage is attached to the house and the garage walls, minimum, are insulated, then it's no big deal. Heck, even uninsulated walls are likely okay. It's the UV light from the sun that kills stuff so a garage is better than a car port/car cover/nothing!

 

I will let you know after this winter--I just put a furnace in my garage for the winter.

 

Hot damp air is worse than cold damp air, get a dehumidifier, dont worry about heating ..............

 

A dehumidifier would be more beneficial I should think. I have one in my garage.

Jas

 

Carcoon,keeps the car condensation and moisture free,so no seized brakes or clutches.
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I love that concept, but I can just image the amount of ribbing I would get from all the "non-car" people who saw it.

Even my wife, who IS a car person, would give endless grief.

 

Please tell me you are joking! A gas furnace? With an open flame to genrerate heat?

 

I know what you mean,I've heard enough Micheal Jackson and condom jokes to last a lifetime

 

You like that carcoon? - seems like a handy idea.

 

Are those ceiling tethers on the Carcoon recommended/necessary?

 

Heating a garage can be a bad idea, if your other vehicle regularly tracks in road salt and snow - which will then melt and produce salt water and salt air, and speed any corrosive action. Cars don't need to be kept room temperature or anything close. An attached garage with any insulation should be OK.

Also, yeah, I'd be concerned about any open-flame furnace anywhere near an Italian car with a fuel-combustion engine....

 

The Carcoon stays upright without any tethers,although it does come with the eyelets to attatch the tethers to.
I find it easier to get the car in and out using this method.
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My "fleet" is in a 3 car garage heated with a ventless natural gas heater. The heater has been in the house since new, 13 years. I spend a lot of time out there, and the heater makes it a pleasure in the winter. No problems at all, and one of the occupants is an Amal equiped Norton which always smells of petrol, if it's not downright leaking. You mount the heater on a convienent wall at least 2 feet up so the gas vapors that might be present sink to the floor. without a heater, I've witnessed the heat cycle followed by the cold and the "sweating" that occurs on all that beautiful metal. NOT GOOD! I would reccommend you install one.

 

Nice! I was wondering if there was an easier way. I never liked the idea of rolling out the top of the carcoon on your car and risk scratching it up. How long does it take you to get the car out and put it away into the carcoon?

-steve

 

They do make gas forced air heaters that are safe in the garage, electric pilot and all the flame during heating is kept in chambers. I was explained its not totally safe in a heavy fume environment so when I spray paint for example I make sure it wont turn on but in a normal garage environment its fine. Nothing beats going out to the garage and having it heated in low-mid-60's when its 30 outside. I keep my thermostat at 55 unless I am spending the whole day in the garage. A light sweater and I can work out there.

I have had all the usual shop items happen like fuel leaks, in the middle of spraying the heater come on because I "forgot" to turn it off and not gone boom yet, that is not saying I wont someday but these are "garage quality" heaters and not your standard house furnace so they are built with "not going boom" in mind. They are certified for residential and even commercial garages.

Mine is a Hot Dawg ( http://hot-dawg.modine.com/ ) but there are many others.

 

Anything metal wants cold and dry, but it's the dry part that is most important part. When I run artificially aging on stuff with metal in it, high humidity is key to causing degradation and condensation is the devil. The corrosion rate doubles every time the temp goes up 10C (about 20F), so storing the car at 70F instead of 30F will make it rust 4 times faster at the same humidity….but heating 30F 100% humidity air to 70F drops the humidity to about 25%, so it will be a much drier environment, more than canceling out the effects of the increase temperature. Never ever use a fuel buring heater that vents to the garage, the exhaust contains a lot of water vapor and will cause all kinds of corrosion problems for you.

Most plastics not seem to care about humidity, but degrade as temp goes up. UV light is the devil.

I'm not sure about leather/wool and such, I’ve never aged that such myself. The other group at the company deals with that…but I know they are always very concerned about the aging temperature so I have to guess an air-conditioned garage is more important than a heated one for these materials. UV is bad, but not quite as bad as it is for plastics.

 

Had the same thought. Maybe there's a drive-in model that stays inflated?

 

My garage is heated with forced hot air off of the main part of my house. I installed the duck work last year, so there are corrections that I will do this year. One in particular is that the humidity that builds up in the garage is incredible and not the best for autos (especially old ones). To correct the problem, I am installing a dehumidifier (two) piped out to the plumbing so I don't have to empty it every day. This should take out most moisture. I already have insulated walls, windows, and triple insulated garage doors. The moisture bothers me though. If the dehumidifier doesn't cure the problem, I'm closing the duct. I also cover the cars (regular indoor cover) which I believe keeps them dry. I do check it from time to time and I have never seen moisture dripping off the windows/body panels of the car. I also keep a coffee can filled with moth balls inside the car. A friend of mine with an "Italian" car has been doing it for years, so I did it too. The benefits? No moths and I think that the inside has a very "preserved" feeling to it.The one thing that's wet in the garage is the garage doors. They drip with moisture, so I know that the moisture is there. Also, I do NOT have a return in the garage. I think that would make the difference. I may be wrong though.

 

Viagra for the car condom!? Could be...

 

Well, hello, you can't drive it in if it's not inflated.

Oops - nvm.

 

No--electric with heat pump--just like in most house's.

 

Sealing the floor is probably worht a try. The humidity must be coming up through the cement...adding heat should have made the garage dry.

also, you might want to just buy a humidity gage and check it, it might be much lower than you thing. The warm air will hold a lot or water and the humidity could be as low as 24-30% and you can still see conensation on the cold windows.

 

It takes no longer than a couple of mins to put the car in or get it out.