Garage moisture / surface rust
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 392
Likes: 6
From: Churchville PA
Garage moisture / surface rust
My garage sometimes has condensation and/or moisture inside and I'm starting to see some surface rust on my rotors, bare metal parts underneath, etc. I live in SE PA where the winters get pretty cold and we've had a ton of rain in the couple months. It's a 3 car attached garage with 2 of the walls adjoining the house and then other side wall and doors facing the outside. All 4 sides are insulated in the walls and the doors fit pretty well (with only a few spots where light may shine through the rubber molding.
Anyone have ideas on a heater, vent fan, dehumidifier, etc that could help cut down the humidity? We do use the garage as our main entrance as we pull in the driveway and come/go through one of the doors.
If no good option to keep the humidity out, what are thoughts on the blow up car capsule? I have 3 cars in here (Corvette, Viper, Cobra), 1 is in the end garage, the other 2 are stacked with a 4 post lift. Not sure how well the car capsule would work in the bay with the lift?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
Anyone have ideas on a heater, vent fan, dehumidifier, etc that could help cut down the humidity? We do use the garage as our main entrance as we pull in the driveway and come/go through one of the doors.
If no good option to keep the humidity out, what are thoughts on the blow up car capsule? I have 3 cars in here (Corvette, Viper, Cobra), 1 is in the end garage, the other 2 are stacked with a 4 post lift. Not sure how well the car capsule would work in the bay with the lift?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
Last edited by chrisd0729; Dec 21, 2018 at 08:50 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 17
From: South Shore Massachusetts
Try carbag.com, I have used them for over 20 years, the cars come out in the spring the same way you put them in late fall. It’s the best couple hundred bucks I have spent. Just my 2 cents
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,214
Likes: 1,671
From: Long Island
What kind of heat do you have in the house.
I have hot water and ran 16' of baseboard along one wall in a separate zone.
During the winter I keep the shop at 47 degrees - 45 is the lowest the stat goes. It maintains the temp very well. It does take a while to raise the temp if you want to work in there.
The good thing about baseboard is that there is no items to create a spark as the stat is "computer" electronic. I also run a de-humidifier and have no issues.
I do have tools and machines (lathe , mill, etc) in the shop so it keeps them rust free.
If I want to work it takes 3 hours to get to 60 degrees and then holds it very well.
I keep saying I'm going to increase the baseboard to 30' but never have.
I have hot water and ran 16' of baseboard along one wall in a separate zone.
During the winter I keep the shop at 47 degrees - 45 is the lowest the stat goes. It maintains the temp very well. It does take a while to raise the temp if you want to work in there.
The good thing about baseboard is that there is no items to create a spark as the stat is "computer" electronic. I also run a de-humidifier and have no issues.
I do have tools and machines (lathe , mill, etc) in the shop so it keeps them rust free.
If I want to work it takes 3 hours to get to 60 degrees and then holds it very well.
I keep saying I'm going to increase the baseboard to 30' but never have.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 164
From: Broadview hts Ohio
I am in northern ohio, same climate as you. I keep my 2 vettes stacked on the 4 post lift. One is in a car capsule and the other is in a car jacket
with desiccant bags inside. Both methods work well to keep the surface rust away.
Joe
with desiccant bags inside. Both methods work well to keep the surface rust away.
Joe
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,232
Likes: 419
This. I have 2 Corvettes stored in car CarBags over the winter and they always come out they way they were put in.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 121
From: Kernersville NC
You can get a room dehumidifier at Lowe's or Home Depot for $250 or so. I have one in the crawlspace that keeps the humidity around 50%. I don't know how well it would wok opening the garage doors multiple times a day.
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Sounds like you don't have a heated garage. I have an attached double garage setup similar to yours with an electric baseboard heater set to 40F for the winter. A bit of heat will go a long way in a cold/damp climate like here in Nova Scotia. A small exhaust fan would help if heating is not an option or the car bag.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,214
Likes: 1,671
From: Long Island
My "shop" is detached but well insulated , I dug a trench and ran the hot water pipes to the shop.
I agree a little heat goes a long way to drop the humidity in the shop. I have a Temp and Humidity tracer - it usually is around 30% in the winter at 47 degrees. In the summer a small de-humidifier keeps it down to 50%. I live on L.I. so the summer is humid.
I agree a little heat goes a long way to drop the humidity in the shop. I have a Temp and Humidity tracer - it usually is around 30% in the winter at 47 degrees. In the summer a small de-humidifier keeps it down to 50%. I live on L.I. so the summer is humid.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Central KY
I have a garage which is heated only when I am working there. The issue I have to watch is when the temperature is cold (40 or less) and I open the doors, and humid outside air enters the garage and the water condenses on the cold metal things. Tools, car parts, anything metal. I usually heat the garage before opening the doors to avoid this situation.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: LaFayette Georgia
C3 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
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Eddy
Last edited by 74_stingray; Dec 22, 2018 at 06:02 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 797
Likes: 156
From: England AR
use a car cover and put a few pieces of VCI paper in with it, they will help coat the bare metal with corrosion inhibitors
this problem is also why I've taken to spraying all new parts and replacement parts with clearcoat... because NOTHING is more annoying than installing new parts, and 3 weeks later you come back and what you thought was zinc plating... was bare steel and is now a bright Chevrolet orange rust color.
this problem is also why I've taken to spraying all new parts and replacement parts with clearcoat... because NOTHING is more annoying than installing new parts, and 3 weeks later you come back and what you thought was zinc plating... was bare steel and is now a bright Chevrolet orange rust color.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: SW Florida.
I have forced air gas heat and a couple of ducts run right across the roof of my garage. So I punched a couple holes and put in a couple of registers. When I screwed up, was when I took the dryer vent that goes into the garage out of the wall and kept it exiting in garage. I figured the heat from the dryer would heat the garage. Problem is it's the wettest heat in the world. Are you sure you don't have any ducts running through your garage?
Last edited by derekderek; Dec 23, 2018 at 10:26 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 646
Likes: 17
From: Hendersonville NC
Had a detached garage like that. Problem was when the concrete was poured they did not put plastic down to keep the concrete from sweating when the weather turned from cold to hot. The moisture comes out of the ground through the concrete and would wet any metal in my garage. The problem went away for me when I sold the house.