My car is soaked - storage

[PeteBrown]

Here in Northern Ohio we have had 3 storms in two weeks resulting in nearly 36 inches of snow in the snow-belt area. Then late last week warm weather arrived and melted everything creating very high humidity. The impact of this drastic change in weather is that everything in my garage is soaking wet including my car under its two covers. Aside from heating the garage or finding another storage site, what's the best way to protect my car given its wet?
Here are a couple shots the car in my garage this afternoon.
Thanks

[jester911]

You might want to get a cheap dehumidifier to start.

[Grady Clay]

Pete,

Either buy or rent a dehumidifier today! Run the drain to the outside.

That will slightly raise the temperature and expel the water to the outside. You can also put a heater under the 911 to prevent condensation.

Best,
Grady

[Rot 911]

If the garage is not heated you will have a hard time using a dehumidifier because once the temperature gets below 55 degrees or so the cooling coils with just freeze over and you will end up with just a block of ice in the back of the dehumidifier.

[DarrylD]

Seattle is damp all the time. I put a 250 watt halogen worklight like the one pictured inside the car and cracked the window about 1/8".



The worklight has a nice clamp on it to position it so it won't touch anything and melt it and the temperature inside the car says high enough to evaporate any moisture.

[Grady Clay]

Pete,

Go read these:
“Winter Storage Checklist”
Winter storage checklist?
“Rust vs. Humidity vs. Storage”
Rust vs humidity vs storage
“What do you do about winterization?”
What do you do for winterization?

There are dehumidifiers that have a “defrost cycle” that prevents the problem Kurt brought up. Yes, heaters are very worthwhile.

Best,
Grady

[tsuter]

That's condensation on the car and inside garage from being cold for a week, then all of a sudden 50F and door open and condensation on every thing metal in the cold garage.
We saw temps go from -10F on Tuesday to 45F on Friday in WI and my cars all looked the same. water running down them everywhere.
Until I got out and drove them 80miles or so windows down heater on....
That dryed everything out.... inside and out.
That moisture is inside everything otherwise!!!!
Just drive it good.

[89911]

Get a dehumidifier soon. Also take the car outside and leave the windows down if the weather permits. As far as leaving your car unattended with a plugged in halogen light that gives off tons of heat....thats up to you. I wouldn't.

[CRH911S]

I'm amazed at the amount of moisture in your car. How is it that it is so humid in your garage. Up here we've had about 2' for snow, melting, and more snow and I never see anything like that in my garage. I keep my garage at about 35-40 degrees f and never experience moisture. I keep my S2000 covered under a carport and parked on visqueen and don't see any problems like you are having. Anyway, hope the humidifier works but what is that moisture doing to your home?

[cegerer]

I would contact a local restoration contractor such as ServPro and have them put one of their large commercial dehu's in there! They could completely dry that out in a couple of hours.

http://www.servpro.com/services/dehumidification.htm

Also, I would lay a piece of 6 mil polyethylene over the entire concrete floor before moving the car back in there.

[ZOA NOM]

Move to California.

[DarrylD]

I'm talking about using the 250 watt halogen light to dry out a car interior, I used to own a Targa and needed to do this all the time. Of course you don't leave it on all the time, that would be overkill.



I use a product called a Golden Rod on my boat and in my gun safe, perhaps a large one might work inside a car.

[tsuter]

No dehumidifier was going to solve that. he wouldn't have had the problem if he had kept his garage door closed. It's condensation because of a 50 degree temp change thermal last week that came thru after a little snow in the space of 3-4 hours.
That car just warmed up too slow... slower that the ambient air coming in when the door was opened.

[North Coast Cab]

Pete,
I have the same issues on the West Side of Cleveland. My car is wide open so it's ok, but all the tools in my tool box are covered with water. I'd start by opening the car up and trying to add heat to the garage or a fan to move some air.

Also, While you'r on P-car detail it may be a good time to get those struts and t-bars installed that I see sitting on your workbench.

John

[geof33]

Wow that is some serious condensation. Is your garage insulated? What type of door do you have? We have those temp fluxes in Co but I have never had condensation of any sort develop on anything in the garage... Wow!!!

[toolman]

Because it was so darn cold for a few weeks, everything in the shop got cold too. We then had 60 degree temps with high humidity. To combat this, I heated up the shop to 70 degrees and let everything get up to temp before opening the overhead door. No condensation at all.

[yasir]

I am just after spending $2600 on putting this ac/heat pump along with insulating the attic O well things we do for our toys

[PeteBrown]

Dehumidifier is in the garage and running but it's still raining outside and the garage is soaking wet. Time for a heater.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by ZOANAS
Move to California.

Wrong.

I would put a propane heater in there and a small fan for air circulation if it is safe to do so.

[strupgolf]

Pete, get a "bubble" cover that you drive your car into and zip it up. Ive seen these in Hemmings, etc. They zip up, and you hook up a smal fan that comes with it. It should keep everything cozy and dry, because moisture should not get into it with the fan going. Look at www.carbag.com or calcarcover.com