Garage vs lockup vs cover vs commando

[chappardababbar]

I checked the underside of my car in the garage just now. SOAKING wet as if I had driven through a storm and parked up.

Huge condensation, which I only discovered by accident. Assumed the car was bone dry.

Thinking aloud, would love opinions:

In this situation I feel the best thing to do is to drive the car often to get airflow and heat around the car to stop oxidation.

However, in my case my engine is dead so I'm wondering what else I can do to minimise rust.

Thinking de-humidifier?

Also wondering if floor tiles will help - it's currently bare concrete.

It's made me realise, I've just taken on a lockup for longer term storage - i expect a lockup to be much worse than my garage. Not good.

So is an outdoor cover actually a better option in the absence of a bone-dry, heated, dehumidified garage, due to superior airflow under the car?

[DBSV8]

if your really worried buy a veloce Carcoon , drive the car into wet , open the flap and in a couple of hours the car will be bone dry , They work off the type of fans in computers so really cheap to run


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVGAUPnKlG8&t=...

will fit easily in a single garage

[Dashnine]

Condensation likely due to the recent large change in temperature from -7C to +13C, number of threads and posts on this since the weekend. Warmer air hits the cold car and moisture from the warm air condenses on the car.

[5s Alive]

I have PlasFloor tiles and was paddling on them immediately after the recent -10° to +10° overnight temperature change so they don't help. Not the first time it's happened so I'm considering lifting them and laying down an insulating layer. This won't prevent water condensing on the car, walls, toolboxes or metal containers though and the car will dry faster outside under these conditions.

[skeeterm5]

What is the problem with condensation on the underside of the car?

[biggiles]

Dashnine said:

Condensation likely due to the recent large change in temperature from -7C to +13C, number of threads and posts on this since the weekend. Warmer air hits the cold car and moisture from the warm air condenses on the car.

^^ This.

Everyone's had the same problem, it's a "once in X years event".

[DonkeyApple]

Agree that recent weather will have been a big factor. However, you also need to consider air flow in the garage. The way garages are typically built tends to make them sweaty boxes so you do want to make sure there is plenty of air able to circulate.

The real advantage of a carcoon is that they circulate the air.

[Lincsls1]

My car sits in the garage on an old carpet and underlay. No condensation in here.
It is an attached garage though, boiler also lives in there so that might make a difference.