When it comes to storing your vehicle for long periods of time, you already know how important it is to make sure your car is prepared properly. Once you have taken care of all the steps needed for safe car storage, you should also consider dehumidified car storage.
While a heavy cover will protect your vehicle from dust, dents, and scratches, it can also help alleviate any humid conditions. Humidity is essentially dampness in the air, and it can occur in many different settings. Unchecked humidity can wreak havoc on your paint job, leaving rust spots and, in extreme humidity conditions, even mould or mildew.
What Can You Do?
The best answer to protecting your car from damp conditions is dehumidified car storage. Dehumidifiers remove excess moisture from the air, ensuring the best conditions for your vehicle. Many storage units have built-in dehumidifiers, but if not, you can purchase your own. Just make sure that your storage facility provides electrical outlets so you can plug it in.
What to Look For
Dehumidified car storage units will use different types of dehumidifiers, but the most effective are adsorption units. Adsorption dehumidifiers work by rotating desiccant crystals over a heat source to pull the moisture out of the air. Another common dehumidifier is hot gas or refrigerant machines. These units pull the outside air in so that it condenses on a hot plate within the unit. The heat draws the moisture out, and the air is rotated back out into the air.
Other Considerations
Before making your final decision on dehumidified car storage, you should take the time to inspect the units. Check all seals and edges of the storage unit to make sure that there are no gaps that will allow excess moisture and air into the unit. You should also verify whether the facility uses automatic dehumidifiers or manual ones. Automatic dehumidifiers adjust to the temperatures and moisture content of the air automatically, and allow you to choose a specific relative humidity setting. Manual units require someone to choose the proper settings, which could present a problem if the unit is left unattended for long periods of time.
Most cars require a relative humidity of around 55%, so you should verify that this is what the dehumidified car storage unit provides. This setting will ensure that your car receives optimum protection against damp air, providing your car with protection from rust, mould, and mildew.
Even though most storage units will mention whether they offer dehumidified storage, you should always ask just to be sure. Another way to verify this information is to tour the facility before you agree to store your vehicle. Try to visit the unit on a day that is noticeably humid outside. If you walk into the unit and can tell an immediate difference in air quality, it is a good indication that a dehumidifier is present. This will ensure that your car is protected from the elements, and won’t have any unwanted issues later.
