Winter Storage

[BleedingBlue]

This may be a dumb question, but do you guys in northern climates with garages that are NOT climate controlled bring certain items in for the winter months?

I am mainly talking about spray paint, adhesives, caulk, glues, vehicle cleaning items, etc....what all will go bad/freeze if left out? What should I be bringing inside to avoid it being ruined?

 

[FlyBy]

I need to remember to bring in my detailing supplies this winter. i think the harsh Ohio winter did something to my quick detailer.

I usually never leave cans of paint in an unheated garage, it's always in the basement and would never want caulk to freeze or get super cold, it takes FOREVER to get back to a useable consistency. I left a couple cans of spray paint out there over the winter and just ended up using them, worked fine!

 

[theoldwizard1]

Do not let latex paint freeze.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Anything with water in it.

 

[Kev442]

Every year people around here are surprised to walk out in their garage and find the soda pop exploded all over everything.
Yes, all that you mentioned plus the weedkillers and even my kroil go in the basement for the winter.

 

[1jjpop]

I take 2 tubs of stuff out of my shop,to the basement at home. Paint,calk & other stuff that will freeze . Better to be safe then sorry.

 

[crewchief888]

the only thing i bring in from my unheated is my pressure washer..

i dont keep house paint, caulking, ect in the garage.

i dont leave cordless tools out there at all

spray cans can stay outside.

 

[bob15]

Paint, fruit & veggie chemicals, PVC cement, power washer soap and anything else that might freeze comes inside. I usually go through my garage and my barn twice on 2 different days to see what i missed. i also drain the garden hose of water and bring it inside so it isn't filled with ice when i want to wash the salt off my truck after a snow storm.

 

[Ben Buck]

Yep, I take all my spray cans of paint, caulk, and what ever I think that will freeze..
Carb cleaner, and brake cleaner stay in the barn, along with glass cleaner and degreasers


Sent from my iPhone using my index finger!

 

[Thumper68]

I make it easy and heat the shop.

But I used to have to go through this every year as well.

I bring everything that isn't oil or solvent based in.

 

[madison069]

I used to didn't do anything but I am doing it this year, the latex paint got moved to the laundry room, my cordless drills is in my office. I need a cabinet or something to store my car detailing supply but that stuff has been in the garage for 4 years and I didn't notice any effect when i used it this year.

 

[BleedingBlue]

Thank you for all the replies guys, it looks like I have a decent amount to bring inside soon!

I see many of you mentioning bringing in cordless tools, why? Do the low temperatures harm the batteries?

 

[theoldwizard1]

the only thing i bring in from my unheated is my pressure washer..

I made an adapter and blow out my PW with compressed air.

 

[Hpozzuoli]

Only thing I bring in is the jump pack. Everything else stays outside. Paint is fine in the spring after a good mix. Compound is fine once thawed, although mold loves to grow in it. Spray paint and caulk are all fine in the spring. I keep all non used batteries on the battery tenders. I make sure the big compressors are drained, sprinklers blown out, and that's about it. I give all the tools a good mist of WD40.

I keep a small tub of compound, tube of silicone, and some white paint inside just in case.

 

[malibu101]

the only thing i bring in from my unheated is my pressure washer..

I made an adapter and blow out my PW with compressed air.

I always use the below linked product when I'm done with my pressure washer no matter if summer or for winter storage. Not only does it remove the water, it also "lubricates" the innards of the pump so hard water doesn't build up in there.
I've stored my PW in my pop's unheated barn all winter for at least 10 years with no problems.
http://www.sears.com/briggs-stratton-pump-saver/p-07174403000P
I have thought of making a rig and using air the theoldwizard1 does for over the summer, just haven't done it yet.

On topic to the OP- I take anything I think is cold-sensitive into the basement over the summer to keep it from freezing. Things like cleaners, polishes, coatings (paints) but especially all batteries. Most of these things I don't use over the winter anyway so running into the house occasionaly when I need something is no big deal to me.

Amazingly, my little dorm room fridge sits in the garage and inside temps range from 100 in the summer to single digits in the winter.
But no matter, any drinks in there stay cold all summer and do not freeze in the winter.
Maybe I should get a full size fridge and store all my cold-sensitive stuff in there all year.