Temp and humidity for bike storage

[clarenceada]

Q.
What temperature is best for bikes to ward off condensation, rust and corrosion. Is there a temperature that if you go below it, you get rust or, is controlling humidity more important then temp?

I have a heated storage room for the first time and have been keeping it at about 65f/18c degrees with humidity at 55% (outdoors it was 37f and 80% humidity with rain) when I'm in there working but at night I turn the heater to low and it runs about 40-50f/5-10c (humidity I didn't check) depending on outside temperature.

Anybody have experience or done any research that I could pick your brain for free. Just kidding! In searches I keep coming up with indoor house humidity control.

Thanks


Clarence

[jensen]

Hi,

Condensation is the killer, caused by humidity and changing temperatures.
Temperature is not really important (hen the humidity is low), way below zero degree Celsius is actually good because the air is very dry.

Condensation appears when an object surface is colder then it's surrounding (air) temperature.

When the air is getting colder, objects radiate there heat to the air, so the objects are always behind (warmer) then the surrounding air, and thus condensation will get no change.

But when the air is getting warmer the object will get warmer too, but with a delay, so the object surface is colder then the air. When the air holds some moisture, it will condensate to on the surface of this object.

When heating a room and avoiding condensation, heat it very gently and slow, and keep moisture out of the air.

In other words, a constant temperature is best to avoid condensation, plus a low humidity.

Cold air cannot hold as much moisture as warm air, so this moisture will condensate on object with the same temperature too when the air is getting colder.

In other words, a constant temperature is best to avoid condensation, plus a low humidity.

Read more here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dew_point for basic understanding then calculate your dew point here : http://www.dpcalc.org/

If you have any questions after reading this article or using the calculator, just ask,

Jensen

[G-Man]

I tend to keep my workshop cold but well ventilated. Avoid using gas heaters as they produce water as one of the products of combustion.

G

[gramey7]

Another trick I learned from an old machinist who had trouble keeping his lathe from developing surface rust in his workshop, that was only heated when he used it, was to install a cheap fan to circulate the air and have run 24 hours a day, at least in the winter. I bought one at a thrift shop for $3 and it's been running for three years and has significantly reduced surface rust from appearing on my table saw bed and other non-plated iron and steel.

[clarenceada]

I have already tried the cold but well ventilated shed/storage rm and that's why I had to re-paint my blue Dream. where I live close to the Oregon coast (12 mi. as the Sea Gulls fly) we have periods of clear and cold when the arctic wind comes from Canada across out-back Washington and Oregon and makes it all the way to the coast for a few days. Then the warm, humid wind will come in from the ocean and condense on the bikes so thick it looked like someone had hit it with a spray hose. My work room has two doors with people going in and out all day; there's no chance of keeping a constant temp. So, the only variable that I can control is the heat setting, and if water condenses on metal colder than the surrounding air , the thing to do is try and keep the bikes warmer than any moist air that may hit it. So I should keep the room as warm as I can afford; which was my first inclination.

Thanks


Clarence

[jensen]

Hi,

Isolating ? I have isolated the garage with 14 cm thick PUR, Rc value of 6.
The electric heating consumes an average 0,8 kWh a day, during 100 days a year.
I only heat at night, the costs are much lower, Temperature is 18 degrees Celsius, humidity below 50 %, always.

Jensen

[davomoto]

Jensen, insulating.

Davo