Here in northeast ohio, we have some bad winter weather; therefore, very few people are concerned with getting their vehicles detailed until late spring. My home garage isn't heated full-time and it can get down right cold in there. I was debating on clearing some room in my basement and move the chemicals/product in from the cold. I don't think my garage has ever gotten cold enough where it was below 32'but at times close. My kitchen is the last room in my home before you get to the attached garage; therefore, I'm going to run an gas line from my stove, through the wall and into my garage and then connect a gas heater (one that either attaches to the wall or hangs from the ceiling). Do you guys bring your products into a heated area rather then leave them in a cold garage?
I think bringing them in would be much cheaper than heating a garage. I store product that is thicker than water indoors. For me, Meg's polishes have been especially sensitive to cold.
I live in NE Ohio as well and I do keep almost all of my product inside during the winter. The only stuff I leave out on the shelf is my car wash. I keep everything in clear plastic totes with lids. I makes it much easier to bring product in and out. http://www.detailingbliss.com/forum/off-topic/18927-troyscherer-collection-making.htm
I wouldn't leave detailing products in the garage. I lost a lot of detailing products by storing stuff in a non-insulated room during my first year of the detailing bug. That's one thing I don't miss about Cleveland.
Water-based car care products should not be stored at temperatures below > 35.OF (wax 45.OF) if they freeze they may become unstable and therefore unusable, ideal storage temperature range- 50- 7.OF with an average humidity range. Most car care products have a ‘useful life’ of approximately 2-3 years provided they are stored as above.
What size are those totes you have your pads in? I'm planning on adding some new cabinets over the winter but I don't want real deep ones.
The Totes are 12 x 12 x 12. I wish I could find about 4 more of these. I got them at a wholesale club early last year and when I went back to get more they were out and I haven't found them since. The cabinets are my own design built specifically to fit the totes.
We generally don't heat the garage, but the entire thing is insulated and I don't think it's ever got below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in there, even on some of the coldest winter days. Still I suppose I had better not risk it and bring everything inside...
Same here. When I pull my cars in with snow/ice on them, they do melt off while in the garage and my garage isn't heated on a full-time basis(I have a portable propane heater that I use when working out there). I haven't had any issues with freezing but I don't want to risk it either.
