Are you storing your car for the winter? Here’s what you need to know
Here are some tips for storing your classic muscle car over the winter.
If you have 99 problems and one of them is a flood, consider eliminating the remaining 98 problems and focusing on the task at hand.
The number of problems can increase exponentially when flooding threatens to turn your garage into a submerged mausoleum, potentially trapping your prized classic car or reliable daily driver inside.
Fortunately, there are many ways to protect both your car and your garage from both inconvenient leaks and catastrophes that occur on a regular basis. Of course, our advice may not extend to the latter, but if the water level is low enough that your entire home is not a total loss, we have precautions to cover you and some advice on what to do if you are not prepared. Some methods cost nothing, while others cost thousands of dollars, but weigh the cost of prevention against what you’re protecting internally.
Let’s dive in — figuratively, we hope.
Ah, Captain, there’s high ground ahead!
The simplest solutions are often the ones right in front of us. If you’re parked in a low spot where water may collect, look to the horizon for anything upstream. If your driveway has sunk into the ground over the years, you may just need to move it to its edge. If that’s not possible, your neighbor may have a better layout. You can also have someone drive you to a public parking lot, or if you live at the bottom of a hill, park towards the top. Avoid unpaved roads wherever you go. After rain, the grass and soil become soft and your car can get stuck, or worse, slip downhill.
But what happens to garage-kept cars that never see the rain in the first place? And what do you do when what you’re protecting can’t be moved?
install a garage barrier
While you may not be able to prevent flooding from occurring, you can prevent it from entering your garage. An obvious way for water to enter is through the garage door. For mild flooding or regular leaks during heavy rain, you can easily install a threshold seal on your garage floor to strengthen the seal at the bottom of your door. To prevent water from getting into your door in the first place, install barrier fabric or other absorbent products further up your driveway, on the sidewalk, or in front of additional side doors to prevent water from getting in.
hardcore barrier
At what point do inconvenient water problems occur? genuine Flood problem? Once the water begins to exceed 2 to 3 inches, you may need more than an aftermarket seal or absorbent material. This is a temporary dam that can be installed when flooding is expected. Customizable lengths and heights allow for versatility in protection and location. Barriers for regular side-opening doors can also be installed at other entrances. These barriers require some warning and time to install, so if you’re hit by a flash flood, self-rising quick dams can be used instead, making them practical for surrounding detached garages or even entire homes. This is a product you’ll want to have on hand if you live in a designated flood or hurricane area.
All of these barriers range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, but the cost of potential damage can be much higher.
Garage waterproofing work
What if it’s water? do Will it end up in your garage? Just to be sure, don’t put anything on the floor that shouldn’t get wet. Instead, use shelving or other storage options to keep valuables at least 12 inches off the ground. Barrier fabric can be placed around objects that cannot be stored in elevated locations, or around cars, bikes, or other items that can be submerged in water.
Protecting your belongings is as simple as rearranging your garage, but what does it mean for water to get into the garage itself?
water resistant material
What is the garage made of? The inside is most often a concrete floor and drywall. Concrete is fine, but drywall doesn’t like water. Even green boards are only moisture resistant and cannot be exposed to water for long periods of time. You can install waterproofing material, such as PVC panels, over it without tearing out the entire wall. Look for interlocking panels that have a sealant. That way, you can avoid major drywall repairs and future mold problems.
raise the height of the outlet
Are you shocked at how easily water can get in and ruin your garage? If your electrical outlet gets wet, you’re at risk of electric shock. According to the 2023 National Electrical Code Amendments, ground-fault circuit interrupter outlets (GFCIs) are required in residential areas where water may be present, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and garages. It can help you avoid danger if you are submerged in water, but why do you do it in the first place?
There is no standard height for a residential garage, but consider potential flooding risk and think from there. Moving to 24 inches or more is often recommended, with the bonus of easier access.
divert water away from the garage
If you really want to improve your waterproofing, try keeping water out of your garage first. If you’re at the mercy of hills or other unforgiving landscape features, there are plenty of simple measures you can take, as well as more extreme ones, to ensure your garage doesn’t become the path of least resistance.
Start simple and get your gutters and downspouts in order. Pro tip: If your gutters have established a habitat of their own, it’s time to clean them out. Once your downspouts are clean, make sure they are flowing smoothly and the entire system is working properly. When it rains, look for standing water near your house or garage and see if it ends up in poorly targeted gutters. Otherwise, you will have to deal with grading issues. This may be as simple as building up flower beds and raising them to higher ground, or it may involve calling in a crew to reorganize the entire garden.
Diverts more water from the garage
Another solution is to install a trench drainage system. Such a system can be used to plot a route through a backyard as a possible alternative to complete resurfacing, provided a water source can be brought into the backyard. If your garage door tends to collect water, you can install a trench drain in front of it, but it will require concrete work to get water in there. Installing a trench drain along the side of your driveway can help divert water away from your garage door in the first place.
We’ve covered a lot of ways to turn off water during floods, but it’s most cost-effective to have the foresight to properly channel the water in the first place to eliminate recurring problems with regular heavy rains. Invest in a solution before you end up replacing everything.
regular car maintenance
Floods aren’t just a problem at home; it can cause a lot of grief if your car stalls due to flooded roads. The obvious advice here is to slow down before pushing through a puddle. Observe the cars in front of you to determine the depth and back up to avoid waves caused by cars. Always approach any body of water with caution. If you’re not sure you can make it, a storm is not the time to judge.
But when you encounter water, you’ll want to know if your car can withstand water. Keeping up with simple maintenance like oil, coolant, and transmission fluid changes will keep your gaskets in good condition, keeping water out and allowing proper fluid flow. Older cars with cracked or brittle door, liftgate, hood, or trunk seals may benefit from replacing them. If it is in good condition, applying a seal protectant or repair product as part of your regular cleaning schedule will keep it flexible and functioning properly.
What does insurance cover?
It’s finally time to tackle the car expense that everyone is concerned about: insurance. We spoke with a local insurance agent who represents some of the biggest insurance companies in the U.S. (as an aside, they’re a great way to shop around for the lowest rates) to learn more about how to know if you need flood insurance. The short answer is almost always yes. But if water comes up from the ground, whether it’s a backup in your basement due to a clogged sewage drain or excess standing water from a flood, your homeowner’s insurance will usually cover it. Flood insurance is required if water directly enters your home due to a fall from the sky.
Flood insurance is usually required in high water table areas and hurricane zones, but check with your insurance company to see if you will be covered for any disasters you may encounter. If you have flooding issues due to landscaping or other things that can be addressed, estimate the cost of fixing them or purchasing flood insurance. You may still want to do both.
Will a submerged car recover on its own?
No, let’s move on.
Well, it requires a little more explanation than that. But please know, A flooded car is not a problem that can be magically solved. If you don’t know how to fix it yourself, try towing it somewhere, preferably in a tow truck, to get it repaired. And it withered.
You can tell if your car is wet if it’s wet. The interior is probably the worst place to repair, as drying the interior can be a huge pain depending on the extent of the problem. Get your hair dryer ready! (Be careful with heat settings.) A damp vacuum or upholstery cleaner will also help remove water. If the weather is nice, you can leave the windows open to speed up evaporation. In your garage, if you have the space, try leaving the door open and running the fan.
The submerged car still hasn’t been repaired.
A more serious problem, but easier to fix if addressed right away, is water leaking from inside the machine bit. If your engine oil is foamy like a cappuccino, you didn’t just arrive at the Starbucks drive-thru, it’s contaminated with water. Please change that oil. The water in the transmission fluid looks like a strawberry milkshake. This situation may sound cute, but water and oil don’t mix. Water and oil separate when the car is sitting, and water is not a suitable lubricant. In severe cases, don’t forget components such as differentials and axles.
Electrical gremlins can be difficult to sort and may be solved by drying the components. However, if you are not familiar with electrical wizardry, just put the hair where it should be and take it to the store.
Will water damage my car quickly?
Water can damage your car before you’re done thinking about it. In the worst case scenario, you could face a hydrolock, where the cylinders fill up with water and the engine stalls. Fluids don’t compress, so even if you’re lucky enough to have your engine stall without breaking anything, don’t try to restart it without checking it first. I’ve seen vanes on the compressor side of turbochargers become rough due to water.
However, all is not lost and even a hydrolocked engine can be repaired. You may need to pull out the head or other components to properly remove the water, but it’s usually cheaper than replacing it completely. In both cases, it is important to remove the water completely. Impurities can cause rust in bearings, cylinders, etc. Cooling systems are also susceptible, as they require clean water and coolant to prevent corrosion.
Spending money upfront on waterproofing and protecting your car may seem like a lot of money, but it can end up being a much more expensive endeavor.
Photo by MotorTrend and Getty Images. Illustration: Ryan Lugo
