Auto exhaust, storage & gear

[Rick Inman]

My son, his wife & my two grandchildren are moving in with us for 2 months on August 20th. My wife seems to think I should temporarily remove my scuba drying rack from the back bathroom shower and my drying/storage rack from the closet so the kids can have their own bathroom, and clean & store my scuba gear somewhere else.
Two words: Motel 6!
Anyway, I'm looking at making an area in the garage for rinsing and hanging my gear. I'm wondering about any possible damage that could be caused by auto exhaust, fluorocarbons or whatever, from when I start the truck. Of course, I always open the big door before I start it, and it's open when I shut it off on returning. Even then, there's maybe only 15 seconds of time with the truck idling, and the exhaust end is always pointed toward the open door. Yet I'm sure some fumes do hang around.
Am I worrying about nothing here? Or should I tell the kids to find another place to live?

 

[Scottri]

I've stored dive gear in my garage for years and never had a problem. The only thing I don't store there is my drysuit because certain fumes can break down the glues on the seals but my BC's, regs and fins have always survived. I wouldn't want to expose them to a lot of exhaust fumes but a little seems to be ok.


Scott

 

[HarleyDiver]

Am I worrying about nothing here? Or should I tell the kids to find another place to live?

Yes, and Yes.

Give us an update in 2 months, lol

 

[broncobowsher]

Yes, and Yes.

Give us an update in 2 months, lol

Put the kids in the garage...

If your garage smells like gas, paint, solvent, etc. It is not the ideal storage area. If all you do is park late model cars with working emission controls on them that don't stink the place up, then all you need to really worry about is the temperture of the garage.

 

[r37691]

I used to have the same problem with some of my wife's relatives staying with us quite a bit. So, in 2000 I remodeled the house. One bedroom became a walk-in closet for her, and the other became a office/gear service area for me.
When the relatives first came over to check out the remodeling they said where's the extra bedroom? Uh, their isn't one, I knew we forgot something.
Now my gear will never have to go out to the cold dark garage again.
And all of the relatives now stay in a local hotel.
Life is so much easier now.
Bob

 

[pasley]

... I'm wondering about any possible damage that could be caused by auto exhaust, fluorocarbons or whatever, from when I start the truck. ..

The garage is not the place to store the gear because:
1. Heat - it gets hot in there and this will dry the rubber and speed the aging process.
2. Cold - same as above
3. The fumes do affect the equipment
4. Keeps the kids from moving back. This is not a bad thing.