Many classic car owners think their vintage vehicles are protected against corrosion, rust and mould in their garages. But is this really the case? We have done our research and spoken with vintage car and garage owners, as well as with renowned experts who know all there is to know about the sensitive issue of care and climate. Here you will find a list of the 7 most common misconceptions held by vintage car owners – and how to rectify them…
First misconception: Garages don’t have rust!
Actually, they do. Because the precursor to rust is corrosion, and that is caused by the relative humidity of the room. A relative humidity of under 50% is perfect for vintage vehicles. Even a cooling of 10°C in the garage due to temperatures dropping at night allows the relative humidity of the air to rise by more than 30%. And so the destructive process of corrosion can begin.
The VPR+ climate manager with ThinC! technology can help against this. The ThinC! series keeps room humidity constant day and night, no matter the temperature, and offers 24-hour protection.
Second misconception: Soot and oil mist are part and parcel of a vintage car garage.
It is true that when starting a classic car motor soot and oil mist are released, which are difficult to remove. It is wrong, however, to consider this part of the vintage charm, because fine soot particles are nothing more than particulate matter, which presents a health risk that is not to be underestimated. On the vehicle, on the walls and floors, on cupboards and shelves.
A DH-VPR+ climate manager filters this dirt quickly and consistently out of the air in the garage before it can settle in your home. ThinC! keeps the air clean – and that’s a promise!
Third misconception: My vintage car is only safe if the garage is bone-dry!
Sorry, but this just isn’t true. In fact, the opposite is. If you overdo it with the dehumidifier, the overly dry air will damage your classic cars. If humidity is 40% or less, the leather upholstery will begin to dry out and plastic fittings will become brittle and break. Rubber seals will lose elasticity and result in a loss of oil and coolant. If humidity is too low it can also lead to problems with electrics, caused by by brittle cable connections.
Every device in the ThinC! series monitors the relative humidity constantly, and therefore provides an optimal garage climate.
Fourth misconception: Everybody loves the smell of petrol, oil and leather in the garage!
Unless of course any of those passengers lucky enough to be treated to a ride in your car happen to be of a sensitive nature – they may even have an allergic reaction to such an olfactory overload.
What may be an aromatic revelation to you can often be an assault on the senses for others: The ThinC! series ioniser can remedy the chaos of odours in a vintage car garage.
Fifth misconception: If you love your vintage car, you polish it!
On the one hand this is true, but on the other hand it’s not. Because even staunch classic car fans have better things to do than constantly polish their prized possession to keep it dust-free. Ultimately, there is always dust in the air, and it enters the garage every time you open the door or go for a drive.
The ThinC! series keeps the air in the garage clean: 2 – 3 times per hour, 48 – 72 times per day. Vintage cars keep their dust-free shine and sparkle for longer – like they’ve just gone through a car wash!
Sixth misconception: New and vintage cars can share a garage problem-free!
If your modern everyday car is wet from the rain and you park it in the same garage with a vintage car, you had better take care that the moisture evaporating from it doesn’t contaminate your classic car with rust.
ThinC! ensures that the garage climate remains under the corrosion limit, even after driving in the rain. The new car will dry quickly, while the vintage car will be safely protected from corrosion.
Seventh misconception: My garage is new, warm and well-insulated – nothing could go wrong!
In modern or renovated garages, the moisture that enters after a drive in the rain, for example, often can’t escape again. When a car is wet, the residual heat of the engine raises the moisture content of the air many times over, and the relative humidity rises to over 95% within minutes – suddenly the garage is like a rainforest! Unmistakeable signs: When it’s moist, black patches of mould will form in corners and on walls and ceilings.
ThinC! dehumidifiers can be individually controlled and are the perfect solution for garages old and new: with the push of a button you can start the ThinC! climate manager – and create an optimal garage climate with reliably low humidity levels and long-lasting protection against corrosion and rust.
ThinC! climate management – turns your garage into a climate vault!
For more information on our DH-VPR+ dehumidifiers with ThinC! climate management, visit our online shop. We are also happy to provide you with further information directly on +49 2452 962-400 – the Trotec team looks forward to your call!
