Can Power Tools Be Stored in a Shed During Winter Time?

Winter months are quickly approaching, and it is time to put away the power tools that you will not need until spring. You will most likely keep your tools in a shed, which is a handy addition to any home.

However, it is essential to note that the air can get really humid in the cold months, and, when combined with less sunlight, the humidity can damage your power tools beyond repair. Because of that, you must learn how to store your power tools properly.

Luckily, the internet allows you to google things like ‘what size water heater do I need’ and find the information that you are looking for in a fraction of a second, and if you are looking for tips on storing power tools in your shed, you came to the right place! Here, you will find the ultimate guide to storing your power tools in a shed in winter!

 

General Rules on Preparing Power Tools for Storage

Keep Everything Clean

Before you put your power tools away, it is important that each tool is clean and dry. It will help keep rust away, protecting your power tools from serious damage. You can begin by using a vacuum cleaner to suck up dust and compressed air to clean the vents. Next, you can use a damp rag to clean molded plastic.

Following that, remove any rust from iron hardware and tables using a stiff brush/steel wool. You need to work lightly so as not to scratch the surface. Lastly, you can use a degreaser to get rid of extra gunk, as well as spray on a corrosion protector for extra protection.

Use Silica Gel Packets

If you want to store your power tools in your shed, you can use silica gel packets to prevent rust from building up on the said tools. Silica gel packets are filled with silica gel beads, which can absorb moisture from the air in your shed.

You might not be aware of it yet, but silica gel beads can be reused over and over! You can use the sun to dry the beads out. If it is a dry and sunny day, you can spread the beads out on a dark surface and wait for a few hours. However, the majority of people prefer to dry silica gel beads in conventional ovens.

To do that, you should line a non-coated metal pan/deep dish with aluminum foil and toss in your silica gel packets/loose silica gel beads. Then, program the oven at 275°F and let it do its thing for one and a half hours.

Use a Dehumidifier

If you have quite a few tools that you need to store in your shed during the winter, you might want to put a dehumidifier in it! It can really help keep moisture levels down. However, in order for the dehumidifier to work, you will need to do a few things.

First, you will need to put the dehumidifier in the right spot. Otherwise, the air in the shed will not be able to freely flow into and out of the device, preventing it from working properly. Having picked the right spot, you should close the windows and doors in the shed. That way, the dehumidifier will be able to work efficiently.

Second, you will have to empty the tank in the dehumidifier on a regular basis. To make it easier for yourself, you can connect a hose to the dehumidifier and divert the water that gathers in its tank to a nearby drain. Third, the humidifier will not do its job if you do not keep the filter that cleans the air that flows through it clean.

 

 

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips on storing your power tools in a shed! For starters, you should think about placing your power tools in airtight containers. It will help prevent moisture and dust from getting to your tools!

Furthermore, you should put your power tools in plastic containers instead of cardboard ones, as cardboard is not that durable and tends to absorb moisture. Last but not least, you should check up on your power tools every few days and turn each tool on and off every few weeks.

In Conclusion

To sum up, you can store your power tools in your shed in winter! However, you will need to do quite a few things to keep the said tools in working condition. The tools that you want to store away need to be cleaned and placed in plastic containers filled with silica gel packets.

On top of that, the said tools have to be checked up on and turned on and off every few weeks. If you do each of the things listed here, you should be able