The Pros and Cons of Parking in Your Garage Over the Winter

One of the greatest perks of owning a garage is the ability to park your car overnight during the winter. No matter what the weather, you know that when you wake up in the morning and head out, you won’t need to chisel the ice off or brush a foot of snow off the roof of your car.  Furthermore, parking inside the garage keeps the car’s fluids warm, which makes it easier to start.

Your garage offers your car year-round protection. In summer, it shelters your car’s paint job and finish from the sun’s damaging rays.  In winter, snow, slush, and ice all melt away after you park in the garage (even if your garage isn’t insulated).

But the idea that it’s best to keep your car in the garage in winter has been challenged by those who say it could actually damage the car’s body panels, seals, and undercarriage.  In an article in the Globe & Mail, two Canadian college professors outline the reasons why:

• Moving your car in and out of the garage causes snow and ice to melt and refreeze, which can reduce the life of the seals on your car
• In the dampness of the garage, the car can more often be wet than dry and combined with the presence of salt, those conditions can promote premature rusting

Come home from work or the grocery store, and your car is soiled with grey snow and road salt? If you leave your car in the garage, something undesirable might happen. The snow will gradually melt, creating condensation. The warm temperature combined with the humidity and corrosive substances spread on the roads will create a favourable environment for rust formation!

This can lead to oxidation of the body, exhaust system, radiator, etc., if you keep your vehicle in your garage. In addition, be aware that with repeated temperature changes, the rubber seals of your car could deteriorate.

While the jury’s still out on whether it’s good or bad to park in the garage in winter, the choice is yours. If you don’t notice any premature corrosion, and you absolutely love walking out to a clean car in the mornings (and who doesn’t?), then the garage is the place for you.