[gaza]

I have a large storage room 3 metres by 3 metres which opens off the garage and is all under the one roof of my 3 year old house. The room is used for tools, Vacumaid system, paint, thinners, plant chemicals, luggage, pool equipment etc (no pool acid).
Many of the quality tools I have had for over 30 years and after 1 year of moving in to this house, the metal objects are totally gone. The rust is so severe, that I have never seen anything like it and neither has anyone else I know, including builders, painters and mechanical engineers. I was told that it is probably acid causing the rust, however I have emptied the room and there is no acid that I can see, however it still happens. The room does not have any windows or ventilation, however there are no roof leaks or moisture coming up from sealed floor. The garage houses 2 cars and an electric golf buggy, which I have had for 15 years in 3 other house/garages similar to my current one and there has never been an issue like this. One of the cars, a one year old BMW which is very rarely driven, is parked with the front left hand wheel beside the entry door to this room and the disc brake assembly on that left hand wheel is rusted, the other 3 wheels are perfectly clean. I have had many of this brand car and never seen this happen before on any one of them. I am hoping that someone will have an answer to my mystery rust problem.

 

[Just Bill]

The space needs ventilation, or at least air moving. A small fan left on all the time would help.

 

[Maintenance 6]

Where are you located?

 

[Chemist1961]

Gaza,

Check to see if your VACUMAID was vented into the clothes dryer exhaust.

A Vaucmaid is non filtered unit and normally needs to be vented outside. I have seen a vac vented THROUGH a dryer vent by some unknowing do gooder and all the humidity from the dryer came backwards into the tank and rotted the vac canister from the inside out within a year.:laughing:

Otherwise I would HAVE SAID THERE IS LIKELY TOILET BOWL CLEANER IN YOU STORGAE... MURIATIC ACID OR SIMILAR. IT'S A KILLER

 

[rwa]

had the same problem once ... culprit was fire ant killer, Amdro (sp), chlorine is another common culprit in garages

 

[Chemist1961]

If you can't spot anything, get a humidistat in that room even a battery operated one.

If the level is high throw in a dehumidifier and suspect condensation venting rather than acid.

Is it possible someone wrapped the entire room with vapour barrier? Was it an extension added to the house after construction.

Also check to see if a dryer vent pipe actually passes through the room and has a leak.

Please post back to let us know if anyone has an option for cleaning up the tools too. This would be a good " how to " thread if anyone has any pointers:thumbsup:

 

[ratherbefishin']

"plant chemicals"? Do you mean fertilizers and such? That could be at least part of the problem if they're not in sealed plastic containers.

 

[corriewolfe]

Do you leave the electric "electric golf buggy" plugged into it's charger in there? Usually those have multiple lead-acid batteries in them, which can give off acidic gasses when overcharged.

 

[gaza]

The space needs ventilation, or at least air moving. A small fan left on all the time would help.

I have installed a heavy duty exhaust fan in the ceiling in the last week, however I was intrigued and annoyed at what it could be. It is early days yet to see if the fan does the job. Thanks for you reply

 

[gaza]

Where are you located?

Gold Coast Australia

 

[gaza]

Gaza,

Check to see if your VACUMAID was vented into the clothes dryer exhaust.

A Vaucmaid is non filtered unit and normally needs to be vented outside. I have seen a vac vented THROUGH a dryer vent by some unknowing do gooder and all the humidity from the dryer came backwards into the tank and rotted the vac canister from the inside out within a year.:laughing:

Otherwise I would HAVE SAID THERE IS LIKELY TOILET BOWL CLEANER IN YOU STORGAE... MURIATIC ACID OR SIMILAR. IT'S A KILLER

The Vacumaid does not have avent at all. Do you know if Napthalene Flakes (for Moth Balls) would have similar effect

 

[gaza]

"plant chemicals"? Do you mean fertilizers and such? That could be at least part of the problem if they're not in sealed plastic containers.

Thank you , I will check that.

 

[gaza]

had the same problem once ... culprit was fire ant killer, Amdro (sp), chlorine is another common culprit in garages

Thanks I will check that even though I am sure I do not have those.

 

[Chemist1961]

Gday Gaza,

Not sure about the moth balls by themselves, BTW I am not A CHEMIST, (it's a nickname) but is it possible you could have a combined effect from moth balls and several other items vapourizing and making an airborne corrosive in your storage area?

That wheel /brake disc on the BMW seems to suggest you're dealing with more than humidity. How is the paint finish on the fender at that corner of the car. Is there any indication of discoloration or dullness if you are outside in bright sun?

 

[ratherbefishin']

One other thought....is the room drywalled? A lot of bad drywall that outgassed corrosives was shipped from China around the time your house was built.

 

[gaza]

Gday Gaza,

Not sure about the moth balls by themselves, BTW I am not A CHEMIST, (it's a nickname) but is it possible you could have a combined effect from moth balls and several other items vapourizing and making an airborne corrosive in your storage area?

That wheel /brake disc on the BMW seems to suggest you're dealing with more than humidity. How is the paint finish on the fender at that corner of the car. Is there any indication of discoloration or dullness if you are outside in bright sun?[/quote
You seem to be doing a pretty good job on the Chemistry side, so I will still call you Chemist!!
I will have a good look at the BM now that you mention it, however I am sure everything else is ok except for the disc caliper cover and the centre of the wheel hub which is very rusted.
I think you might have something in the combination of a couple of chemicals, i will check that further. Thanks for your interest. GAZA

 

[gaza]

The space needs ventilation, or at least air moving. A small fan left on all the time would help.

I have had an exhaust fan installed which I am thinking of putting on a timer, however I would still prefer to know what causes it. Thanks for interest

 

[gaza]

Do you leave the electric "electric golf buggy" plugged into it's charger in there? Usually those have multiple lead-acid batteries in them, which can give off acidic gasses when overcharged.

Yeah, I was told that by someone else also, however the golf cart is around the corner about 3 metres away in the garage and nothing else around the cart gets rusted. What sort of distance from the golf cart would you expect that metal may be affected? The interesting thing is that while every metal thing in the storeroom in rusted, including the front wheel disc on a car, I notice the metal latches on the door frame are also rusting which makes me think it is something happening in this storeroom and also out in the garage near the door to this room only. What ever it is, it seems mighty powerful to do the damage it is doing. Thanks for your interest. GAZA

 

[gaza]

"plant chemicals"? Do you mean fertilizers and such? That could be at least part of the problem if they're not in sealed plastic containers.

I will check that also GAZA

 

[gaza]

One other thought....is the room drywalled? A lot of bad drywall that outgassed corrosives was shipped from China around the time your house was built.

I do not think we use that in Queensland Australia. Our internal walls are made from timber studs and plasterboard sheeting all from Australia