[R-390] Boatanchor Storage - Some questions???

[Barry Hauser]

Hi Mike, list ...

I'm also on Long Island and the climate should be similar to Vermont, though
probably gets a bit warmer and humid in summer here and our winters aren't
as extreme.  (We get a few inches of snow when you get a foot or more).

I'd think a lot would depend on how you use the garage and basement.  My
basement is finished, but the electric heating is never used or needed as
the oil burner and hot water heater keep it warm during the winter.  The
fact that your oil burner is new is important -- there was always a thin
layer of soot with the old one.  But be sure to have it checked regularly --
if it "bangs" when it goes on, may need adjustment to avoid a blow-back,
which you don't want to know about.  I have a hot water/radiator system.
Yours might benefit from the air ducting keeping air circulating down there.
Is it air conditioned?  Mine isn't, but the cold air from the wall units
tends to fall downstairs and keeps the basement reasonably cool.

My garage is a single, but very deep.  Have a snowblower, but not used so
far this year, no lawnmower.  It is unheated, but part of the house with two
flights -- bedrooms and attic over it. It is not used for cars, has an old
wooden rollup door with a good seal at the bottom but not the sides or top.
I suppose it would be better with a modern insulated door.  Things hold up
well toward the middle and back, not as good at the front, near the door.  A
lot would depend on whether the garage is attached and how you use it.  Cars
generate gasses on startup, frequent opening, etc.; stored lawnmowers with
grass, etc. would not be good, or bringing in a wet snowblower, etc.

I have a big attic with high roof.  The floor has been toughened up with a
layer of 3/4" plywood screwed down, not nailed, to help support it.
However, the floors of attics -- at least on this 50 year old house -- are
done with 2 X 6's, not the 2 X 8's or better used for load bearing floors.
OK to walk, but not run or jump and probably not OK to stack tons of
boatanchors.  If the floor of your attic is really more simply the ceiling
of the rooms downstairs, there may not be sufficient load bearing in the
wall setup.  In mine, there are extreme temperature swings and periodic
visits of birds and squirrels.  I do have a couple of BA's up there -- a
BC-312 and a Hallicrafters S-29 -- haven't checked up on 'em lately.

On a 100 ft. ridge, sounds like the basement is the best bet -- unlikely to
flood.

Barry


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Brannigan" <jbrannig@optonline.net>
To: "Michael Crestohl" <mc@sover.net>; <R-390@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2002 8:58 AM
Subject: Re: [R-390] Boatanchor Storage - Some questions???


> I don't know what the environment is like in Vermont.  Here on Long Island
> we have dry cold winters and damp hot summers.  I store most of my radios
in
> the basement, on open shelves, at least a foot off the floor.  (if I get
> more than a foot of water in the basement, I have bigger problems than wet
> radios)
> The basement is heated, humidified in the winter and a dehumidifier or Air
> conditioning is used during the warmer months.  The space is also used for
> radio station, home office and playroom.
>
> Other radios, parts, etc. are stored in the attic of the garage.  They are
> subject to drastic changes in temperature and humidity and don't fare as
> well.
>
> hope this helps.
> Jim
>
>
> > Hi Gang:
> >
> > I've been lurking in the shadows for quite some time now and  have
enjoyed
> > reading much of the traffic on here.  I'd like to pose a question to the
> > group that may become an interesting thread for all.
> >
> > My family and I recently moved into a house here in the Upper Valley
> region
> > of Vermont/New Hampshire.  We have a nice two-car garage which has new
> > electric doors that lock and a cement floor, basement ( with cement
floor)
> > and an attic.  All three places are unheated.
> >
> > My question is about equipment storage.   I would like to know what is
the
> > best place to store my "Boatanchors" and manuals collection that are not
> > being used at this time.  I have kept them in a temperature and humidity
> > controlled storage facility for the past three and a half years (don't
ask
> > what it has cost me!) but now is the time to move them.
> >
> > My concerns are the heat of the attic in the summer and the potential of
> > high humidity and of flooding of the basement.  I would also like to
know
> > the best way to test the basement for humidity and what is an acceptable
> > level.  If this is relevant the house is heated by forced air from an
> > oil-burning furnace less than a year old. The house itself is about 85
> > years old and is located at the top of a 100 foot embankment.  My
manuals
> > are boxed in USPS Priority Mail boxes (the older ones with the
non-sticky
> > flaps) which serve as a filing system as well as keeping them flat and
on
> > order.
> >
> > So basically I'm asking about the best place to store vacuum tube-based
> > electronic equipment and paper manuals in an 85 year-old house with an
> > attic, basement and two-car garage in Central Vermont.
> >
> > 73 all,
>
>
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