by PAS CEO | Oct 28, 2023 | Blog
When it comes to PDX Auto Storage, we don’t only store vehicles- but we act as a resource for the community. This is why we are giving you five useful tips on storing your vehicle this winter. There are some things you’re going to want to do in order to maintain your car’s condition as the holiday season unfolds. Here are some things to take note of:
1. TIRE INFLATION
Before you put your car away for the winter, it is best to check and top off your tire air pressure. This is because tires tend to deflate over time, and weather temperature fluctuations can increase this issue. This is because as the temperature changes, so does the air pressure in your car tires, causing them to deflate over long periods of time.
Without tending to this, one can expect auto repair costs. As tires deflate, they can end up causing a lot of damage to the tires by damaging the rubber from sitting on the wheel, tires crack, loose air pressure and become unsafe to drive on.
This leads to costly repairs when it comes time to use your car again as tires need replacing and don’t come cheap. Prevent this problem by using these simple little storage hacks to prevent unnecessary and unwanted repair costs and frustration.
2. ANTIFREEZE
Antifreeze is used to prevent engine from freezing and cracking your engine block radiator and hoses/ This can cost as much as thousands of dollars in unexpected costly repairs. Note: We do not provide antifreeze at our facility. If you’d like antifreeze, check out this shop.
3. MOISTURE CONDENSATION COLLECTION BAG:
A Damprid moisture condensation collection bag helps to reduce and even prevents moisture and condensation buildup inside your car / truck. This causes musty odors mold and mildew in bedding your car’s interior and upholstery, due to prolonged winter storage.
4. REGULAR MAINTENANCE STARTS:
Maintenance starts also help on overall performance by keeping your car’s battery active occasionally, this simple little trick, can also assist in saving much unexpected and unnecessary added repair costs. Auto batteries like everything else tend to expire over time, but this little trick can also help to reduce the headache of unwanted auto repair costs.
By starting your engine every couple months you help to keep the battery alive, so they do not go dormant and lose their starting cranking power over the winter cold months, causing the need to replace your battery in spring.
5. FITTED CAR COVER
A properly- fitted car cover that fits your car properly can also help with winter Auto Storage protection. By using a fitted car cover to your specific model, this helps with additional weather protection, helps against sun fading due to long exposure to the sun over extended periods of time, as well as nasty winter weather elements. This helps to prevent seats and dashes from weathering and drying out cracking and fading due to the UV Rays, causing repairs and additional costs.
In conclusion, by supplying a quality fitted car cover, having your antifreeze and tires checked, and parking using the PDX Auto Storage service plus package, you will have additional piece of mind your car has additional protection against the winter weather elements.
by PAS CEO | Oct 28, 2023 | Blog
As it gets a bit cooler outside, your RV is going to need some protection from the cold weather. This is because water notoriously expands when it freezes. This means it can lead to leaking or bursting pipes in your RVs water supply. You want to winterize your RV so that the water in it is replaced with antifreeze, which will remain in liquid form even at colder temperatures.
Save some money this winter by winterizing your RV yourself. You can do this with the following supplies:
A few gallons of marine/RV antifreeze—exact amount varies by make and model
A water-heater bypass kit if not already installed
A cleaning wand (see #2 below)
Water pump converter kit or tubing to connect to pump inlet valve
Hand tools to remove drain plugs
A bucket
STEP 1: GET RID OF WATER FILTERS
As an RV, the first thing you need to do is remove or bypass any inline water filters because antifreeze can damage them. As you work on the filters, see if they need replacement. If you do need to replace them, you have all winter to find new filters at the best price.
To obtain these filters, you’re going to need your owner’s manual.
STEP 2: DRAIN THE TANKS
Then you want to drain the freshwater holding tank. To get to this tank, you have to know that it is accessible below your RV near an exterior wall and is usually centrally located so that it can deliver water to sinks and showers. Just locate the valve and open it. It is okay if it drains onto the ground, though if you are in an RV park your neighbors may not appreciate it.
Then, you want to find the drain plugs or valves for the black and gray water tanks. These tanks are usually by the exterior wall underneath your RVs bathroom. The drain valves should be easy to locate from there.
If you allow waste-water to remain in those for an extended period of time, this not only increases the risk of water freezing, but it lets potential harmful bacteria grow unimpeded. The tanks for black and gray water should only be drained at an approved dumping facility. Your drain hose should be properly attached at both ends before you start draining. It’s an easy mistake to make, but one you’ll instantly regret.
Drain the black water tank first. If your RV does not have its own tank-flushing system, you can utilize a cleaning wand to flush the black water tank. Products like Flush King also help flush out both waste-water tanks. When you’re done, it assists in lubricating the termination valves with WD-40 for future use.
Draining the black water tank first allows the gray water to flush out the drain hose, keeping it cleaner for future use and storage.
STEP 3: DRAIN WATER HEATER AND LINES
DRAINING THE WATER HEATER
The water heater should not be hot or under pressure when it is drained. Be sure to shut the water heater off and let it cool. You don’t want to be burned.
There could be different places to turn off your water heater. It’s best to turn them all off. One power switch is on the water heater itself, accessible from the outside of the RV. The other is on or near the control panel in your RV.
The next step is to stop the water that is going into the water heater. Usually there’s a valve within a foot or two of where the pipe or hose enters the water heater.
Now, can open the pressure relief valve. Wait until water stops running from the PRV before moving on, and leave the valve open.
At this point, get a bucket. It’s crucial because it’s time to drain the water heater.
While it’s draining, check the water in the bucket for rust, sediment, or scaling. If you see these things, you might want to flush your water heater again, replace your anode rod, or start saving for a new water heater.
STEP 4: DRAINING YOUR RV’S WATER LINES
Open all faucets and locate and open the low-point drain plugs on the system. Flush the toilet to remove water in the tank. If you have an outdoor shower, be sure to drain it as well.
Once the water is drained, you need to recap all the drains and close all faucets.
STEP 5: BYPASS THE WATER HEATER
You’re about to add antifreeze to your plumbing system, but filling your water heater would waste six to ten gallons of antifreeze. It makes the dewinterizing process more difficult if the hot water tank isn’t bypassed.
Many RVs come with a bypass installed, but if yours doesn’t have one, visit an RV repair facility to have one installed.
STEP 6: ADD ANTIFREEZE
Now you need to pump the antifreeze in your system. This will help you when your plumbing when the thermometer dips below freezing. There are two ways to do this:
- You can put in a water pump conversion kit
- You can utilize the inlet side of the water pump
Water pump conversion kits will come with details on their instructions on how to use them. If using the inlet side of the water pump, disconnect the line coming from the freshwater tank and attach tubing that connects to the inlet. Put the other end of the tubing into a container of non-toxic marine/RV antifreeze. Then turn on the pump, which will pressurize the plumbing system.
Starting with the closest faucet to the pump, slowly open the hot and cold faucets until antifreeze comes out. Once you see antifreeze, close the faucet. Do this to all faucets, working from closest faucets to pump to the farther faucets. As you pump antifreeze through the water lines, you may need to replace the antifreeze container. Don’t forget the outdoor shower.
Next, be sure to flush the toilet until antifreeze appears in the bowl. Introduce antifreeze into the drain lines and holding tank, so pour a cup of antifreeze in each drain and into the toilet bowl. Flush the toilet.
Now, it’s time to turn the water pump off. You’re going to open a faucet to release the pressure in the system. Go to the city water inlet valve. Remove the small screen and push on the valve with a screwdriver until antifreeze comes out. Replace the screen and close the inlet. Double check that the water heater’s heating element is switched off and that all faucets are closed.
STEP 7: ADD DAMPRID SPILL FOR MOISTURE COLLECTION
Now that you’ve made it this far, you’re going to add the DampRid Spill For Moisture Collection inside the RV to prevent mildew and moisture and mold inside over the storage period. This will maintain your upholstery and walls, otherwise you risk odors and dampness when you return to get your RV.
STEP 8: THE BATTERIES
With you intending your RV to sit for several months in cold weather, you need to take out the battery and bringing it indoors can extend the life of an auto battery and help it keep its charge.
Batteries should be placed in storage in a place that is warm, dry place, with something underneath them in case they leak (cardboard or any sort of mat works well). Some recommend using a battery maintainer to help the battery keep it charged.
RV WINTERIZATION COMPLETE
Your RV is now ready for winter!
While you are winterizing your RV, you may find some issues with your RV that need to be addressed. In the past, many RVers used RV repair shops almost exclusively unless their RV was disabled. These days, however, RV service centers are overburdened by the high number of RVs in need of repair. We hope you enjoyed these steps from PDX Auto Storage to get the info you needed to winterize your RV.
by PAS CEO | Oct 25, 2023 | Blog
Are you looking for a place to park your car or truck for a significant amount of time? Whether you’re traveling or you simply need a place to park, here are some useful services that PDX Auto Storage offers its customers.
1. Maintenance Starts
We at PDX Auto Storage helps to keep engine seals lubed so they do not dry out across long periods of dry storage. We also aim to prevent battery failure over time that tends to happen with lack of maintenance and long-term storage.
2. We Offer Jump Starts
If you find yourself with a dead battery due to prolonged storage, we’re there for you. Over time, batteries become weak and tend to fail to start your car. This is because of cold weather and long-term storage. With the Service plus package you can rest assured your battery will be charged and ready to start your unit when you return to pick it up.
3. We Provide Detailing & Vacuuming
We have an excellent standard of cleanliness, and as a result, our whole unit is wiped down, floors are vacuumed, and we put new clean paper floor mats on your floors to ensure you return to a comfortable clean car after your long-dreaded flight.
4. We Check/Top-off Tire Pressure
It is a fact that tires are known to deflate with seasonal and weather temperature changes and can eventually need to be topped off. Therefore, we check and assure tire air pressure is topped off to prevent low tires upon your arrival from a long flight.
In closing, we know that the last thing someone wants after a long flight is to come back to a dead battery, or low or flat tires, especially if you still have a long drive ahead of you to arrive at your final destination. Therefore, we assure that you will come back to a clean car, tire air pressure checked and topped off, with your battery charged and your car waiting for your arrival Call 503-257-1140.
by PAS CEO | Oct 18, 2023 | Blog
With the holidays just around the corner, it’s time to think about logistics when it comes to storing your car. Whether you just want to get your car, truck, or RV out of the driveway so relatives can park OR you plan on taking an extended trip out of Portland International Airport, PDX Auto Storage is here to help.
1. We Have a Huge, Well-Managed Safe Space
With our new extended space, we will not run out of space for your needs. That being said, it’s always best to book beforehand so that your other holiday plans can unfold seamlessly. And we’re NOT just a giant parking lot- we look out for customers! We make sure that there is air in the tires, that the inside is vacuumed, the floor matts are maintained, more! We know that holidays on their own bring stress, so we try to help you with your peace of mind in any means possible. This is more than you’d expect at Portland International Airport.
The holidays should be spent with friends and family. Leave the technicalities up to us. Your car WON’T be at risk of being broken into or stolen because we have double fences with 7000 Watts of Voltage to ensure your car’s protection. As you can see, PDX Auto Storage is the ideal space for storing what you need.
2. We Store More Than Just Cars!
Some storage facilities only allow you to store cars, but we are much more than that. Here are other things we can store for you throughout this holiday season:
· Cars
· Trucks
· Trailers
· Boats
· RV’s
· Equipment
· Equipment Trailers
· Fleet Parking
If you’re unsure if we’d store what you have in mind, just give us a call at 503-257-1140.
3. Great Customer Service
We’ve been around for over 25 years now, so we’ve been doing something right. Click on this article to see what we mean when we say we deliver quality customer service. We pride ourselves on being helpful and kind to each and every one of our customers. We make them feel heard and feel reassured that they are making the safest bet parking with us.
To sum up, we have a lot of space, provide safety for what you’re storing, store many different things, and have great customer service. Look no further for PDX Auto Storage for your seasonal parking needs!
