storing liquids in an unheated barn

[RedTailHawk]

Do you keep liquids (e.g. Oil, Fuel, Lubricants, bottled water, cleaners, paints, aerosols, etc) stored in your unheated barn? Anyone have a tip or trick to keep these items protected so they don't freeze up?

 

[RickB]

Oil, fuel, lubricants, cleaners and aerosols live in my unheated barn at whatever temperature it happens to be.

 

[murphy1244]

I bring spray cans in as I don't have much luck with them or much else.

 

[davesl708]

I keep items that are freeze/thaw stabile. Oil, Gas, Diesel, some weed killers.

 

[Zerk]

I've had spray paint live for year in the shed. Not advocating it, but I have been ok. Only thing I would worry about is water and RV anti freeze. Oddly enough I have had that freeze and I use it to winterize.

 

[cmyoung2]

I use an old refrigerator, just leave a 60 watt bulb in the lower section, keeps everything from freezing. Actually use the setup with a thermostat to store leftover pesticides.

 

[Fallon]

I've had spray paint live for year in the shed. Not advocating it, but I have been ok. Only thing I would worry about is water and RV anti freeze. Oddly enough I have had that freeze and I use it to winterize.

Freeze solid or just go slushy? You shouldn't have things blowing up & cracking with slush where you would if it froze solid.

 

[oosik]

Unopened jugs of oils & lubes are stored in the spare bedroom. 5 gallon cans of gas & diesel fuel are stored outside in an unheated carport. Spray cans of paint are where I last used them - some inside, others outside. Gallon cans of house paint are in the spare bedroom.

 

[Zerk]

Freeze solid or just go slushy? You shouldn't have things blowing up & cracking with slush where you would if it froze solid.

The undiluted jug of RV anti freeze froze solid. Did not expand the container. Not rock hard like water, but way past slushy. I think it would stand on its own. The label says it will do that, but is not supposed to burst. Which it didn't. But I don't know if I believe it is good to -50F, it was -15.

I put it in the toilet and drains at my camp, between visits in the winter.

Wrecked my idea of mixing water and anti freeze in the fall in jugs, so I could take a dump in the winter. Some times I turn the water on and drain when I leave. Other times just put water in the back of the toilet so I can flush it. Left a mixed jug by the fire all night and it still didn't completely unthaw.

But now that I have a tractor I can clear a path so it is easier to carry water in. Though it takes longer then I thought to move 3-4' deep snow.

 

[CurlyDave]

Freeze solid or just go slushy? You shouldn't have things blowing up & cracking with slush where you would if it froze solid.

Water is just about the only common liquid which expands when it freezes. Everything else contracts, so non-water based materials should not burst containers.