In storing a car while growing up I’ve always been told to store the battery on a piece of wood instead of directly on cement so it doesn’t go bad. More and more people are questioning whether or not this is a myth.
The exterior of an older battery used to be porous enough that the acid and or moisture could seep through enough that it could be conducted through it (rubber, tarred wood…).
Cement also holds moisture which assist in the possibility of transferring to other porous things. Should this happen, the moisture could potentially get to the acid in the battery and allow the battery to drain, in which it could be ruined.
With that being said, Newer batteries are much more sophisticated. They are made with a more dense plastic material on the outside which are also encased in steel.
These newer batteries cannot be conducted through the exterior shell to the moisture in the cement. With the newer shelled batteries some battery manufactures say it is even okay to set the battery in water (obviously not allowing the terminals to get wet).
Another notable fact about the newer batteries is that the cooler they are the slower they discharge. So with the newer designed batteries some are even saying that it is better to store a battery on cement and this is due to it being cooler.
Should I Set My Battery on a Piece of Wood?
As discussed above, if it is a newer battery it is perfectly safe to set it on cement, concrete or piece of wood. However, if it is an older battery setting it on a piece of wood is usually safe unless the concrete it is sitting on gets wet.
Wood is porous, so if the concrete gets wet enough the wood will slowly absorb the moisture in which it could still ruin your battery. So it would be recommended to keep the wood that the battery is sitting on away from anything wet, but a normal dry cement or concrete floor would be fine.
Final Thoughts on Properly Storing a Battery on Cement
If you don’t know the age of your battery you might as well play it safe rather than potentially paying the price. Batteries from tractors/mowers, vehicles or even boats tend range from $30 to a couple hundred dollars depending on the required cranking amps needed to turn the motor over.
Play it safe and store it on a piece of wood that can’t get wet unless you are certain you have a newer battery that is better designed to withstand the conductive transfer through moisture that makes them go bad.
To store a battery in a climate that doesn’t freeze simply disconnect the battery and leave it in the car. If the battery is in a climate that freezes bring it inside and if you have a dry basement put it down there as it is cooler.
Another option to better keep a battery in storage is to put it on a trickle charger. Trickle chargers are basically designed to charge batteries at the same rate they discharge.
Should you use a trickle charger just ensure you purchase one that has an auto off once the battery has been fully charged back up so you don’t damage the battery by constantly over charging it.
Also, see what your lawn mower battery is. If it is 6 volts be sure to pick up one that can do both a 6 volt and a 12 volt battery.
I have a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When I’m not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies…I’m at home with my wife, two daughters and a dog. Outside of family, I love grilling and barbequing on my Big Green Egg and working on projects around the house.