How to Store a Battery During the Off Season

When the riding season ends or your boat gets tucked away for the winter, one thing is often forgotten: the battery. You might think pulling it out and tossing it in the garage is enough, but improper storage is one of the fastest ways to kill a perfectly good lead-acid battery.

The good news? With just a little prep, you can keep that battery healthy and ready to go when spring rolls around. Let’s walk through exactly how to store a lead-acid battery (AGM or flooded) the right way.

 Why Proper Battery Storage Matters

All lead-acid batteries self-discharge over time, even if they’re not connected to anything. That slow drain becomes a big problem when:

• It drops below 12.4V and starts to sulfate
• It freezes because the electrolyte turned to water
• The charge gets so low the battery won’t recover

If you’ve ever pulled a battery out of storage in the spring and found it stone dead… yep. That’s what we’re avoiding.

 Step-by-Step: How to Store a Battery the Right Way

 1. Fully Charge It First

Before putting the battery into storage, top it off completely using a smart charger.

• Flooded batteries should rest at around 12.6–12.8V
• AGM batteries are happy around 12.8–13.0V

Recommended: NOCO 6V/12V trickle charger – Safe for all lead-acid types and won’t overcharge your battery.

 2. Clean the Terminals

Corrosion builds up fast in storage. Give your battery a quick cleanup:

• Use a wire brush or terminal cleaning tool
• Optional: coat terminals with anti-corrosion spray

 Suggested tool: CRC Terminal Cleaner & Protector – A cheap way to avoid problems later.

3. Disconnect or Remove It

If the battery is staying in the vehicle:

• Disconnect the negative terminal to stop parasitic drain

If it’s coming out completely:

• Store it off the ground, on wood or plastic (not cold concrete)
• Keep it in a dry location, away from direct heat or freezing cold

 Bonus tip: Use a battery storage box to keep it safe from moisture or sparks NOCO Snap-Top Battery Box – Works for marine, RV, or garage setups

 4. Use a Battery Maintainer (Smart Trickler)

This is the real trick to long battery life during storage. A battery maintainer monitors voltage and adds tiny top-up charges when needed. It’s not a regular charger, it’s smarter.

You can leave it connected for weeks or months without worry.

 Favorite pick: NOCO Genius1 Battery Maintainer – Super compact, works with 6V and 12V, and AGM-safe

 5. Check Voltage Monthly (Optional but Smart)

Even with a maintainer, it’s a good habit to check resting voltage once a month using a basic multimeter or Bluetooth battery monitor.

• Over 12.5V = healthy
• Below 12.4V = recharge manually to avoid sulfation

 Tool to use: BM2 Bluetooth Battery Monitor – See your battery’s health right on your phone

 Bonus: Cold Weather Considerations

Cold slows the battery chemistry down, but it also makes batteries more likely to freeze if they’re not fully charged. A fully charged battery freezes at around -75°F, but a discharged one can freeze at 20°F or higher.

Moral of the story? Store charged, store smart, and your battery survives the cold.

 Final Thoughts

Storing a battery the right way doesn’t take much time, but skipping it almost guarantees you’ll be shopping for a new one in spring.

Here’s your quick checklist:

• ✅ Fully charge it
• ✅ Clean terminals
• ✅ Disconnect or remove
• ✅ Use a maintainer
• ✅ Check voltage occasionally

A few small steps now = money saved and zero headaches later.