Garage Dehumidifier - a good idea?

[Johnrdking]

Hey folks,

For those of you who keep your pride and joy tucked away in a garage - how do you deal with condensation?
I've been eyeing up desiccant dehumidifiers, but wondered whether that's overkill? Or is there a better way?

My space is a 6mx6m two-car garage with up-and-over roller doors - that could do with a better seal...

 

[johng]

I keep my car in a similar size garage with a roller shutter door and don't have any problem with condensation. It probably helps that I live in one of the driest parts of the country, but I have fitted a new seal to the bottom of the door to stop rain water getting in and causing puddles. I do have a gap along the top of the door and also a vent in the window, which I leave open, as I believe you need ventilation to prevent condensation. I also have a log burner in the garage, which I light when working in the garage over winter. This must suck a fair bit of air into the garage and out of the flue, helping the flow of air through the garage.

 

[Chuffer]

Hey folks,

For those of you who keep your pride and joy tucked away in a garage - how do you deal with condensation?
I've been eyeing up desiccant dehumidifiers, but wondered whether that's overkill? Or is there a better way?

My space is a 6mx6m two-car garage with up-and-over roller doors - that could do with a better seal...

My car shares a home in an industrial unit workshop that houses 18 assorted race cars and rally cars , a large Race Support Truck and a car transporter trailer so is high roofed and has a huge roller shutter door . It has a concrete floor , single skin blockwork walls to about 1.7 metres will corrugated alloy walls and roof . No heating but lots of natural ventilation in a huge volume so condensation is never an issue thankfully as there are a lot of expensive cars in there . I do keep a domestic type plastic dehumidifier full of crystals in the footwell though to draw in any potential moisture to protect the cars interior . Been there for eight years now without any issues .

 

[Johnrdking]

I keep my car in a similar size garage with a roller shutter door and don't have any problem with condensation. It probably helps that I live in one of the driest parts of the country, but I have fitted a new seal to the bottom of the door to stop rain water getting in and causing puddles. I do have a gap along the top of the door and also a vent in the window, which I leave open, as I believe you need ventilation to prevent condensation. I also have a log burner in the garage, which I light when working in the garage over winter. This must suck a fair bit of air into the garage and out of the flue, helping the flow of air through the garage.

Thanks John, I suspect I either don't have enough ventilation, not enough warmth, or a combination of the two.

Lazy as I am, if I can buy a machine to solve that problem (assuming it will) rather than having to rework the flow of air in there, I think I'll opt for the machine!

 

[Johnrdking]

My car shares a home in an industrial unit workshop that houses 18 assorted race cars and rally cars , a large Race Support Truck and a car transporter trailer so is high roofed and has a huge roller shutter door . It has a concrete floor , single skin blockwork walls to about 1.7 metres will corrugated alloy walls and roof . No heating but lots of natural ventilation in a huge volume so condensation is never an issue thankfully as there are a lot of expensive cars in there . I do keep a domestic type plastic dehumidifier full of crystals in the footwell though to draw in any potential View attachment 26288View attachment 26289moisture to protect the cars interior . Been there for eight years now without any issues .

That's a cracking space, if all those cars are yours, you're a lucky man!

Putting a box of crystals inside the car is a good idea though, duly noted - thank you.

 

[Chuffer]

That's a cracking space, if all those cars are yours, you're a lucky man!

Putting a box of crystals inside the car is a good idea though, duly noted - thank you.

I wish I was so lucky !!! But most are owned by just one guy . The list currently runs to four Formula 2 / Formula Atlantic cars that race in the Historic masters series , a Spice Group C car that won at Le Mans in 1987 , a genuine Ford Works Mk 1 Ford Escort RS 1600 plus a non genuine one and a BMW E34 and E36 Enduro Racers . Other guys cars are an two Lancia Delta Integrale`s , a Honda Civic Type R club racer and an early Mini that is a long term project car . Ooh ! I nearly forgot the Escort RS Cosworth Rally car and a Duratec Sports 200 closed bodied single seater as well . Then little old me up the corner .

 

[Chuffer]

Thanks John, I suspect I either don't have enough ventilation, not enough warmth, or a combination of the two.

Lazy as I am, if I can buy a machine to solve that problem (assuming it will) rather than having to rework the flow of air in there, I think I'll opt for the machine!

Ventilation and sufficient air changes per volume of the interior are more crucial than heating the place up but I am sure Mr Cricket will join in the debate as he is our resident Air Con specialist .

 

[Johnrdking]

I wish I was so lucky !!! But most are owned by just one guy . The list currently runs to four Formula 2 / Formula Atlantic cars that race in the Historic masters series , a Spice Group C car that won at Le Mans in 1987 , a genuine Ford Works Mk 1 Ford Escort RS 1600 plus a non genuine one and a BMW E34 and E36 Enduro Racers . Other guys cars are an two Lancia Delta Integrale`s , a Honda Civic Type R club racer and an early Mini that is a long term project car . Ooh ! I nearly forgot the Escort RS Cosworth Rally car and a Duratec Sports 200 closed bodied single seater as well . Then little old me up the corner .

By golly, how'd you find your a 'vette a space in amongst all those A-listers eh?

 

[Chuffer]

By golly, how'd you find your a 'vette a space in amongst all those A-listers eh?

Knowing the right people !

 

[antijam]

Hey folks,

For those of you who keep your pride and joy tucked away in a garage - how do you deal with condensation?
I've been eyeing up desiccant dehumidifiers, but wondered whether that's overkill? Or is there a better way?

My space is a 6mx6m two-car garage with up-and-over roller doors - that could do with a better seal...

Do you have a problem with condensation at the moment or are you just planning in advance? Whether condensation is a significant problem depends a lot on the local environment.
I have basically a two up-and-over door garage into which I manage to squeeze three cars.....


...( the Mustang in the picture not being one of them ). I and half a dozen of my neighbours effectively live on an island with a stream that splits upstream of us and rejoins again downstream. Low nighttime temperatures after relatively warm days can produce near enough 100% humidity and condensation on the cars is a real problem. I did have a couple of domestic dehumidifiers in the garage for a while but the doors are not well sealed and those were basically trying to dehumidify the world! Ventilation doesn't help.
Desiccant bags in the engine bays stave off the worst of the damp in autumn and winter. A friend who lives a mile away on much higher ground has absolutely no problem with condensation.

 

[Johnrdking]

Do you have a problem with condensation at the moment or are you just planning in advance? Whether condensation is a significant problem depends a lot on the local environment.
I have basically a two up-and-over door garage into which I manage to squeeze three cars.....

View attachment 26290
...( the Mustang in the picture not being one of them ). I and half a dozen of my neighbours effectively live on an island with a stream that splits upstream of us and rejoins again downstream. Low nighttime temperatures after relatively warm days can produce near enough 100% humidity and condensation on the cars is a real problem. I did have a couple of domestic dehumidifiers in the garage for a while but the doors are not well sealed and those were basically trying to dehumidify the world! Ventilation doesn't help.
Desiccant bags in the engine bays stave off the worst of the damp in autumn and winter. A friend who lives a mile away on much higher ground has absolutely no problem with condensation.

Aye, I have a problem with it now. My tools, if left out, get a thin layer of rust on them, and I have had mould in there before. The garage is reasonably well sealed, although there is one gap down one side of a shutter, so I'll need to sort that out.

As I understand it, I either need to keep it a bit warmer in there to prevent the condensation from forming, and/or, get a dehumidifier on the go.

Examples like yours are handy, it gives me a good steer on what might work.

I'll get a hygrometer in there tomorrow to measure the humidity, to see how bad it is.

 

[phild]

Aye, I have a problem with it now. My tools, if left out, get a thin layer of rust on them, and I have had mould in there before. The garage is reasonably well sealed, although there is one gap down one side of a shutter, so I'll need to sort that out.

As I understand it, I either need to keep it a bit warmer in there to prevent the condensation from forming, and/or, get a dehumidifier on the go.

Examples like yours are handy, it gives me a good steer on what might work.

I'll get a hygrometer in there tomorrow to measure the humidity, to see how bad it is.

I have something similar to you, double garage with up and over doors, brick built/slate roof with rubber tiles over concrete floor. Its quite well sealed so no through flow of air. Condensation is a problem when high humidity conditions occur.

I thought of some kind of heating but was advised that heat and moisture could promote corrosion even more.

I bought a Sealey dehumidifier which has solved any condensation issues and I'm very happy with it.

 

[Johnrdking]

I have something similar to you, double garage with up and over doors, brick built/slate roof with rubber tiles over concrete floor. Its quite well sealed so no through flow of air. Condensation is a problem when high humidity conditions occur.

I thought of some kind of heating but was advised that heat and moisture could promote corrosion even more.

I bought a Sealey dehumidifier which has solved any condensation issues and I'm very happy with it.

Excellent, thanks for that - seems I'm on the right track then. When the hygrometer lands today (thanks Amazon!) I'll have a better idea of how humid it really is in there... But it'll probably confirm my idea to pick up a Meaco DD8L

 

[antijam]

....... it'll probably confirm my idea to pick up a Meaco DD8L

I have two of those and had both in the garage for a while; they're very efficient. They were unable to stay on top of the level of condensation but may work for you if the damp level is lower. If you're going to use it for some time unattended ( the water tank fills up quite quickly ) it's worth connecting the drain tube to discharge outside the garage.

 

[Roscobbc]

A ventilation through-flow is really a good idea if you have widely differing temperatures in the garage......our single width, double length garage adjoins the house - so outer wall is brick - rear half of garage roof is timber boarded and felted - front half has elevated height pitched, tiled roof - inner wall is the house. Front and rear double doors are timber. Zero insulation anywhere. The inner garage (house) wall is a cavity, non filled wall. This, fortunately has been the key to zero condensation in the garage........even in the height of winter though seemingly cold in the garage its is always a few degrees above external temperature.....whatever that might be, and zero condensation. Conversely in summer the 'elevated' end of the garage which is used asa mezzanine for storage tends to trap heat during the summer, keeping any extreme temperatures down. Gaps under the front and rear doors allow a good flow of ventilation (and unfortunately leaves and dust in autumn).

 

[Chris Sale]

Have just seen your post about getting a Meaco DD8L. Apologies if you already know this, but Meaco have two versions of the DD8L - the 'base' DD8L and the new DD8L Zambesi.

I have been using a DD8L Junior for several years now. It operates in the same way as the 'base' DD8L and does a good job of controlling humidity and adding a bit of warmth in my garage. Before getting the DD8L Junior I had used a refrigerant type for quite a few years, and these really struggle to remove any moisture once the temperature drops below about 40 deg F.

However, both the DD8L Junior and the 'base' DD8L have a disadvantage in that you cannot use them with a timer switch as they need a cooldown cycle before shutting off. They need to be manually switched off to allow the heating element to cool down before shutting off completely to avoid possible damage. In effect this means having to leave them running all the time, unless you want to make frequent visits to your garage. This in turn means that compared to a refrigerant type, they are quite expensive to run.

The new DD8L Zambesi avoids these problems because it has digital controls that enable you to set the run times.

Best,

Chris Sale
'64 Coupe

 

[Johnrdking]

The new DD8L Zambesi avoids these problems because it has digital controls that enable you to set the run times.

You're quite right - that was the one I was looking at - with the elephant on it. Having the option for it to auto shut-off looked nice too. I just wanted to hear from other folks that they'd got a few years out of the model before replacing them; it seems to be a recurring theme with other brands.

A great shout, thank you

 

[Johnrdking]

This, fortunately has been the key to zero condensation in the garage.

That makes a lot of sense - I have a small gap down one side of a roller door where the seal isn't quite wide enough, letting a tiny bit of sunlight in when the 'big light' is switched off - but there's no flow 'through'. I'd probably need to create a ventilation hole/gap in the regular 'people door' on the side of the building to make that happen.

I might just cheat with the dehumidifier and some extra seals for now

 

[Chuffer]

I have two of those and had both in the garage for a while; they're very efficient. They were unable to stay on top of the level of condensation but may work for you if the damp level is lower. If you're going to use it for some time unattended ( the water tank fills up quite quickly ) it's worth connecting the drain tube to discharge outside the garage.

Are you sure you weren`t trying to pump your local stream out ?

 

[Chuffer]

A ventilation through-flow is really a good idea if you have widely differing temperatures in the garage......our single width, double length garage adjoins the house - so outer wall is brick - rear half of garage roof is timber boarded and felted - front half has elevated height pitched, tiled roof - inner wall is the house. Front and rear double doors are timber. Zero insulation anywhere. The inner garage (house) wall is a cavity, non filled wall. This, fortunately has been the key to zero condensation in the garage........even in the height of winter though seemingly cold in the garage its is always a few degrees above external temperature.....whatever that might be, and zero condensation. Conversely in summer the 'elevated' end of the garage which is used asa mezzanine for storage tends to trap heat during the summer, keeping any extreme temperatures down. Gaps under the front and rear doors allow a good flow of ventilation (and unfortunately leaves and dust in autumn).

Similar situation with me at the unit . No insulation , no heating and good natural airflow . Plus being in a slightly elevated exposed rural area helps but the wind can get a bit vicious if it howling across the fields from nearby Silverstone circuit direction . It`s chuffin` freezing working in there in the winter but as you say , no condensation and damned hot in the summer as the metal cladding acts as a conductor . My area is near the huge south facing roller shutter which acts like a radiator when the sun comes out so still no condo . Only the inner workshop which like a small building itself at the far end of unit with its own low flat roof is heated by an LPG space heater and that`s were the fine art of race car and engine strip downs take place. No condo in there either as that is crucial to the work going on . I nip in there for a warm up on winter days .