Dehumidifiers are an excellent way to keep your home cool and dry throughout the hot and humid summer months. However, what about if you have a garage? Because garages aren't typically thought of as living spaces, you might be wondering if dehumidifiers even work in them. The right answer is "yes." Moisture levels in garages can be kept under control with the help of dehumidifiers, which can be put in these places, to avoid the growth of mould and mildew. Continue reading if you'd like to learn more about how garage dehumidifiers work.
Should I Put A Dehumidifier In My Garage?
A dehumidifier can assist in resolving various humidity-related air quality issues in your house. Airborne allergens such as mould spores and dust mites can thrive in humid environments.
Is it necessary to instal a dehumidifier in my garage? Yes, putting a dehumidifier in a garage would be beneficial because most garages have high humidity levels due to poor ventilation. Dehumidifiers remove humidity from the air, lowering the likelihood of dust mites, mildew, and mould growing in the garage.
When relative humidity levels approach 50%, it might have a negative impact on the air you breathe. Allergens are significantly more likely to degrade overall air quality at these levels. Excessive humidity can also affect your home's structural integrity, the quality of your furnishings, and generate an unpleasant musty odour.
The air in your home must be dry in order to feel chilly. Humid air can cause your air conditioner to overwork, increasing your utility expenses unnecessarily. Maintaining dry air not only helps to eliminate these concerns, but it also produces a healthier breathing environment.
Do Dehumidifiers Work In Garages?
Dehumidifiers are a vital component of any home. They keep your home's air dry and cosy. Dehumidifiers, on the other hand, aren't always effective at keeping the air within your garage dry.
If you've ever tried to store anything in there, you know how rapidly mould grows. Sweat does not evaporate when the environment is humid. As a result, a humid day feels hotter to us than a less humid day of the same temperature.
If you can find techniques to minimise relative humidity levels, you can feel five to ten degrees colder. When you're working in your garage during the summer, 10 degrees cooler can mean the difference between being comfortable and miserable.
How To Identify If Your Garage Has Humidity Issues
If you notice a musty, stale odour in your garage, it could be due to high humidity levels in the air.
Paint flaking off walls is another symptom of excessive moisture levels in a garage, particularly if the walls are sheetrock. This is especially noticeable if you have engineered hardwood siding installed within your garage. In such circumstances, pay careful attention to the bottom corners for symptoms of peeling and degradation.
Furthermore, if you find paint flaking off the walls, this is an indication of high moisture levels in your garage. Water stains on the ceiling are also possible. These are indicators of water damage caused by roof leaks.
Finally, the appearance of mould is another indication that a dehumidifier should be installed in your garage. Mould is a fungus that thrives on moist surfaces. Mould can be found in a variety of locations, including basements, garages, bathrooms, kitchens, crawl spaces, attics, and other places where moisture accumulates. Mould can be harmful to your health if it enters your lungs or nose. Mould also damages the structural integrity of homes and buildings.
By keeping the environment dry, you can prevent mould formation. However, if you discover wet marks on your garage walls, there could be another cause.
Reasons For Moisture In A Garage
A garage is intended to be a storage space. It is not intended to be a residential area. As a result, most garages lack any type of appropriate ventilation. Without the enormous garage doors, it is essentially a cave with no free passage of air.
Moisture accumulates on floors and walls over time if humidity is not allowed to escape. Moisture buildup can cause major damage to wood flooring and drywall if not addressed promptly.
In general, there are three basic ways to detect the presence of moisture in a garage: condensation on the floor, standing water on the floor, or, later, indications of mould on the garage's walls and ceiling.
Why Do You Need A Dehumidifier
Air pollution has a significant impact on both our respiratory and cardiovascular systems. As a result, it is critical that we keep at least some fresh air in our houses. Houses can get infested with dust mites or mould as a result of excessive moisture, which is exceedingly damaging to the human respiratory system and overall health.
Uncomfortable surroundings should be avoided. You should not, for example, suffer headaches, a dry cough, or itchy eyes. Furthermore, black stains should not emerge on the walls or in the rooms, and if they do, you can believe that something is wrong with their microclimate.
Moisture is most typically observed, while dryness is most commonly felt. Conditions that dry out our noses and throats allow unstoppable viruses and germs to enter the airways and create allergies. They can also create rashes and itchy skin, and if the person has a chronic ailment like asthma, dryness can make attacks more frequent.
You require a dehumidifier. Taking surplus humidity from the air, the collector condenses it and collects it in a tank before discarding the condensate. This aids in lowering the relative humidity. So get some fresh air for your wellness.
A Guide To Garage Dehumidifiers
If nothing but the best will do for your car, tools, motorcycle, or stored goods, storing them in a chilly, wet garage during the winter is a terrible idea. Rust begins to eat metal, mildew forms on chairs, and carpets and cardboard storage boxes become damp.
The worst affected are workshops or garages with big gaps around the windows and doors. Even well-sealed buildings can be an issue, and moisture on a damp car can linger for days, but not if a dehumidifier is used. These help to dry the air and ensure that your car and equipment survive the damp winter.
Whatever size or shape a dehumidifier is, it must, above all, dry the air. If your garage is not heated, you will need to select a dehumidifier that can operate at lower temperatures. This means you'll need a compressor-powered dehumidifier with hot gas defrosts or a desiccant machine that works regardless of temperature. In temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius, a basic compressor-driven machine will be ineffective.
Auto-restart and continuous drain off are useful features to have on a garage dehumidifier so you don't have to constantly check and empty the unit.
After a power failure or power cut, the unit will automatically restart and continue to function at the same setting it was running at before the power cut, rather than falling into standby and having to be manually reset. It also implies that the unit can be left on a plug timer if necessary. It can be handy since it offers more flexibility than the built-in timing and variable humidity level that the humidistat can set.
Continuous drain off means that instead of just collecting the extracted moisture in a holding tank, the moisture can be drained off by a short hose and delivered into a sink, drain point, or separate holding tank.
In garages, we prefer desiccant absorption dehumidifiers since they are far more effective than compressor-driven devices at lower temperatures.
Furthermore, desiccant absorption dehumidifiers may reduce relative humidity to 40% or less, which is below the rusting point of metal, protecting your car, motorcycle, tools, and other valuables from rust.
Why Does My Garage Floor Get So Damp?
Sometimes it rains in the garage and the floor gets slippery. Condensation of moisture, sometimes known as "garage floor sweating," is the primary culprit in creating this slippery situation.
The exterior of the glass may sweat when you pour a cold beverage into it. Why does this happen? As soon as the icy beverage makes contact with the glass, the temperature drops dramatically. When the warm, damp air outside makes contact with the glass, the temperature of the glass immediately drops.
Once the water vapour in the air reaches a certain temperature, it condenses into droplets. Sweat appears as water drops on the window. In the concrete business, this is referred to as Sweating Slab Syndrome. Surprisingly, even sweating in the garage follows this principle.
The garage floor is made of concrete, which may get rather cool at night. Hot, humid air cools off when it comes into contact with the garage's cooler surface. As it cools, its density increases, making it more compact.
Water droplets will form if the temperature of the garage door is at or below the dew point, causing water vapour in the air to condense. Vapor generates water droplets upon impact between hot air and a cold surface.
When these water droplets hit the ground, they stay put. This is because the garage floor has been refined, making it less porous. Therefore, it has a limited capacity for rapid water absorption. Next, water droplets slowly gather on the floor, making it damp. That's what we call "garage floor sweating," by the way.
Is There A Moisture Issue, Or Does The Garage Floor Just Sweat?
Unless you're sweating buckets, the garage floor probably isn't damp. There are two potential sources of dampness on the ground. The first is surface moisture from walking on the floor, and the second is subfloor moisture from rain or snow. The first step in stopping the floor from sweating is figuring out if it is sweating.
Grab a 16-inch square of thick plastic and give it a try. Before laying down the plastic, make sure all of the corners are sealed.
As soon as you notice the floor is becoming damp, take up the plastic. If the spot under the plastic is dry but the rest of the area is wet, you have a sweating problem.
On the other hand, if the ground under the plastic and its immediate surroundings are wet, then there is a moisture issue beneath the concrete.
Methods for Preventing Perspiration on the Garage Floor
After the evaluation, you will know if the garage floor is damp. This article will discuss five strategies for avoiding that.
Drastically Lower Ambient Humidity
Humidity in the air is the primary factor contributing to the issue. To reduce the amount of moisture in the air, a dehumidifier can be purchased. When it comes to reducing humidity, this is your best option.
Which type of Dehumidifier you need depends depend on how big your garage is. A dehumidifier for a 400–500 square foot garage is necessary. For spaces up to 2500 square feet, many people use Home Labs' 6-gallon Dehumidifier.
Increased Ventilation
There won't be enough time for condensation to occur if the air doesn't get a chance to settle in the garage for a while. Furthermore, if the air does not condense, then there will be no perspiration. So, if you don't want to get wet when working in the garage, it's a good idea to improve the ventilation.
There are several options for fans, including ceiling fans, wall-mounted fans, and oscillating fans of various sizes. It will help to keep your garage dry if you leave the fan on for a certain amount of time every day.
A Warmer Garage
As we have discussed previously, the condensation in the air is caused by the cold garage floor. If the floor is kept from getting too cold, condensation in the air won't form. In this manner, you can avoid the problem of wet garage floors.
Rugs and mats for the floors, perhaps?
Because of its high albedo, the surface of concretes can get quite cold because of the rapid reflection of solar radiation. In order to prevent the floor from sweating and to keep the floor clean, simply placing a mat on top of the floor in the garage will do both of these things.
Effective rugs and mats include, but are not limited to, interlocking garage floor tiles, vinyl mats, and automotive-approved carpet.
A tightly sealed garage door is a safe garage door.
Even after you've shut the door to your garage, there will still be space between the door and the ground. The floor of the garage constantly looks moist because air can flow through the cracks and into the garage.
You might be able to stop it from happening if you just seal up these tiny openings. A garage floor door seal or other sort of house insulation might be a huge help in this area.
Which Dehumidifier Is Right For Your Garage?
- If not addressed, excessive humidity can become a significant problem. We have chosen the finest performing units in each category to ensure that you locate one that meets your specific team edification requirements.
- Home dehumidifiers are available in a variety of pint-sized capacities, which correspond to the square footage and moisture level of the space where the device would be used. Most devices let you to choose your desired humidity level and will switch on and off automatically as needed.
- While the physical size of the unit may be comparable, the amount of water the unit can remove from the air every day can vary greatly. The bigger the pint-sized capacity, the more efficient and quieter the machine.
- Both at-home dehumidifiers have a water bucket and an automated shut-off feature that activates when the container is full. Many variants also include a drain hose connector for continuous drainage as necessary.
- If you need to operate the unit in an area where the temperature drops below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you'll need to buy a low-temperature unit like those sold by Danby and Edge Star.
- Garage dehumidifiers are typically built to last. They are designed to work in low temperatures, and some even have drain pumps for permanent installation.
How To Choose The Best Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers are devices that extract moisture from the air. They are frequently utilised in basements, bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and other high-humidity environments.
Dehumidifiers are classified into two types: portable and fixed. Portable dehumidifiers are compact, portable machines that may be moved around the home. Stationary dehumidifiers are big devices that are typically found in basements or garages.
Consider the following variables while selecting a dehumidifier:
Size
Consider both the dimensions of the space you have available and the required carrying capacity. Dehumidifiers are ranked according to how many pints of moisture they are able to remove from the air in one day. A smaller unit is ideal for use in an area with a lower humidity level and a smaller room. Larger sizes are preferable for use in basements and other locations with high humidity, particularly in the presence of damp carpeting or wallpaper as well as musty odours.
Placement.
The amount of floor area required by a unit is typically one square foot. Maintain a clean filter and ensure that all vents have at least 12 inches of unobstructed room for air circulation. Consider the level of noise produced by the device if you intend to use it in public locations.
Built-In Features
Choose a model that features a timer and an auto-restart function in the event that the power goes out if you frequently plan to be away from home. Select rolling casters rather than fixed feet if you intend to move the unit around.
Energy Star Ratings
Dehumidifiers that have been awarded the Energy Star consume roughly 30 percentage points less energy than those that have not received the award. As a consequence of this, they could have a higher starting cost, but they make up for it and save money on energy over time.
External Hose Connector
The vast majority of types come equipped with a signal that indicates when the bucket is complete. If you want to avoid manually emptying the tank, look for a model that has an external hose attachment instead. Some models take this concept one step further by including an internal pump that can automatically pump water upward over a distance of up to 16 feet through a window or into a utility sink or drain.
Advantages Of A Dehumidifier For A Garage
Nowadays, dehumidifiers are essential pieces of equipment for both garages and residences. However, you may not be aware that there are additional advantages to installing a dehumidifier in your garage. The following are a few of the many benefits that come with installing a dehumidifier in your garage:
It Helps Keep Your Home Cool
It will be easier to maintain a comfortable temperature inside of your house if you keep a dehumidifier operating in your garage. Because of this, you won't have to run the air conditioner as frequently, which will save you money.
It Helps Prevent Mold Growth
Mould and mildew are able to flourish in wet conditions, such as a garage, for example. The majority of garages are pitch black and lack any windows. The garage's position and the surrounding natural environment both contribute to the presence of moisture, which in turn fosters the growth of moulds.
One way to reduce the amount of moisture and dampness in a garage is to instal a humidifier. When anything like this takes place, the possibilities of mould and mildew growing and developing are drastically cut down.
Better Indoor Air Quality
A muggy garage has a stiflingly hot and stuffy atmosphere. A garage that has a high concentration of dampness makes it impossible to work or live there. A dehumidifier should be used in this situation. By extracting moisture from the air, it contributes significantly to assisting you in enhancing the overall quality of the air within your garage. Pollen and dust mites are examples of contaminants that can be found in the air when it is hot and dry.
Protect Garage Walls And Floor
It is possible to safeguard the garage's walls and floors with the assistance of a dehumidifier. The stability of the overall construction of the garage is jeopardised whenever either the floor or the walls become soaked. If you utilise wood for the construction, the wetness will cause the wood to decay, which will make the structure more fragile. The use of a dehumidifier will result in the drying out of the walls and floor, which will stop this degradation from occuring.
Conclusion
Dehumidifiers are a vital component of any home. They keep your home's air dry and cosy. A dehumidifier can also help to prevent the growth of mould and mildew in garages, as well as airborne allergens such as dust mites. If you notice a musty, stale odour in your garage, it could be due to high humidity levels in the air. Paint flaking off walls is another symptom of excessive moisture levels in a garage.
Mould can also be harmful to your health if it enters your lungs or nose. Moisture is most typically observed, while dryness is most commonly felt. Conditions that dry out our noses and throats allow germs to enter the airways. Dryness can also create rashes and itchy skin, and if the person has asthma, dryness can make attacks more frequent. Continuous drain off means that the moisture can be drained off by a short hose and delivered into a sink, drain point, or separate holding tank.
After a power failure or power cut, the unit will automatically restart and continue to function at the same setting it was running at before. The first step in stopping the floor from sweating is figuring out if it is sweating. To reduce the amount of moisture in the air, a dehumidifier can be purchased. If the air does not condense, then there will be no perspiration on the garage floor. There are several options for fans, including ceiling fans, wall-mounted fans, and oscillating fans.
It will help to keep your garage dry if you leave the fan on for a certain amount of time every day. A tightly sealed garage door is a safe garage door. Dehumidifiers are devices that extract moisture from the air. They are frequently utilised in basements, bathrooms, kitchens, garages and other high-humidity environments. We have chosen the finest performing units in each category to ensure that you locate one that meets your specific requirements.
Dehumidifiers are essential pieces of equipment for both garages and residences. However, there are additional advantages to installing a dehumidifier in your garage. Consider the level of noise produced by the device if you intend to use it in public locations. A muggy garage has a stiflingly hot and stuffy atmosphere. One way to reduce the amount of moisture and dampness in a garage is to instal a humidifier. The use of a dehumidifier will result in the drying out of the walls and floor.
Content Summary
- Dehumidifiers are an excellent way to keep your home cool and dry throughout the hot and humid summer months.
- However, what about if you have a garage?
- Continue reading if you'd like to learn more about how garage dehumidifiers work.
- Should I Put A Dehumidifier In My Garage?A dehumidifier can assist in resolving various humidity-related air quality issues in your house.
- Is it necessary to instal a dehumidifier in my garage?
- Yes, putting a dehumidifier in a garage would be beneficial because most garages have high humidity levels due to poor ventilation.
- The air in your home must be dry in order to feel chilly.
- They keep your home's air dry and cosy.
- Dehumidifiers, on the other hand, aren't always effective at keeping the air within your garage dry.
- If you notice a musty, stale odour in your garage, it could be due to high humidity levels in the air.
- Paint flaking off walls is another symptom of excessive moisture levels in a garage, particularly if the walls are sheetrock.
- Furthermore, if you find paint flaking off the walls, this is an indication of high moisture levels in your garage.
- Finally, the appearance of mould is another indication that a dehumidifier should be installed in your garage.
- By keeping the environment dry, you can prevent mould formation.
- However, if you discover wet marks on your garage walls, there could be another cause.
- In general, there are three basic ways to detect the presence of moisture in a garage: condensation on the floor, standing water on the floor, or, later, indications of mould on the garage's walls and ceiling.
- Uncomfortable surroundings should be avoided.
- You require a dehumidifier.
- So get some fresh air for your wellness.
- A Guide To Garage DehumidifiersIf nothing but the best will do for your car, tools, motorcycle, or stored goods, storing them in a chilly, wet garage during the winter is a terrible idea.
- These help to dry the air and ensure that your car and equipment survive the damp winter.
- Whatever size or shape a dehumidifier is, it must, above all, dry the air.
- If your garage is not heated, you will need to select a dehumidifier that can operate at lower temperatures.
- After a power failure or power cut, the unit will automatically restart and continue to function at the same setting it was running at before the power cut, rather than falling into standby and having to be manually reset.
- It can be handy since it offers more flexibility than the built-in timing and variable humidity level that the humidistat can set.
- Continuous drain off means that instead of just collecting the extracted moisture in a holding tank, the moisture can be drained off by a short hose and delivered into a sink, drain point, or separate holding tank.
- Why Does My Garage Floor Get So Damp?Sometimes it rains in the garage and the floor gets slippery.
- Condensation of moisture, sometimes known as "garage floor sweating," is the primary culprit in creating this slippery situation.
- The garage floor is made of concrete, which may get rather cool at night.
- Water droplets will form if the temperature of the garage door is at or below the dew point, causing water vapour in the air to condense.
- Next, water droplets slowly gather on the floor, making it damp.
- There are two potential sources of dampness on the ground.
- The first step in stopping the floor from sweating is figuring out if it is sweating.
- Methods for Preventing Perspiration on the Garage FloorAfter the evaluation, you will know if the garage floor is damp.
- This article will discuss five strategies for avoiding that.
- To reduce the amount of moisture in the air, a dehumidifier can be purchased.
- It will help to keep your garage dry if you leave the fan on for a certain amount of time every day.
- A Warmer GarageAs we have discussed previously, the condensation in the air is caused by the cold garage floor.
- In this manner, you can avoid the problem of wet garage floors.
- Rugs and mats for the floors, perhaps?Because of its high albedo, the surface of concretes can get quite cold because of the rapid reflection of solar radiation.
- In order to prevent the floor from sweating and to keep the floor clean, simply placing a mat on top of the floor in the garage will do both of these things.
- A tightly sealed garage door is a safe garage door.
- A garage floor door seal or other sort of house insulation might be a huge help in this area.
- Which Dehumidifier Is Right For Your Garage?
- How To Choose The Best DehumidifierDehumidifiers are devices that extract moisture from the air.
- Dehumidifiers are classified into two types: portable and fixed.
- Consider the following variables while selecting a dehumidifier:SizeConsider both the dimensions of the space you have available and the required carrying capacity.
- A smaller unit is ideal for use in an area with a lower humidity level and a smaller room.
- Consider the level of noise produced by the device if you intend to use it in public locations.
- If you want to avoid manually emptying the tank, look for a model that has an external hose attachment instead.
- Advantages Of A Dehumidifier For A GarageNowadays, dehumidifiers are essential pieces of equipment for both garages and residences.
- However, you may not be aware that there are additional advantages to installing a dehumidifier in your garage.
- The following are a few of the many benefits that come with installing a dehumidifier in your garage:It Helps Keep Your Home CoolIt will be easier to maintain a comfortable temperature inside of your house if you keep a dehumidifier operating in your garage.
- One way to reduce the amount of moisture and dampness in a garage is to instal a humidifier.
- A dehumidifier should be used in this situation.
- By extracting moisture from the air, it contributes significantly to assisting you in enhancing the overall quality of the air within your garage.
- Pollen and dust mites are examples of contaminants that can be found in the air when it is hot and dry.
- Protect Garage Walls And FloorIt is possible to safeguard the garage's walls and floors with the assistance of a dehumidifier.
- The use of a dehumidifier will result in the drying out of the walls and floor, which will stop this degradation from occuring.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dehumidifiers
Humidity won't only make your garage wildly uncomfortable, but it'll also be a cause for mould growth. Run a dehumidifier when the air in your garage becomes thicker with moisture as the humidity begins to set in. The sooner you take action, the less of a chance mould will have to take root.
The best place for a dehumidifier in the room you need it in most. Dehumidifiers are commonly placed in bedrooms, basements, laundry rooms, crawl spaces, and indoor pool areas since these areas often have moisture problems.
If you measure the humidity level with a hygrometer, it should not exceed 45 to 50% to keep the garage comfortable. To reduce the humidity level, there are two methods: you can use a dehumidifier or shut off the heating system and open the garage door about 30 cm for 10 to 15 minutes.
What is the size Dehumidifier for garage workshops needed? That depends on the size of your garage, but 70-pint dehumidifiers are usually good enough for most garages and workshops. But even a mini dehumidifier will remove enough moisture from the air to make a difference.
Basic measures include airing out your garage to remove the moisture by turning off any heating in the garage and opening the door a couple of inches. This will draw the moisture out of the space. You can also open any available access windows or doors to allow air circulation to reduce humidity levels quicker.