Apart from large doors, garages do not have any means for air to circulate freely. This lack of ventilation can result in higher humidity levels, leading to moisture build-up on floors and walls. Over time, this can have devastating results.
Low winter temperatures, followed by spring and early summer’s rising humidity, can make your garage and home vulnerable to excess moisture. When excessive water vapor in the atmosphere encounters the cold garage floor, it leads to condensation, resulting in water droplets appearing on the floor, also known as floor “sweating.” It is particularly prevalent in areas with higher humidity levels. Condensation issues get worsened by parked vehicles covered in moisture during snowy or rainy seasons.
Some homeowners also have to deal with standing water due to soaked vehicles parked into your garage. As the vehicle sits, rainwater and moisture fall off of it onto the garage floor. If you have a drainage facility in the garage with the floor sloping, it is manageable. However, if adequate drainage is not present in the garage, the accumulated water sits on the garage floor, it sits there. Over time, this stands to do severely impact the structure of my home.
Consistent moisture from condensation and water falloff from vehicles won’t only make your garage wildly uncomfortable it can result in the dangerous and unsightly mold on a garage’s walls. It can also impact the structural integrity of the house over time.
How to Identify If Your Garage Have Humidity Issues
If you consistently find a musky, stale odor in the garage, it is likely due to excessive moisture levels.
Peeling, deteriorating paint is another sign of high humidity in a garage, especially with sheetrock walls. If you have sheetrock in your garage, you want to be proactive in preventing the dehumidification issues. According to research, not only mold and mildew degrades the sheetrock; hazardous forms of mold also grow on moist sheetrock.
If you have engineered wood siding inside the garage, you should particularly inspect the lower corners for peeling and deterioration signs.
The presence of mold in a garage is an eyesore, and evidence of physical damage impacting the house’s structure. According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, mold reduces the value of your home. If you see mold on your garage walls or ceiling surfaces, you need to take action now.
If you are unsure whether the garage issues are due to high moisture and not some other factor, a moisture meter is an inexpensive and simple way to gauge the moisture levels in a structure accurately. Simply press the pins against the wall or stud, and the meter will show the moisture level.
How a Dehumidifier Helps in Controlling Humidity in A Garage
Garage dehumidification is one of the most direct and effective ways to deal with humidity issues in the garage and prevent condensation and mold. Garage dehumidifiers protect your belongings stashed in the garage—from expensive cars to paintings and heavy equipment—it also helps maintain your household’s overall health.
A dehumidifier works by pulling the humid air onto specialized coils, trapping it, separating the moisture from the air, and draining the resulting liquid into a reservoir. It then releases the dehumidified air back into the garage, lowering the garage’s overall moisture content, making the air dry, warm, and allowing the environment to be free of excess water. A dehumidifier keeps moisture levels in check and reduces the moisture that mold spores require for growth and prevents tools from rusting and structural wood rot.
A dehumidifier ensures efficient airflow in the garage, eliminates excess moisture, removes allergens, improves air quality, and makes it comfortable and habitable. This is particularly valuable if you spend a lot of time in the garage. Also, unlike installing vents in your garage, dehumidifiers are quite affordable and easy to maintain.
Features to Consider While Purchasing a Dehumidifier for the Garage
Automatic Restart: It automatically restarts a dehumidifier in the event of a power outage. This feature comes handy when you need round the clock dehumidification.
Auto Defrost: Auto defrost shuts down the dehumidifier compressor when it detects frost build-up. The fan continues working to help in melting the ice. The unit resumes operation automatically once the ice melts.
Portability – If you have a large garage, you can consider a dehumidifier with caster wheels, as they can be moved around easily as per requirement.
Drainage: If your garage has a high level of humidity, the dehumidifier needs to run for long hours and absorb a high amount of moisture, hence they need an efficient continuous drainage system to discharge this captured water efficiently. You may not want to make multiple trips downstairs to empty a bucket.
Integral condensate pump — the pump pushes the collected water automatically through a hose. The pump can operate vertically or horizontally and automatically begin the process once the water reaches a certain level.
Adjustable Humidistat: This feature helps you set the preferred humidity level in the garage. The humidistat will automatically turn off the device once the pre-set level is reached, enabling you to save energy.
Portability – If you choose a large and heavy dehumidifier, it would be better to go for a unit with caster wheels, as they can be moved around easily as per requirement.
How to Determine the Size of dehumidifier for the garage?
When determining the right size for garage dehumidifiers, consider the garage’s moisture level and square footage. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has standardized dehumidifiers’ sizing, making it easier to determine the correct size of dehumidifier per requirement.
The size of an average two-car garage is around 700 square feet. A 50-pint unit is suitable for garages over 1,500 square feet while a 70-pint unit is for rooms over 2,500 square feet. You need to ensure that the dehumidifier for garage fits the requirement. A small-capacity dehumidifier in a large garage in damp conditions will result in ineffective moisture control. On the other hand, purchasing an unnecessarily large dehumidifier for a small garage space would be a wastage of money and energy.
High levels of humidity can badly affect the atmosphere in garages. Left unchecked, this may lead to expensive consequences such as rust, mold, and wood rot, severely impact the home and its value. By installing a dehumidifier, you can keep away the harmful effects of excessive humidity and provide a comfortable environment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Cost to run a dehumidifier in Garages?
A. The operating cost of a dehumidifier depends on the machine’s wattage draw and the rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity. For example, running a 700-watt dehumidifier for 8 hours every day with an average kWh cost of 4 cents will reach approximately $2.24 per day. The running cost of a smaller 20 PPD units can cost as little as $28 per year, while commercial grade 70 PPD units can cost around $350 per year annually.
Q. How often should you clean the dehumidifiers?
A. The Care and maintenance of a dehumidifier is similar to any other fan or refrigerant-based appliance. To ensure that the dehumidifier is working optimally and for a long time, it is essential to regularly service the device as recommended by the manufacturer. Read and understand the user manual and maintenance guide provided by the manufacturer.
Q. Where Should You Place a Dehumidifier?
A. Placing the dehumidifier in the right place is essential for effective dehumidification in the garage. If the machine is placed in the center of the garage, it can efficiently cover all the space equally; however, this might be difficult due to the frequent movement of vehicles. If the appliance is placed with approximately one foot of space on all sides, it should cycle the humid air in the garage efficiently. Also, avoid placing the dehumidifier next to woodworking tools or other equipment that produce dust or shavings, which will clog the machine.
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