Dehumidifier for the garage

The greatest dangers of a damp garage are mold and corrosion, both in the garage itself and on your car. Mold can affect virtually any material and does not require much moisture to take hold. Mold releases toxic gases that negatively impact our health. Mold also has the ability to spread on everything from textiles to hard metal surfaces. It is not uncommon for mold to emit a musty and rotten smell.

Corrosion and rust begin to appear on metals when the relative humidity (Rh) exceeds 60%. You will first notice it when the chrome details on your car get small rust spots. Over time, rust can take hold in both the bodywork and undercarriage.

In other words, a damp garage can wear on your car on several levels. Externally through rust and corrosion – internally through mold growth. It is no exaggeration to say that a damp garage with poor ventilation is a worse place for the car than having it parked outdoors.

Many times, we may also have other items in our garage that we want to keep dry and mold-free. An overly damp garage is a really bad place to store things.

When choosing a dehumidifier for your garage, you need to consider the garage's specific conditions.

If you have a heated garage with an indoor temperature of over +15° C, then you should definitely look at a condensation dehumidifier.

Condensation dehumidifiers are also called refrigerant dehumidifiers. They are simple and reliable dehumidifiers but work best at temperatures above +15° C. Nowadays, there are also models that can work at temperatures as low as +2-3° C.

The technology involves the dehumidifier sucking in humid air via a fan. The air is then cooled down using cooling coils, which causes the air to condense and turn into water. You then empty the water from the machine via a container or lead it directly into the floor drain with an attached hose.

If you have an unheated garage, there are some other techniques that might work better.

Desiccant dehumidifiers have been around since the 1940s and are originally a Swedish invention developed to keep boats dry. It is therefore a quite powerful technology that has the ability to collect large amounts of moisture, even at sub-zero temperatures.

The technology works by the dehumidifier drawing in the warm, moist air with the help of a powerful fan. Once inside the dehumidifier, the moisture is collected by a rotor, which has been treated with a moisture-absorbing material. The dehumidifier then blows hot air through the rotor, and the moisture evaporates and is led out of the space.

If you have a flooded garage or have had significant water damage, you should definitely use a desiccant dehumidifier.

Thermal dehumidifiers are a relatively new technology that has emerged in recent years. In practice, they use natural laws to make the garage moisture-free. The dehumidifier uses only heat to slowly warm up the air in the garage. This causes the humid air to expand, which in turn creates a thermal movement where the humid air is forced out through the ventilation.

The advantage of a thermal dehumidifier is that it is inexpensive to operate. However, they can require some work during installation and it is important that everything is carried out professionally. If installed incorrectly, a thermal dehumidifier can both cause fires and worsen moisture problems.

We park the car in the garage to protect it from the elements, but often we forget to monitor the climate inside the garage itself. If you notice that the car is often damp after some time in the garage, then it's time to check the moisture levels in the garage space.

With the help of a hygrometer, you can measure the relative humidity (Rh). For a space to be considered dry enough that there is no risk of mold or other moisture damage, the relative humidity in a garage should be below 60%.

If you have had water damage in the garage, you can also use a moisture meter directly on the garage's framework and walls. The meter helps you see if the material is moisture-damaged and needs to be replaced. Most wood materials should have a moisture content below 16% to be considered sound.

A damp garage is also a paradise for some unpleasant critters we would rather avoid. These include mites, silverfish, and rats, all of which thrive in dark, damp environments.

A dry and healthy garage gives your car and belongings a longer lifespan, while also providing a dry and safe environment to be in.