De-humidifying a two-car garage

[rob_s]

Anyone storing much in their garage and doing anything to control the humidity? Anything successful?

[Safetyhit]

Anything you do to de-humidify a garage would be irrelevant the instant you open the garage doors.

Do you plan on keeping them closed at all times?

[Thomas M-4]

How big are you wanting?
They make a air tight classic car storage tent Name of it escapes me but you can fit a car in it.

[rob_s]

Anything you do to de-humidify a garage would be irrelevant the instant you open the garage doors.

Do you plan on keeping them closed at all times?

Ordinarily I'd agree with you, but it is MORE humid in the garage than outside! :eek:

The best thing I could do is keep it open all the time.

[rob_s]

BTW, I'm not trying to totally de-humidify it, just get it lower. I think I'd need a truckload of damp-rid for a space this large.

[Thomas M-4]

Looking for something like this.
http://www.caresecrets.com/images/autoshield/autoshield_enclosure_grey_thunderbird_med.jpg

Are are wanting to de-humidify the entire garage ?

[rljatl]

portable air conditioner - http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Air-Conditioners-Room/b?ie=UTF8&node=1193678

I believe you may need a window to exhaust the hot air.

[Thomas M-4]

Ok you are wanting to do the whole garage.
http://www.drillspot.com/products/450626/Dayton_2HNR7_Industrial_Dehumidifier?s=1

Little back ground. What ever the name of the last hurricane that hit part of Pensacola FL. Did general contracting on a 3 story nursing school located in down town Pensacola the roof had been blown off and all 3 floors had been soaked and mildew had set in pretty bad in some places. Had to replace drop ceiling, carpet , on all 3 floors any way to get it to pass inspection and the mildew was going to be a problem. Found a mildew specialist and they used similar industrial de-humidifier has in the link. It was pretty amazing how well those thing worked. Saved the drywall on the 3 rd floor of that building even after being soaked. They can also be rented.

[RAM Engineer]

Ordinarily I'd agree with you, but it is MORE humid in the garage than outside! :eek:

The best thing I could do is keep it open all the time.

I've got the same issue. My driveway slopes down into the garage slightly he last few feet. Plus I think water is getting under the slab. I put down one of those garage seals to slow water from flowing under the door. My next step is a French drain around the garage and sealant on the floor.

[orionz06]

My garage was like this in an old house, I ran a moderately efficient dehumidifier and used the hose output. It would fill the bucket up in 4 hours, with the hose and it set to low it is pretty good at making it a manageable place to drink and avoid life.

[Don Robison]

I don't do the entire garage, but I built an arms room in my work shop that is 11'x11' and use one of these from brownells. When I first did it I put an old shotgun barrel up on the safe to see if it would rust. Coming up on three years and no rust.


http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=7390/Product/THERMO_ELECTRIC_AIR_DRYER

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Move to Colroado! Put a vent fan on the side of the garage that sucks air out so that at least fresh air is getting in???

Cars with air conditioners drop a lot of condensation on the floor, don't know what you can do about that.

Maybe a thick urethane sealer on the floor would keep the concrete from wicking moisture into the garage?

Build a Man-Building in the backyard!

[rob_s]

Put a vent fan on the side of the garage that sucks air out so that at least fresh air is getting in???
I am thinking this may be the best option. Bust a hole in the wall, install electric fan, and get some air circulation through the space. Ideally I'd love to insulate the door and buy a min-split AC unit but that might be cost-prohibitive given that it's about 12k CF.


Cars with air conditioners drop a lot of condensation on the floor, don't know what you can do about that.

Maybe a thick urethane sealer on the floor would keep the concrete from wicking moisture into the garage?

No cars parked in the garage.


Build a Man-Building in the backyard!
Not allowed, no room.

[perna]

No cars parked in the garage.

Are the doors opened much?

[rob_s]

Are the doors opened much?

We used to come and go through the garage door almost exclusively, but not now.

[perna]

As someone else mentioned a dehumidifier with a hose to drain outside would work. You could also add a vent from your HVAC into the garage, it wouldnt be temp controlled so it wouldnt run your bills up, but would add enough heat/AC to make it more comfortable.

[A-Bear680]

My daylight basement has 2 garage doors and one standard door.
The size is about 1,100 square feet and an economical home dehumidifier keeps the basement at 50% or so -- all year around.
Right now the outside humidity is 84% , the basement is 50%. Currently the appliance only runs about 8 hours a day. At first it ran all the time.

[Ridge_Runner_5]

Put a dehumidifier in one corner, and a humidifier in the far corner, and let them duke it out!

[scottryan]

Air condition your garage. Mine are air conditioned on their own separate HVAC system from the house.