Damp car in the garage. How best to speed up drying time?
Discussion
Hi,
Is there a simple way of reducing the amount of time it takes for a wet car to dry in a garage?
I sometimes have to put my TVR in there damp, and even days later it is still damp. I can also see condensation on the chassis, which can’t be good for it! It’s a modern garage, built in 2003 with the house. It’s a high spec house with an expensive door (so I don’t want to change that) and a plastered ceiling. There’s a cut out in the ceiling to get up into the loft space which is a void (pitched roof). There’s no insulation up there, just the trusses and the bare side of the plasterboards.
Is there anything I can do? I think a dehumidifier would be quite expensive to buy and to run, but I’m happy to be proved wrong. Would adding vents help, if so, where?
Some pics (mine is the garage on the left)
2012-11-26 at 18-03-45 by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_4600 by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_4601 by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_4603 by danyeates, on Flickr
Cheers,
Dan
Is there a simple way of reducing the amount of time it takes for a wet car to dry in a garage?
I sometimes have to put my TVR in there damp, and even days later it is still damp. I can also see condensation on the chassis, which can’t be good for it! It’s a modern garage, built in 2003 with the house. It’s a high spec house with an expensive door (so I don’t want to change that) and a plastered ceiling. There’s a cut out in the ceiling to get up into the loft space which is a void (pitched roof). There’s no insulation up there, just the trusses and the bare side of the plasterboards.
Is there anything I can do? I think a dehumidifier would be quite expensive to buy and to run, but I’m happy to be proved wrong. Would adding vents help, if so, where?
Some pics (mine is the garage on the left)
2012-11-26 at 18-03-45 by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_4600 by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_4601 by danyeates, on Flickr
DSC_4603 by danyeates, on Flickr
Cheers,
Dan
Wozy68 said:
Should never drive a car into a garage when its wet, especially something classic like a TVR, your doing more harm to it in there than leaving her out.
Rusty chassis or damp carpets?! To be honest, I rarely use it in the wet, it's just that when I do, I usually need to put it away straight away. I don't have much driveway space either and don't like to leave the cars on the road. Would I be best increasing ventilation, or sealing it up and adding a dehumidifier?
If I go for the dehumidifier route, any tips on what I need to look out for when buying?
Dehumidifier would definitely help but if it is dry in there apart from condensation and you don't need to retain heat then improving the ventilation would remove the condensation issue without having to resort to something with ongoing running costs.
If you do go the dehumidifier route then try to find one with an external drain pipe as then you can leave it running all the time and it won't cut out for days when you don't go in there to empty the 'pot'. Also look for a dehumidifier designed for use in the garage/cold as otherwise a lot of them ice up in an unheated garage and they don't do any dehumidifying when that occurs until they thaw out again!
If you do go the dehumidifier route then try to find one with an external drain pipe as then you can leave it running all the time and it won't cut out for days when you don't go in there to empty the 'pot'. Also look for a dehumidifier designed for use in the garage/cold as otherwise a lot of them ice up in an unheated garage and they don't do any dehumidifying when that occurs until they thaw out again!
zed4 said:
Rusty chassis or damp carpets?! To be honest, I rarely use it in the wet, it's just that when I do, I usually need to put it away straight away. I don't have much driveway space either and don't like to leave the cars on the road.
Would I be best increasing ventilation, or sealing it up and adding a dehumidifier?
If I go for the dehumidifier route, any tips on what I need to look out for when buying?
You might be best leaving the car outside if it's wet and allow it to dry before putting it away.Would I be best increasing ventilation, or sealing it up and adding a dehumidifier?
If I go for the dehumidifier route, any tips on what I need to look out for when buying?
You could add trickle vents to the windows relatively easily, or a couple of airbricks. The downside is that the garage will be ventilated, but colder.
A dehumidifier will work even if the room remains sealed, and has the side benefit that the space will be heated slightly by the dehumidifier.
For a garage, use a dessicant-based machine, as these continue to work effectively at low temperatures where the refridgerator-type do not. "Prem-I-Air" and "Ruby Dry" both make dessicant machines, for example. (I personally have a Prem-I-Air one)
ruaricoles said:
I have a Ruby Dry dehumidifier and use it to dry the Griff if I have to put it away while still wet; works fairly well even in a good sized double garage, and (as said previously) is apparently more efficient at low temps than the usual compressor type.
Thanks. So I can get an idea of running costs, how long do you leave it running for? How long does it take to dry the car and garage floor? Do you know what power your dehumidifier is?DocArbathnot said:
226bhp said:
Put a radiator in there and insulate the ceiling, it might not be difficult to tap into the system in the house.
Carpeted floor is making it worse as it holds water....
Warm and wet. That will increase corrosion.Carpeted floor is making it worse as it holds water....
Ventilation is the key.
Edited by zed4 on Tuesday 14th January 22:36
Think I'm going to go for a dehumidifier.
These guys emailed me back within minutes of my enquiry to them and recommended this: http://www.dry-it-out.com/DD822-Graphite-dehumidif...
These guys emailed me back within minutes of my enquiry to them and recommended this: http://www.dry-it-out.com/DD822-Graphite-dehumidif...
zed4 said:
Good point regarding the window. I don't have a key for it, but I should get one. Need to get a locksmith round.
Get some keys off a friend/neighbour etc , there's only a few different ones generally for upvc windows. I quickly found that my mums window keys worked in my house and seeing she had loads of them ,she just gave me a few. Edit - assume you've tried the ones for your house windows?
Aviz said:
zed4 said:
Good point regarding the window. I don't have a key for it, but I should get one. Need to get a locksmith round.
Get some keys off a friend/neighbour etc , there's only a few different ones generally for upvc windows. I quickly found that my mums window keys worked in my house and seeing she had loads of them ,she just gave me a few. Edit - assume you've tried the ones for your house windows?
zed4 said:
Thanks. So I can get an idea of running costs, how long do you leave it running for? How long does it take to dry the car and garage floor? Do you know what power your dehumidifier is?
This is the one I've got - I'm not sure if they do different sizes. I've had it about 3 years now.http://www.ruby-dry-dehumidifiers.co.uk/
I tend to leave it on max power at least overnight. That's for a fairly large double garage (with pitched roof) so in a smaller space it would no doubt be faster.
I remember an old guy I knew years ago that wouldn't use his garage. He said it would rot his car, so he built a car port and stuck it under there, he liked it sheltered from the worst of the weather but liked it to be out in the fresh air, if he's right then I guess ventilation is key.A dehumidify should also do the trick.
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