Dehumidifiers, Worth It Or Not
Discussion
As kambites and sleep envy have said, it all comes down to circumstances.
The dehumidifier works if you can create a sealed cocoon. It shouldn't be too expensive to run for the Winter (tens of pounds).
The alternative is to maintain a steady flow of reasonably dry air through the building. Often this can be fresh air.
The obvious question is what are the conditions around the garage. Does the area suffer from high humidity (fog, near a water source, do you see condensation on or around the garage)? Does the building get much sunlight in the winter? And of course, do you have anything inside the garage (e.g. tumble dryer) that creates excessive humidity
Also, how will you use the garage? If you can leave it closed up, that would be good for a dehumidifier. If you regularly open it, whether the main door, or popping out to the freezer, you keep losing the dried air.
Finally, any plans to use the car in the Winter. A dehumidifier can be good for rapidly drying up after a wet run, if you set things up right.
That will lead you to the better solution. A decent supply of reasonably dry fresh air is the simpler solution. You might consider adding an extraction fan (with a humidity setting) - £50.
If you have a higher risk environment, then consider the dehumidifier. Remember that it might also have a heating function - useful if you plan to work on the car through the Winter. If you decide to go down this route:
- Make sure you seal up all around the garage: doors, windows, and especially roof gaps.
- Consider restricting the space. Maybe a ceiling, maybe drapes - much like a Carcoon, the less volume you have to dehumidify, the cheaper and faster it will work.
- Make sure you feed the extracted water outside (most will have some pipe/hose arrangement). You don't want to be messing with the bucket
It's not possible to give a universal answer. If your situation fits the above, and your that loving of your car, I'd certainly consider it very seriously. But if your garage is low-risk or can't be sealed it could prove a white elephant. And of course, don't forget things like the Carcoon - more expensive to buy, but proven benefits.
The dehumidifier works if you can create a sealed cocoon. It shouldn't be too expensive to run for the Winter (tens of pounds).
The alternative is to maintain a steady flow of reasonably dry air through the building. Often this can be fresh air.
The obvious question is what are the conditions around the garage. Does the area suffer from high humidity (fog, near a water source, do you see condensation on or around the garage)? Does the building get much sunlight in the winter? And of course, do you have anything inside the garage (e.g. tumble dryer) that creates excessive humidity
Also, how will you use the garage? If you can leave it closed up, that would be good for a dehumidifier. If you regularly open it, whether the main door, or popping out to the freezer, you keep losing the dried air.
Finally, any plans to use the car in the Winter. A dehumidifier can be good for rapidly drying up after a wet run, if you set things up right.
That will lead you to the better solution. A decent supply of reasonably dry fresh air is the simpler solution. You might consider adding an extraction fan (with a humidity setting) - £50.
If you have a higher risk environment, then consider the dehumidifier. Remember that it might also have a heating function - useful if you plan to work on the car through the Winter. If you decide to go down this route:
- Make sure you seal up all around the garage: doors, windows, and especially roof gaps.
- Consider restricting the space. Maybe a ceiling, maybe drapes - much like a Carcoon, the less volume you have to dehumidify, the cheaper and faster it will work.
- Make sure you feed the extracted water outside (most will have some pipe/hose arrangement). You don't want to be messing with the bucket
It's not possible to give a universal answer. If your situation fits the above, and your that loving of your car, I'd certainly consider it very seriously. But if your garage is low-risk or can't be sealed it could prove a white elephant. And of course, don't forget things like the Carcoon - more expensive to buy, but proven benefits.
I would say yes they are. I used to get a build up of condensation on metal objects like tools, toolboxes and the car! There was also damp inside the car as it would steam up as soon as it warmed up. Since putting the dehumidifier in this has gone, and I leave the car with the windows open and the interior is nice and dry and does not steam up. I pipe mine into a big plastic container which I then use for filling up washer bottles and so on which is handy as I don't have running water in the garage.
Agree with the above. I use this one:
http://www.dry-it-out.com/index.php?main_page=prod...
and I need to change the water every day in winter time. It seems very powerful
It seems a lot of money, but restoring an Aston costs a lot more so its well worth it.
Whichever you choose, make sure it has the "hot gas defrost" so i will work at low temperatures
http://www.dry-it-out.com/index.php?main_page=prod...
and I need to change the water every day in winter time. It seems very powerful
It seems a lot of money, but restoring an Aston costs a lot more so its well worth it.
Whichever you choose, make sure it has the "hot gas defrost" so i will work at low temperatures
williamp said:
Whichever you choose, make sure it has the "hot gas defrost" so i will work at low temperatures
Is that all it takes to get you to the office during the winter? Maybe I should try it - it's such a trial getting out of bed on those cold winter mornings 
eta: more o/t, I've got a dehumidifier in the garage, too (albeit not a posh auto-defrost one) and it certainly makes a difference. I find that if (when) it freezes I just switch it off and the residual heat from the cerb defrosts it well enough. If I was getting another now I'd get an auto d/f type.
Edited by whatever on Wednesday 17th October 17:41
Thanks guys.
Think I'll get one, the garage is totally sealed a[art from the roller door.
Not got a problem with freezing up as it never drops below 5c in the winter as it's integral to the house although I'll try to find one with a heat function as I'll be working out there over the winter.
Think I'll get one, the garage is totally sealed a[art from the roller door.
Not got a problem with freezing up as it never drops below 5c in the winter as it's integral to the house although I'll try to find one with a heat function as I'll be working out there over the winter.
Dehumidifiers use less energy than heaters and circulate the air too. Like any environmental device, you have to get one that's man enough to do the job, or several if it's a big space. My garage is unheated and refrigerant dehumidifiers can freeze up at low temperature, so get one with a defrost cycle. Mine is from www.airandwatercentre.com. I have also used their 100g Superdry dessicant bags inside my car. This is like silica gel but more absorbent and one use only, so no mucking about regenerating them.
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