Garage heater for under car

[jmct]

Anyone got a recommendation for an electric heater to keep dampness and condensation at bay and keep the double garage above freezing . I dont have the inclination to insulate the whole garage. Quite like the idea of one i can slide under the car to localise the heat but not sure how safe this would be.

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

My understanding is that cold is ok, its the humidity you want to control. So I think you want to make your garage fairly air tight and run a dehumidifier. I'm no expert but some types of dehumidifier are better than other for garages - look into it.

Alternatively could you put a carcoon up in your garage?

[NDA]

As above.

Buy a dehumidifier - I've had one running in my garage for 10 years 24/7.

[rigga]

I have a couple of greenhouse tube heaters underneath mine, just to help keep damp away, set on a timer so they come on during the evening and night
Also have a dehumidifier running, sealed gaps as best as possible, lovely and dry.

Edited by rigga on Tuesday 1st January 15:04

[Rocket 88]

I have been using the tubular greenhouse heaters under my cars including several TVR's for 40 years. I find the best size is the 24"/120 watt tube mounted on piece of floorboard or similar to stop it falling over. The running cost is approximately 50p for 24 hours which works out at £14 per month. I keep mine on 24 hours a day through the winter months and I also have a large cover over the car which helps to keep the heat in.A dehumidifier would be best but they are very expensive to run in my experience. If you go for the tubular heater, don't buy a cheap one they can be dangerous as I have found out. The best on the market is Thermo which is made in England. See http://www.thermoproducts.biz/thermotube-history/
Even the best ones can suffer from the wiring getting brittle after a few years and with the Thermo ones you can take the end off and check it after 5 years or so. Hope this helps.

[jmct]

Thanks Rocket88, that’s just what I’m after. Will just the one 24” heater suffice and what’s the best, safest location under the car? I was thinking under the gearbox/ sump. Any reason you haven’t gone for a longer version with a higher output?

[NDA]

I think heating will help promote rust and increase condensation. I would far rather run a dehumidifier - which is what I do.

I've tried lots of things over the years for my cars and heating was by far the worst.

Each to their own.

[Penelope Stopit]

NDA said:

I think heating will help promote rust and increase condensation. I would far rather run a dehumidifier - which is what I do.

I've tried lots of things over the years for my cars and heating was by far the worst.

Each to their own.

Good post
I thought this was common knowledge

[Englishman]

If a car is kept in a garage the best way to stop any rust is to remove any water before it has a chance to come into contact with bare metal. A dehumidifier will remove moisture from the air very well.

But some heat is also good if either the garage is prone to dampness or it is big enough to take multiple cars and there is a likelyhood of a warm wet car, or simply outside moist air coming into a cold garage – the moisture will condense on the colder car before the dehumidifier can do its job – just what you don’t want!

So I use both a dehumidifier and a convector heater to keep the contents of the garage warmer than the outside temperature at this tiime of year.

[rigga]

I once opened my garage doors to run my bike for a bit, strange day as the outside temp was warmer than inside the garage, result was that soon after the floor looked like it had been rained on, moisture all over the place.

[pb450]

Totally agree with the dehumidifier. I've been running one in my garage for around 24 years now and as said above, no rusting occurs on the car - or the tools, which are just as prone. It really does work very well. Not sure how expensive it is to run, but I wouldn't have thought it was too bad.

Only problem is that at 24 years old, the motor is getting a little past it and needs re-bushing. (It screeches terribly from time to time.) Trying to find someone to do this is proving quite tricky, although I'm following a lead from a mate who knows someone. Just need to get the motor out now.

Alternatively, after 24 years it doesn't really owe me anything! At the risk of thread hijacking, does anyone have a recomendation for a good garage dehumidifier these days?

[pb450]

rigga said:

I once opened my garage doors to run my bike for a bit, strange day as the outside temp was warmer than inside the garage, result was that soon after the floor looked like it had been rained on, moisture all over the place.

This. ^ I had a similar thing before Christmas when I pulled the Tiv out of the garage at silly-o'clock on 8th Decemberto drive to Goodwood for the Teddy Bear run. The outside temperature had warmed overnight, so within seconds of the car being outside, it was covered in condensation. Not a problem as it all blew dry as I drove down the road, but covering a cold surface with heat could do more harm than good.

[Composite Guru]

rigga said:

I once opened my garage doors to run my bike for a bit, strange day as the outside temp was warmer than inside the garage, result was that soon after the floor looked like it had been rained on, moisture all over the place.

I had that all last year. I ended up buying a Carcoon.

Best thing I ever did. They are worth their weight in gold and use far less electric than a dehumidifier.

Edited by Composite Guru on Wednesday 2nd January 16:02

[jmct]

OK - so I'm persuaded to go down the dehumidifier route

"Which" best buy is the Meaco DD8L Zambezi while the EcoAir DD3 Classic seems to get good reviews.

Anyone had experience of either?

[gruffalo]

jmct said:

OK - so I'm persuaded to go down the dehumidifier route

"Which" best buy is the Meaco DD8L Zambezi while the EcoAir DD3 Classic seems to get good reviews.

Anyone had experience of either?

For the £25 cost I would also buy a heater so the car is warmer than the moist air entering the garage, as said once the moisture in the air has condensed on anything cooler then a dehumidifier has very limited effect.

Run both together.

[alabbasi]

Your problem is not heat, it's damp. Get a small fan built into the wall that can keep the circulation going. An attic fan will probably work also. These types of fans are available with solar panels in case no power is available where the garage is.

Thanks

Edited by alabbasi on Wednesday 2nd January 16:57

[NDA]

pb450 said:

At the risk of thread hijacking, does anyone have a recomendation for a good garage dehumidifier these days?

I run something similar to this:

https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/cd20l/electri...

Mine is a Toshiba from memory and has been on permanently for ten years - I think I paid around £200 for it... the linked one is half that price. You need to plumb it in really - quite easy to do.

[pb450]

NDA said:

I run something similar to this:

https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/cd20l/electri...

Mine is a Toshiba from memory and has been on permanently for ten years - I think I paid around £200 for it... the linked one is half that price. You need to plumb it in really - quite easy to do.

Good shout. Looks like a decent unit. Will give it some serious consideration.

[jmct]

Took the plunge and ordered this:

https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/dd8l-zambezi/...

Order 8.50 last night and delivered 10am this morning - great service.

Chose this one as it is the top recommendation from Which. and seemed to get good reviews elsewhere.

[blitzracing]

Dont overlook the obvious- some decent water dispelling maintenance spray over any exposed metal stops the water to metal contact in the first place. My local hardware shop sells some stuff that leaves a thin wax over the metal after its flashed off, its brilliant as it cleans off easily in the spring with engine cleaner. My car is now 27 years old and still has all the zinc plating as new on the engine components and brakes. Ill try and check the name of the spray when I get home. WD40 is useless as it drys off and leaves little behind.


Found it : Double TT Maintenance Spray

Edited by blitzracing on Thursday 3rd January 11:43