Garage - dehumidifier - or other options ?

[phib]

Not sure if this should be in here or in homes bit, mods feel free to move.

Basically we have bought a new ( to us !!) house that we are knocking down and replacing with a new one.

However the cars have to live in the garages for 6-9 months, basically the garages are dry but there are 1inch gaps below the front doors.

Have cairoports ( like carcoon) but the mice have eaten through both if them, mouse traps down now !!

So I suspect I need to get some type of large draft excluder and a dehumidifier ?

Or does anyone have any better ideas

Phib

[Searider]

Either seal up and dehumidify

OR

Provide good ventilation - possibly opening up a vent at the rear if the garage to get some throughput of air?

[anonymous-user]

If the garage is dry then I always thought you didn't need a dehumidifier as long as there was decent airflow - so from that point of view a 1" gap under the doors sounds good as long as it doesn't let rainwater run into the garage. You'll want some other opening like an air brick or a window left on vent at the back though.

[rigga]

You don't want to totally seal the garage, you need airflow ...

Dehumidifier works well in mine, collects a hell of an amount of water, use electeonic plug in mice repellents.

[phib]

So basically as is bit with a dehumidifier ?

No rain comes under the door as the eves are about 1m over the door

Phib

[lamboman100]

Put it in professional dehumidified storage.

Should cost about 1k a year if you can find a competitive supplier.

[anonymous-user]

If you've got decent airflow I can't see the point in a dehumidifier. You're basically trying to dehumidify the entire planet at that point

Either seal it up and have a dehumidifier or keep it well ventilated.

[ging84]

single skinned garages will allow moisture in even if you plug up all the gaps, you need to water seal on the outside
it's basically watered down clear glue you paint on

[Huff]

Knock a few matching holes in the back wall, let the breeze blow through. Seriously. Condensation and no air movement to remove it is probably the worse risk in the UK climate.

In the UK humidity is rarely above 50-60%. A few months kept out of the rain, under cover, but well ventilated will do no harm at all. It's things like changing the engine oil first (don't store acidic i.e. used stuff, in the engine / sump) and tyre/brake/brake fluid condition that I'd worry about first - if you expect to store for 6months or more.

Edited by Huff on Sunday 24th August 23:09

[996TT02]

Huff said:

Knock a few matching holes in the back wall, let the breeze blow through. Seriously. Condensation and no air movement to remove it is probably the worse risk in the UK climate.

In the UK humidity is rarely above 50-60%. A few months kept out of the rain, under cover, but well ventilated will do no harm at all. It's things like changing the engine oil first (don't store acidic i.e. used stuff, in the engine / sump) and tyre/brake/brake fluid condition that I'd worry about first - if you expect to store for 6months or more.

Edited by Huff on Sunday 24th August 23:09

This, 100%. You only need a dehumidifier if you can't get any air movement and there are sources of humidity present. If you can get airflow then that's the way to go.

[phib]

Thanks for all the feedback, seems air flow Is the way to go, storage is not really the best solution.

I have three nice ones that all need to be undercover, 2 of which I use in the winter and one very occasionally in winter.

Going to check the humidity / moisture but I am pretty sure it's pretty low

Thanks

Phib

[sherbertdip]

Huff said:

Knock a few matching holes in the back wall, let the breeze blow through. Seriously. Condensation and no air movement to remove it is probably the worse risk in the UK climate.

In the UK humidity is rarely above 50-60%.

Edited by Huff on Sunday 24th August 23:09

I think you will find the RH is rarely BELOW 50%. We are surrounded by sea, with a predominantly cool maritime air flow.

Everytime it rains, or threatens to rain, or is foggy, or feels muggy on summer days the RH is very high.

Anyway, as stated above; seal the garage and dehumidify, and heat if possible as this will lower the RH, or just cover and have airflow.

Having just an airflow can still allow condensation to form, this happens when a warmer airstream quickly passes over the cold surfaces, an example being after a cold night, all surfaces cool then along comes a warm front the RH shoots up, the surfaces are below the dew point temperature and condensation forms.

[OldBuoy]

A dry garage with airflow is perfect. Leave a window open on the car to stop mustiness, give it a service, put the battery on charge, overinflate the tyres and you'll be fine. Mine didn't even pick up any corrosion on the discs.
Oh and keep and eye out for rodents.

Don't heat the garage. Don't bother with car covers they encourage condensation and micro blisters. Don't start the car, just dust it off when it comes out of storage.