When your garage becomes condensed, it is because of too much moisture in the air. When this moisture comes in contact with a damp surface, the accumulation of water droplets becomes inevitable, and this might cause serious problems.
According to Garage journal, it is recommended that garages should have an average humidity level of 40.7 Fahrenheit and 25 % RH. In western nations, during winter, humidification is required for garages to cope with harsh weather conditions.
When the humidification level in your garage rises, there are chances it affects your house as well. These damages might involve your cars, garages, foundations and storage appliances. Here are some foolproof methods to dehumidify your garage.
Should I Dehumidify My Garage?
Yes, you will need to dehumidify your garage as garages that aren’t ventilated properly tend to suffer from increasing humidity levels. When you dehumidify these garages, it will lessen the moist and reduce dews, mites and other molds that might be present in your garage. Also, it will prevent the negative damage caused in the garage to spread to other parts of your house.
Moreover, when considering the health effects of not humidifying your garage, it’s not palatable. When the humidity levels in your garage exceed 55%, you might have difficulty breathing properly. When this happens, allergens will affect the breathing conditions in the garage .
Furthermore, excessive humidity in an environment can cause structural issues in your home and bring about some foul odor. Also, for those with Air conditioners a bad and condensed air will make it overwork itself and increase your electricity bills. When the air in your garage is dry and maintained, it creates a better atmosphere for everyone.
How To Dehumidify A Garage?
So, now you know why you need to dehumidify your garage but still not sure how to do it pepperly. There are many ways but not all are authentic and effective. The following precise discussion on the related factors while doing it might help you.
Regulate the temperature
A simple way to regulate the humidity in your garage is to maintain a dry temperature inside the garage. Doing this is simple when you get a heater during the cold seasons to increase the temperature. Getting a suitable dehumidifier for your garage is recommended when regulating the temperature.
Asides from that, you can buy a Hygrometer which helps with getting accurate numbers to help ascertain if things are in control or not.
Ensure proper Ventilation
Another way to consider humidifying your garage is ensuring there is good proper ventilation. Firstly, you need to open all doors and windows to let stored air escape for suitable airflow. However, for security reasons, if you can leave the doors open, get an exhaust fan or rechargeable fan to help limit excess moisture.
Inspect all drainage
Check all grounds around your garage to make sure gutters aren’t clogged with dirt. Also, check gutters and repair leaks found which might be allowing water into the garage. According to the United States environmental service, 15% of garages don’t have gutters, and if your garages fall into these, there is a problem.
Install downspouts and gutters to avoid water issues
Clean your vehicle before parking inside the garage. Never park your cars inside the rain or snow; if you do so, ensure they are dry before taking them inside the garage. When you refuse to do so, some moisture will escape inside the garage and cause humidity issues.
Clutter must be organised
When things are left scattered inside the garage, it stops air from flowing easily. Furthermore, take off all cardboard exposed wood to limit mold from building up.
Grow some plants around the garage
Plants help to absorb water, dew and other forms of moisture. Though garages aren’t the right place for planting, getting some plants inside will be beneficial.
Get a Dehumidifier
When all the above steps don’t change the humidity situation in your garage, buy a dehumidifier to tackle the situation for good. A quality dehumidifier will work perfectly in keeping water levels at bay for as long as possible. Also, ensure you remove the water bucket in the device to keep it in great shape.
How Long To Dehumidify A Garage?
The time range to dehumidify a garage can’t be specified because it depends on several factors like garage space, models of a dehumidifier and how serious the problems are. For Dehumidifiers, they regulate the air in the room by getting rid of too much water in the air, which makes a better living atmosphere that doesn’t have mites and other allergenic microorganisms.
Averagely, a dehumidifier can take between 13 to 15 hours to start functioning properly and ensure your garage gets the ideal level of breathing. Nevertheless, some models may start working as quickly as 30 minutes, while many need to adjust properly.
Buying these affordable top-rated humidifiers on amazon is recommended because it improves airflow and clears the garages moist quickly. When considering how long it will take to dehumidify a garage, one needs the help of a hygrometer.
This is an affordable tool that gives accurate numbers, which are ideal for humidity. Garage and basements have huge amounts of humidity; therefore, a hygrometer’s optimal setting is 55%.
Additionally, you shouldn’t worry about how long it will take; what should be on your mind is if the dehumidifier is working effectively to remove all moisture. In the worst situations, your garage should be in great condition after using a dehumidifier in 20 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
When considering dehumidifying a garage, some pertinent questions need to be asked, and we will answer them below.
How Do I Remove The Humidity In My Garage?
The best way to fight off humidity is to control the garage temperature and ensure proper ventilation. You can also remove the moisture in your garage by limiting moist garage levels, keeping the garage neat, and safeguarding your tools.
Proper drainage also plays an important part, so make sure that the rain gutters are fully functional.
Another method is to keep the garage doors open only a few inches high for 10-15 minutes with half an hour intervals. This is an effective method but takes up a lot of time. Therefore, you should buy an affordable dehumidifier that will effectively remove moisture from your garage
How Can I Reduce The Humidity In My Garage Without Using A Dehumidifier?
You can reduce humidity in the garage by cleaning your environment clean and by using a dehumidifier. But if you’re looking for an alternative, here are a few options you can check out:
- Controlling the garage temperature using a heater.
- Ensuring proper ventilation through doors and windows.
- Keeping the drainage system clean and unclogged.
- Try to get some indoor plants.
- Keeping the storage area and shelves organized.
Do I Need To Dehumidify My Garage?
Yes, you will need to dehumidify your garage to rid it of dangerous molds affecting breathing quality around the area. Also, taking proper care of your garages is necessary for better condensation.
Dehumidifiers keep your garage clean and free of dampness. They protect your stored items from condensation, rusting, and rot.
Besides, an ill-ventilated garage may face breathing issues due to high humidity.
Moreover, garage floors always get wet and slippery, a condition known as garage sweating. You can easily get rid of all these problems by installing a dehumidifier.
What Is The Proper Humidity Level For My Garage?
The humidity level in your garage should average between 40-50% to keep everything in good condition. But, in cold regions it can average 55-60%. Cold regions generally have a higher humidity level.
A high humidity level invites dampness and molds that develop in the dark and confined environment of garages. Besides, improper humidity levels can cause breathing issues too. Without proper ventilation and the correct humidity level, a garage fails prevent these issues and cause different issues with your health and the overall wellbeing of the garage itself.
Will using a dehumidifier help cool my garage?
Yes. However, dehumidifiers will not lower the temperature in the garage, but reduce the overall discomfort and warmth. What they actually do is remove unnecessarily moist air for better airflow.
However, there are some effects on the overall coolness of the room as well. Since a dehumidifier extracts hot water particles from the environment, the room gets a little cooler. Though the excess heat gets released on the air again, it doesn’t necessarily affect the room temperature.
What can help cool your garage are AC, and a good ventilation system.
Does a garage need to be dehumidified?
Yes, garages should be properly dehumidified to remove chemicals and fumes from your car and reduce heat around the environment. A cleaner garage is better for you because it improves airflow and increases productivity.
Other than that, using a dehumidifier in garage helps to-
- Prevent molds and dampness
- Prevent stored items from rusting
- Keep the floor dry
- Increase the overall breathable air quality
- Keep car parts from forming rust
What’s the best dehumidifier Size I can use for my garage?
It depends on how big and humid your garage space is. However, 60-pint dehumidifiers are recommended for most basements and garages. However, you can stretch to 80-pint size for larger rooms over 2000 sq feet.
Here’s a dehumidifier size chart you will definitely find handy.
Conclusion
Garages should be properly ventilated, to ensure that it remains dry and safe to use. The length of dehumidifying your garages is relative, as certain factors should be considered; however, it ranges from 30 minutes to 18 hours. There are many ways to dehumidify your garage properly, and they have been covered in the article.
