So you are looking to dehumidify your garage? Ever wondered why things stored in your garage have rusted at an abnormally high rate? or why leather upholstery gets mildewy? The answer, a damp garage. I took my car out of the garage from a prolonged period of storage recently and couldn’t believe how juddery the brakes were from corrosion. I did some research on why this was happening and realised how critical the moisture level inside a garage is. A garage dehumidifier can go a long way towards solving the issue.
So, we spent a lot of time researching which dehumidifier is best for a damp garage and came to the following conclusion. The EcoAir DD3 Classic Desiccant Dehumidifier, 10.5 L offers the best value for money solution to a damp garage. Controlling moisture in the garage with a dehumidifier is the best way to ensure that your property is protected from damp. We recommend a desiccant dehumidifier as these work in low temperatures. We saw a lot of websites recommending other types, this is horrible advice as compressor types work very poorly in temperatures below 15C and mini dehumidifiers do almost nothing in a garage environment.
EcoAir | DD3 Classic MK2
- 420 watts
- 10.5 Litre/Day
- Quiet 36dBA
- Which? Best Buy 2022
Do I Need a Garage Dehumidifier?
So you probably have a damp issue in your garage and are wondering whether you should invest in a Dehumidifier? Well, first let’s help you decide if a garage dehumidifier is really the solution to your problem. Consider some of the following factors before deciding whether to pull the trigger on a garage dehumidifier.
Is your garage damp? – This should be easy for you to identify. Are there obvious signs of excess moisture such as condensation on windows or signs of moisture on items within the garage? If yes, then the moisture level in your garage is probably quite high, the problem is usually worse in winter than in summer.
How airtight is your garage? – If your garage has a lot of gaps that allow air to enter, then a dehumidifier won’t work. This is because it will be fighting a never-ending battle to dehumidify new air. If your garage is mostly airtight, with just a few small gaps then a dehumidifier will work fine. This excellent guide tells you how you can weather-seal a garage door.
Tumble Dryer? – Many tumble dryers blow out moist, warm air as a byproduct. If you have one of these tumble dryers in your garage then you will be especially prone to damp. You should also note that a heater will not always get rid of damp. Oftentimes, the addition of heat to a humid environment only makes the problem worse by causing more evaporation and creating a better environment for mould.
How Do I Dehumidify My Garage?
By now you have probably decided whether or not you have a damp garage and that you want to do something about it. There are a few ways you can dehumidify your garage. We will go into some detail on these methods below.
Constant ventilation – One way you can manage excess moisture is by ensuring constant ventilation. You would do this by regularly exposing your garage to fresh air, on a daily basis for a prolonged period of time. This allows fresh air to circulate through the garage which helps prevent damp by encouraging evaporation of excess moisture.
The annoying thing about this is having to constantly worry about ventilating the garage. This becomes a nuisance during the wintertime or during bad weather when you might not want to venture into the elements to ventilate your garage. We considered this and have a much better solution . . .
Garage Dehumidifier – This option requires much less maintenance than constantly ventilating your garage. It allows you to sit back and relax knowing that excess humidity isn’t damaging your tools or car. Most dehumidifiers have the option of a continuous drainage hose. This allows the dehumidifier to continuously drain so you never have to empty it. Combine this feature with an automatic on/off feature that lets you set the desired target humidity for maximum benefit.
EcoAir | DD3 Classic MK2
- 420 watts
- 10.5 Litre/Day
- Quiet 36dBA
- Which? Best Buy 2022
What Are The Benefits of a Garage Dehumidifier?
Ok, so we know that a damp garage is bad and that a dehumidifier can remedy the problem. But what are the actual benefits of using a dehumidifier in the garage to prevent damp? We have listed some benefits below.
Protect tools, cars and other items – Iron will begin to rust when relative humidity is above 50% and steel will begin to rust at 80% relative humidity. Most tools are built from these materials and will be vulnerable to rusting and corrosion at higher humidity levels. For example, most brake discs are usually made from cast iron meaning they will rust in a damp garage. Keeping the humidity level in your at an appropriate level can reduce the occurrence of rust.
excess moisture is bad for other materials as well, such as wood and leather. You can expect wood furniture in a damp environment to soak up some of it and begin to swell or warp, not good, especially for valuable antiques. Leather is similar, it will soak up excess moisture and become brittle as moisture evaporates away along with the leather’s natural oils.
Comfortable Workspace – Working in a damp environment can be bad for your health as well as your property. The health benefits of working at the correct humidity are not to be underestimated. The most important benefit is keeping black mould at bay. This organism thrives in damp conditions and has many associated negative health impacts. A garage dehumidifier can help protect you from this while you work.
Desiccant vs Compressor, Which Is Best For a Garage?
There are two main types of dehumidifier, compressor, and desiccant. The key difference between the two is that compressor dehumidifiers work best above 15C whereas desiccant dehumidifiers work best anywhere from 1C-40C. Whilst we were researching this article we saw many websites blindly recommending that people purchase a compressor dehumidifier for the garage! This is horrible advice as most garages will generally be below 15C most of the year. This is another example of how you can trust us to bring you the best recommendations.
We always recommend that you purchase a desiccant dehumidifier for your garage. This is because they work much better than the compressor variety in colder conditions. Especially as most garages will have moisture issues during the winter months which are obviously colder than in summer. We always recommend a desiccant dehumidifier for garages as they will function at full capacity all year round. Compressor types will function at full capacity during summer and most of spring/autumn but not during winter when condensation is at its worst.
It is worth noting that desiccant dehumidifiers generally consume more electricity than the compressor variety. The upside of this is that they work much better than compressor types in colder conditions. They also blow out air that is slightly warm, this will help make your garage warmer. Many people consider this a nice bonus to desiccant dehumidifiers as it can get chilly working in a garage during winter months.
What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need For My Garage?
Most garages have been designed with the average family car in mind. We have geared our recommendations towards the average family garage size of roughly 3m x 6m to a double garage of 6m x 6m. Our recommendations will suit almost all garages unless you have an absolutely massive garage in which case you might want something on an industrial level.
Best Dehumidifier For a Garage
EcoAir DD3 Classic Desiccant Dehumidifier, 10 L
The EcoAir DD3 Classic Desiccant Dehumidifier, 10.5 L is one of the most reputable dehumidifiers on the market. Ecoair are well known for making solid dehumidifiers that get the job done.
We like this one because it has a massive extraction rate, huge water tank and all the features you would want for a garage dehumidifier
Specifications
- Up to 10.5L/day Extraction Rate
- 4.2L Water Tank
- 420 Watts
- Drainage Hose
- Auto-Off Mode
- Lightweight and Portable
- Laundry Mode
Performance
With an up to 10L/day extraction rate and a massive 4.2L water tank, the EcoAir DD3 comes in as a big hitter. This model is one of the best desiccant models on the market and will keep virtually any garage having damp issues dry. It will maintain full functionality well into single-digit temperatures and consumes 420 Watts (depending on which mode it is using).
Features
This model features an electric control panel and timer. This allows you to decide which mode you want the dehumidifier to run on. You can set it to run for a certain period of time or until it reaches a target humidity. You can also just leave it switched on and it will continuously run with no issues.
This model is light and portable, coming in at 7.8kg and with a handle to make it easier to carry. It also comes with the continuous drainage hose we mentioned earlier. This allows the dehumidifier to drain directly into a drain so you never have to empty the water tank. This model also includes laundry mode, meaning you can use it to dry clothes in your garage if you so wish. This option makes a dehumidifier a great alternative to the tumble dryer.
Budget Pick
We have included a budget pick if the above option represents too much of an investment . . .
EcoAir DD1 Simple Desiccant Dehumidifier, 7.5 L – Blue
EcoAir DD1 Simple Blue Desiccant Dehumidifier
Rotary Control | 7.5 L/Day | Quiet 34dBA | Silver Filter | Laundry | 6Kg | Home Garage Basement Boat
The EcoAir DD1 Simple Desiccant Dehumidifier, 7 L – Blue makes for a solid cheaper alternative to the DD3. Once again it is EcoAir, a brand with a great reputation.
We like this one as our budget pick because it offers slightly less performance than the DD3 at a reduced price.
Specifications
- Up to 7L/day Extraction Rate
- 2L Water Tank
- 300 – 580 Watts
- Drainage Hose
- Auto-Off Mode
- Lightweight and Portable
- Laundry Mode
Performance
With an up to 7.5L per day water extraction rate and a 2L water tank, the DD1 comes in as a great cheaper alternative to the DD3. You also might prefer this model if you have a smaller than average garage that doesn’t require the more heavy-duty DD3. As you would expect, this model is also of the desiccant variety, the only type suitable for garages.
Features
The DD1 has an electric settings panel with the following features: Water Tank Full Alert, Safety Auto Shut-Off Function, Auto Restart Function & Laundry Mode. It also includes a switch letting you alternate between economy mode and turbo mode. Everything you would need for a garage dehumidifier and at a great price.
Similarly to the DD3, this model is very agile and easily moved around weighing 6kg with a handle. It also includes the drainage house that can save so much time on emptying the water tank. Laundry mode is also included in this model, a great feature to have at this price
Wrap Up
A damp garage can cause serious issues for your possessions and possibly even your health. In most cases, this issue can be solved with a dehumidifier provided that the garage is reasonably airtight. Our advice and recommendations should help you alleviate this problem, or stop it before it ever starts.
We hope we have helped you decide whether or not you need a garage dehumidifier. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet on this topic and we have done the research for you to help cut through the crap and get you the best possible recommendation. Please, enjoy having a nice dry garage and keeping all your valuables in tip-top condition! Please feel free to comment if you require any further information on the topic.
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
