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Has anyone installed a dehumidifier in their garage? I'm having some electrics done out there over the Christmas holidays and was thinking about having one installed to try to keep the condensation out of the car when it arrives back next year.
Any recommendations or experiences?

Gary.

Yes I run one. After a load of research I opted for the Meaco Junior 8 Litre Dehumidifier DD8LJ.

Works well in low temps, slightly heats the return air and once on switches on and off as it sees fit to maintain the desired setting (even in a powercut it will restart in the same setting once power is restored). As it can run a permenant drain there is no need to keep emptying the collector either.

In my double garage, on its lowest settings, humidity sits at aroud 50%RH (next setting up it will sit at 40%RH). No need for special electrics either as it plugs into a normal 13A 3 pin socket.

I use an Ebac dehumidifier. It works same as NotNormals. It restarts if power cuts off and has a self drain. It also runs with out frosting up longer than others I have used.

www.ebac.com/Dehumidifiers

IAIN wrote:I use an Ebac dehumidifier.

Me too. Of course its handy that I have mains lecky out there.

On a timer to run from 9pm to 7am.

At present I empty the tank every 3 days which yields plenty of distilled water for further use.

Even with a dehumidifier condensation will usually happen the minute you open the door(s) to an unheated garage and let warmer air in (ambient temperatures are up and down like a yoyo at this time of the year!). I have an unheated garage which is intentionally drafty and get no condensation. At risk of stating the obvious if you use a dehumidifier you need to seal the garage up otherwise you're wasting your electric! Also, unless you have proper constant heating and a sealed/insulated garage any intermittent heat source will just make condensation a whole lot worse, especially in a detached garage. I originally sealed my detached garage up thinking it was the thing to do and used to put a heater on when I went in there to work , not a good idea at all, instant condensation all over anything metal!

I agree it is nigh on imposible to control the humidity in the average garage ..I use 3m thin plastic sheeting £15 is per roll ..and cover my cars individually using thin wood lats to hold it down to the floor..only do this if the floor has a damp screed in ..or damp will come through the floor under the car!...every now and then in damp conditions I blow warm air under them to purge any damp..this works well with no signs of rust...
one of my cars has been like this 10 years!
Nick

Pete wrote:Even with a dehumidifier condensation will usually happen the minute you open the door(s) to an unheated garage !

good point Pete....... My garage is insulated and heated, the dehumidifier also radiates a small amount of heat.