Dehumidifiers... recommendations?

[camarojoe]

I have a 2 car garage under my house, and its below ground level... right now its VERY damp down there, with wetness on the concrete, and lower walls. I'm afraid this is very bad for the cars I have stored down there and am planning to buy a dehimidifier to try to alleviate the problem... A few questions...

1. Do you think it's possible to dry out something this damp with a dehumidifier like you can buy at Home Depot or Wal Mart?

2. If so, what size unit should I get? I'm guessing the bigger the better, but really have never owned or used one.

Any input or suggestions welcomed. Thanks!

 

[the intimidator]

you could dry it out with one of the units from home depot or wallmart the bigger the better is rite im sure somewon will chime in on what size you need if not they usually say on the box what type of area they are good for find the size you need and buy the next size up do you know what the humidity level is in you're garage?

 

[PAToyota]

I have two of the Sears 50 pint dehumidifiers in my basement - old house, stone walls, gets a bit dank in the summer - about 1000 s.f.

I find that two mid-sized units work better than one large unit. The moisture is all through the area, but if the dehumidifier is in one corner the moisture has to travel to it first. So if there are two at opposite corners the moisture doesn't have to travel as far.

The alternative is some sort of circulating fan to move the air around so that it can get to the dehumidifier.

 

[JMURiz]

I have two of the Sears 50 pint dehumidifiers in my basement - old house, stone walls, gets a bit dank in the summer - about 1000 s.f.

I have the same unit in my basement, with all the rain we've had the basement is the least humid room in the house! I'd agree with your statement on 2 small units (if in your budget). I plan on using my old sears unit in my garage as well, with a hose runing outside the garage for constant drainage.

 

[wrigh003]

...with a hose runing outside the garage for constant drainage.

I need to figure a place to run a hose out of my basement- the basin in the dehumidifier I have down there seems to fill up just about once a day.

 

[Elky]

i have my basment dehumidifier hose running to my sump pump hole.

 

[wrigh003]

If I had a sump pump, that'd be my plan, too. My basement floor appears to have been built to drain out under the garage door when/ if it gets wet.

 

[supercharged]

sounds like you might have a grading/drainage problem at your place if you are getting that much water. have you determined from where the water is coming? do you have any french drainage or gutters? i would find the source and fix it, stopping the water will help greatly with the problem you are having.

 

[katit]

I started to think about dehumidifier as well..

I have attached 2 car finished garage. I also have through the wall Cool/Heat unit that I run when I'm working. However, I noticed that also AC works and it gets cool - it still humid.

I wonder if I get smallest dehumidifier and run it all the time - how much would it cost me for electric bill. Are they energy-efficient?

 

[PAToyota]

As with any refrigeration product, they've been getting better in recent years. I had an old dehumidifier in the basement that ran for years. When it croaked and I replaced it I definitely saw a drop in my electric bill.

 

[ThreeBay]

I have one in my basement and it's about the same as running a window air conditioner. I have the largest Lowes unit (Westinghouse) and my electric bill knows when it's running.