dehumidifiers

[snorvet]

I just put a dehumidifier in my detached garage. Since its very hot and humid here now, the thing didnt shut off for 3 days. Now it feels like I have ac in there.

I'm thinking about putting one in my attached garage, but the overhead doors open at least twice a day, so gusts of humidity will always be coming in. I only have cars in the attached garage - no tools. Is there some benefit to putting a dehumidifier in a garage that has only cars and the doors are opened a lot?

 

[bmwpower]

One advantage would be a lot less moisture in the garage, but I would assume it would run quite often on humid days. I'm not sure it would be necessary, however. It might actually **** up a lot power = $$$.

 

[gmasterman]

Back in 2001, my MGBGT went under flood water. After the water went down, I stuck a dehumidifier inside the car and closed the doors. For the next week, I was getting two to three gallons of water from the humidifier. I quit counting at 18 gallons! Who'd ever though a small car like a MGBGT could hold 18+ gallons of water in the seats and carpets? After a little more than a week, everything was dry inside the car, muddy and nasty, but dry. A humidifier is a good thing to have on hand if you live in the south

 

[snorvet]

rust damage on cars due to humidity is my main concern. Its been humid here but I dont think I could get 18 gallons out of my vette. bmw is probably right - the thing would run constantly and cost mega$$$ in electricity. I'll just have to wait out this 95 degree 100% humidity spell.

 

[camarojoe]

I run 2 of them all the time... one in my garage and one in my basement... they are 45 pint units, and i keep the setting at 45 percent humidity... they will fill the bin daily, but have an automatic shut off if the bin fills up before you remember to dump it. You can also run a hose from them directly to a drain if you have one nearby... When you see how much water you pull from the air of your garage, you'll be glad you have it... I feel alot better about preventing corrosion and rust on my cars knowing that the humidity is being kept low even on high humidity days. I'm not sure how much water the bin holds, but I'd guess at least several gallons... thats several gallons of water i'm preventing from rusting my cars as they sit. I'd recommend one if you live in a humid climate. Price was 179.00 at Home Depot.

 

[bahamasair]

How much power do they use? Do they work like an air conditioner by cooling the air to condense the moisture?

 

[camarojoe]

How much power do they use? Do they work like an air conditioner by cooling the air to condense the moisture?

Not sure how they work or how much power they use, but i didn't have one last year and my energy bill isn't much different than it was this time a year ago, so i don't think they could use that much power... for the good they do, they're worth whatever small increase they may create in your energy bill, at least IMO.

 

[boiler7904]

I'll just have to wait out this 95 degree 100% humidity spell.

This weather right now *****. The heat index in Joliet was 117 at one point this afternoon. I hope all of the warm-weather-loving-winter-hating people in this area are enjoying this. How much longer till winter?! I'm ready to start hearing wind chill and snow in the forecast again!

 

[logical]

How much power do they use? Do they work like an air conditioner by cooling the air to condense the moisture?

I've been told the typical household unit draws about what a full size refrigerator does....except it runs a lot more. So, they use quite a bit of power actually.