Recommended dehumidifier setting

[Donald H.]

Even though I treated all of the bare metal parts on my just restored chassis and the chassis is sitting in my garage and has not been outside in the weather, things are getting traces of surface rust.

I just purchased a dehumidifier and am looking for advice from those who have been using dehumidification as to the best setting to help keep the rusting down?

i currently have it set at 40% and for the two days I've had it running its pulled about 3 gallons of water out of the air. I only use my garage to park my 67 and work on restoration of my 66, so the doors don't get opened often.

Thanks,

Don

[Ed S.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Donald,
You may be fighting a difficult up hill battle. Unless your garage is built to a near-habitable space standard (like inside your home) with tight doors, insulated walls and a vapor barrier behind the sheet rock (assuming you have sheet rock) moisture (humidity) will penetrate into your garage. Air, (the ambient atmosphere) constantly attempts to seek a uniform level of humidity - a dry room will absorb moisture from other spaces - a damp room will lose some moisture to dry areas around it. A good coat of wax along with tightening up your garage might be the way to go in addition to running the dehumidifier.

[Bill W.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Don , A friend taped a thick layer of plastic on the floor under where his 67 sat . The concrete was damp under the plastic and no rust formed on the car .

[John H.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Don,

I am in the Seattle area and our winters are a bit wet. My cars are in an airplane hanger and susceptible to moisture. I run a couple of box fans in each corner moving air and have had no issues over the last few years. I was contemplating a dehumidifier and just running a drain pipe off the back and out the door to drain it, but the fans have done a decent job so far.

[Michael W.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

40% relativity humidity is the max threshold used in the aircraft engine storage business, at least were I worked. If your garage is too drafty to permit that and the lower absolute values usually experienced over the winter still overwhelm your dehumidifier, think of enclosing it and your car in one of those car bubbles.

[Steve B.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

40% relativity humidity is the max threshold used in the aircraft engine storage business, at least were I worked. If your garage is too drafty to permit that and the lower absolute values usually experienced over the winter still overwhelm your dehumidifier, think of enclosing it and your car in one of those car bubbles.

Those bubbles do a great job. If that is not your cup of tea, epoxy coat your floor if the rest of the structure is well insulated.

[Loren L.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Whether you're located in Yuma, AZ or in the Everglades might be a factor. Kind of a hard question to answer based on your facts.

[Edward S.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

The bubble has worked for me now for some time - after last year here in NJ with the winter snows, etc I was really pleased. It also does well in protecting the entire car from damage.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

My cars get winter stored in an enclosed garage with fans moving air, but are placed in CarJackets. They work great.

In my garage here at home I have a floor fan running and that helps prevent temperature differentials between floor/air/etc.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DNGSCM
I also highly agree with others to place plastic under your cars or chassis to minimize condensation. It helps.

Changing temps are your enemy, so if you change the thermostat or turn on heat some days but not others it won't help. Try for a constant temp if possible.

[Greg W.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Don, I dont know why but inmy house garage i have a refridgerator, a freezer and a ice maker. the walls are insulated but i come in and out many times a day. I think the heat from all of the above keeps the moisture down. In my other shop for work there is no heat source at all and there is moisture on everything. The house garage never gets below 60 in the winter here in MD. Maybe a small heat source will make a big difference.

[Duke W.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

It's best to keep relative humidity below 50 percent. Typical home dehumidifiers may not be effective if the temperature is less than 65F because the evaporator can freeze up with condensed moisture.

For a given absolute humidity, the warmer the air the lower the relative humidity, so adding some heat can help keep the relative humidity low. Since the dehumdifier condenser is just downstream of the evaporator, the entire wattage of the dehumidifier is turned into heat, which is good. In your case running a drain hose outside and leaving the dehumidifier on "continuous" is probably the best solution.

Having grown up in Seattle I understand the cool, damp winters and high humidity in unheated garages, especially if detached from the house is just a fact of life.

Duke

[Donald H.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Thanks all, I think ill add a small ceramic heater to see if it helps also.

[Bruce M.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Heat should do the trick in winter and the dehumidifier will help during shoulder seasons. Summers, except in desert climes, and unless your garage is near airtight, will probably require some cooling in addition to the dehumidifier - definitely in Florida where I am. I opted for a ductless heat pump that is an easy retrofit and keeps relative humidity down and the air moving all year. 60% RH is what I stay under.

Bruce

[Donald H.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Heat should do the trick in winter and the dehumidifier will help during shoulder seasons. Summers, except in desert climes, and unless your garage is near airtight, will probably require some cooling in addition to the dehumidifier - definitely in Florida where I am. I opted for a ductless heat pump that is an easy retrofit and keeps relative humidity down and the air moving all year. 60% RH is what I stay under.

Bruce

I would love to have one of the ductless split units. I got a quote from a local HVAC company for a Mitsubishi unit. $5,000 as a little rich for me.

Don

[Greg W.]

Re: Recommended dehumidifier setting

Don, A small amount of heat will make a big differance. You are not far from me PM me and i will tell the deal i got that works.