Garage is an important part in your residential area where you mostly house your vehicles. They can also be a place where you could safe keep your precious memories. Moisture levels if not unchecked can result in condensation and mold formation, which would not be a pleasant sight to encounter. Garage Humidifiers keeps a check on the moisture levels, thereby preventing condensation and molds.
Need For Dehumidifiers
Keeping the garage off the dampness and the moisture is not an easy task. With changing temperature levels in the outside causing the indoor temperature to fluctuate, the dampness can result in the growth of molds. Also, car from outside can carry significant moisture. All this can add to the moisture levels, which can in turn harm the structure of the garage. Garage sweating is another problem resulting from increased moisture levels, where the moisture from the air settles on the cold floor making it look sweaty. Garages not being properly ventilated can add up the situation causing condensation. All this can take a toll on your garage. Thanks to the garage dehumidifiers which can serve the purpose of keeping off with the interference of moisture.
Points To Consider Before Buying A Garage Dehumidifier
The market comes with a few options for dehumidifiers specifically targeted for garages. Among them we need to look for the best with good features. Let us have a look at the factors we need to consider before buying a garage dehumidifier.
Right Size
The best garage for your space is selected based on the size of your garage space and the dampness levels associated with it. If you are not aware how big your garage is, measure the length and the width of the floor with the help of a measuring tape. Also, with the help of a humidity meter you could have an idea about the humidity levels associated with the room. Now once you get an idea about the size of your garage space and the moisture levels associated with it, you could proceed to find the size of the dehumidifier best suited for your garage.
The size of the dehumidifier is usually based on the amount of moisture (how may pints of water) removed in 24 hours. Now there are units of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 pint dehumidifiers. In case of big spaces with extreme hot and humid situations, you could go for 50 or 70 pint dehumidifier.
Coverage Area
The coverage area of the dehumidifier can also give an idea about the one suiting your garage space.
Drainage Options
The garage is surely a space which can home a significant amount of moisture and so your dehumidifier would be extracting a lot. Based the moisture extracted you would need to empty the tank of the dehumidifier. Now, the dehumidifier cannot come with the same capacity tank as its size. So in case of garage humidifier it is better go with continuous drainage options. Gravity fed hose drainage is the most common option. The models with built in pump to pump the extracted water out of the dehumidifier. The working of the continuous drainage system requires a hose. If the system doesn’t come with one, then you can even attach your garden hose to the outlet to serve the purpose. If there is no drainage nearby, then use a tank with large reservoir capacity.
Auto Restart
The Auto Restart feature enables the unit to start back up automatically and continue to run at the same setting as it was running prior to the power cut/ power failure rather than going into standby and having to be reset manually. So the unit can also be run on a plug timer which allows more flexibility.
Other Features
Auto-shutoff: With the auto-shutoff feature, the level of water in the tank will be monitored and on becoming full, it will turn the unit off. This will help in preventing the tank from overflowing, which can be a potential threat not only to the dehumidifier but also to the surrounding area.
Fan speed: Most units have two fan speed options, while there are dehumidifiers that can have up to three or four fan speed settings.
Defrost option: Dehumidifiers come fitted with coils which may get frozen over during winter days. This can lead to the consumption of more energy to run. With the defrost option, the coils will be kept free from ice, thereby saving energy.
Now let us have a look into some of the best options of Garage Dehumidifiers available in the market.
Best Budget Option For Small Garages: Colaze Portable Mini Dehumidifier
COLAZE mini dehumidifier offers efficient performance with the latest semiconductor refrigeration plate technology, providing better dehumidification than the other traditional portable dehumidifier. They have a coverage area of 480 sq ft, suitable for any small single car garage. The dehumidifier comes with a 1800ml (60.87 oz) water tank. Compared to the other mini dehumidifiers, they do not require frequent emptying of the water tank. The maximum dehumidification is of 800ml/ day (86°F, 80% RH). The mini dehumidifier can also provide 24 hours of continuous dehumidification with a large water tank. The dehumidifier is compact with upgraded silent technology, so that there is no annoying noise when the dehumidifier work making it perfect choice for garages. The dehumidifier has auto shut off function so that when the water reaches 1500ml capacity, the RGB light turns red causing the dehumidifier to stop automatically preventing overflow. Also, there is overcurrent protection. When the current exceeds the built in 4A value, the dehumidifier will stop working. The air inlet grid is detachable and hence can be cleaned with ease. There is the option of seven colored night lights to choose from so as to serve the requirement of night lights. Overall, the model is lightweight, small in size and comes with a handle design.
Colaze Portable Mini Dehumidifier
Best Option For Medium Sized Garages: Inofia Portable Dehumidifers
These energy efficient dehumidifiers can keep your garages up to 1500sq ft dry with a removal capacity of up to 30 pints of water per day. They have a compact size and recessed handle making them portable. They offer Intelligent Humidity Control letting the dehumidifier run intelligently with a humidistat. On reaching the target humidity it will automatically stop to dehumidify and will again restart on sensing humidity above the target. So they allow Auto-stop and Auto-restart operations. They have switchable fan speeds adding to the flexibility. With the 1-24 hour Auto On/Off timer you can save energy. The dehumidifier will Auto shut when the 4 Pint water reservoir gets full with an audible alert so as to empty it. The drain hose can be attached so that the water is self-drained by gravity. With the Auto Defrost function, they can also work effectively in cold temperatures (low to 41°F). They also Auto Restart at the event of power interruption. With a peak noise level at 46 dB, they are quiet in working. The filter is washable. They also have Automatic Error Detection System.
Inofia Portable Dehumidifers
Best Option For Large Garage: Ivation Energy Star Dehumidifier
They have a large coverage area of up to 4500 sq. ft. They can remove about 50 Pints of moisture/day (70 Pint according to the old Department of Energy standards). They have a large reservoir of 1.3 Gallon reservoir so that you can reduce the number of times you need to empty the reservoir in a day. You can also use the continuous drain option by attaching a hose and drawing water to the nearby drain. Ideal humidity levels can be set on the humidistat. They will be displayed on the LCD screen along with the current levels so that you can monitor the levels. LCD display also shows fan speeds (regular and turbo), timer, filter alert, etc. They have touch button controls. Though having 45 pounds of weight, the presence of caster wheels allow easy moving of the dehumidifier. There is also option for Auto Shutoff, Auto Restart and Auto Defrost. The air filter is washable. They are eco-efficient with Energy Star certification.
Ivation Energy Star Dehumidifier
Best Commercial Dehumidifier: BlueDri BD-76 Commercial Dehumidifier
The 150 Pint Dehumidifier is found to be ideal for water damage restoration projects. With its high efficiency rotary compressor you get the maximum moisture extraction, of up to 150 pints per day ((90ºF 90%RH). The model is convenient to use and comes with an automatic water pump allowing easy drainage. There is the digital panel, hour counter, RH and temperature sensors. There is compact electrical control with auto restart. You get your job done by pressing a few buttons. They are best suited for commercial garage spaces. There is one year warranty and five year housing warranty. They weigh about 81 pounds.
BlueDri BD-76 Commercial Dehumidifier
Best In Budget: GE 35 Pint Portable Energy Star Dehumidifier
The dehumidifier is well suited for very humid environments with excessive moisture. Set at the maximum setting. The model can extract 35 pints of water per day when set on maximum. The tank capacity is 1.1 gallons. Once the tank is full, the unit will sound an alarm. There is also a hose connection available so that you can switch to continuous drainage. The unit comes with 3 fan speed settings and humidistat adjustability. There are LED digital controls. There is also option for automatic restart and defrost feature.
The clean air filter alarm reminds you when it is time to clean the filter.The weight is around 34 pounds. With the easy roll on wheels and the practical handle, they can be moved around with ease. Being energy star dehumidifier, they will provide optimum performance with less energy usage.
GE 35 Pint Portable Energy Star Dehumidifier