Since garages are designed to be airtight spaces, it is difficult for them to maintain a consistent temperature. The first sign of high humidity is when the garage floors feel slippery and wet. The unpleasant odor and a damaged garage are what come next. In the worst case, the condensation results in dust mites and mold, which can trigger allergic reactions.
Some people view a garage as purely a functional area. It is only suitable for parking cars and storing junk. Others see it as a true playground where they can work on their vintage hot rods, shoot darts, play pool, or lift weights.
But whether you’re in the garage for five minutes or five hours, a hot, muggy room can be a truly miserable place. In addition, high indoor humidity can encourage mold and mildew development, making the air you breathe unpleasant and potentially dangerous.
Causes of Humidity in Garages
We must first comprehend humidity to understand why garages are so vulnerable. The amount of water vapor particles in the air is called humidity.
1. Water droplets are released when warm air strikes cooler surfaces, frequently resulting in condensation.
This collision of warm and cold occurs more frequently in spaces where the temperature fluctuates frequently, such as storage closets, laundry rooms, or basements, leading to humid conditions.
2. You repeatedly open the garage doors to let warm and cold air in.
3. Every day warm vehicles are brought in and taken out.
4. The temperature inside the room can also vary if your garage houses a refrigerator or other appliances.
5. Snow or rain melting on your car is a very obvious additional cause of humidity.
6. Sweating floors that are slick and very annoying result from excessive humidity and condensation.
These elements combine to make the garage a prime location for high humidity levels. Although some people may find humidity tolerable on its own, warm, moist environments are ideal for the growth of mold and mildew. The health of your home and the people there could be endangered by these fungi.
Effective Ways to Reduce Humidity in Your Garage
- Clean up your garage
Keeping your garage clean is essential to reducing humidity, despite how simple it may seem. When airflow in your garage is restricted, moisture can more easily condense in the air and on surfaces.
Even installed appliances like an AC unit or dehumidifier won’t operate to their full potential if the airflow is restricted.
Eliminating your cardboard will help keep the humidity in your garage at a minimum. While many of us gather more boxes than ever while in quarantine, cardboard is a prime environment for mold and mildew growth and should be removed from your garage as soon as possible.
- Dry off your space
If it isn’t obvious already, any standing water significantly impacts the humidity levels inside a building. As a result, maintaining a dry garage is crucial. This can include everything from wiping down your car or the floor after it rains to cleaning up a water bottle that has accidentally spilled. If it isn’t dealt with immediately, any puddling or moisture buildup can result in issues later.
- Set up an air conditioner
By installing an AC unit in your garage, you can maintain a consistent temperature there and prevent temperature swings that raise humidity levels. Naturally, another advantage of installing an AC unit in your garage is that it will be more comfortable to be there whether you’re a serious hobbyist or just want to get into your car without getting wet.
Modern air conditioning systems naturally dehumidify the air as a byproduct of their operation. It also condenses moisture from the air and expels it through its drainage system, transforming warm air into cooler air. Although dehumidification results from air conditioning, a dedicated dehumidifier is more efficient.
Related Read: Pros And Cons Of Insulating Garages
- Buy a dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers function similarly to air conditioners in that they create liquid by condensing moisture in warm air and passing it over cooler coils.
This liquid is then drained or stored in the dehumidifier’s water tank. It is a much more effective dehumidification system than an AC unit because its main purpose is to take moisture out of the air.
Even more effective climate and moisture control in your garage can be achieved by using an AC unit in addition to a dehumidifier. Of course, if you’re not too concerned about the temperature, a dehumidifier should be adequate. Make sure to purchase a unit that is the appropriate size for your room.
- Improve garage ventilation by installing
You can put in a ceiling fan because you can keep the air moving in your garage and prevent condensation from forming on surfaces by running a ceiling fan.
Putting in an exhaust fan is also another option. These fans blow out the air from the garage, typically mounted on the roof or an exterior wall. In addition to preventing warm, moist air from building up in your garage, they will also eliminate unpleasant odors that can develop from frequently stored items like trash cans and vehicles.
Increasing airflow and releasing any trapped moisture in the air in your garage is as simple as opening windows and doors.
- Get rid of your extra refrigerator
A deep freezer or an additional refrigerator can be a great asset to any garage, but if the space isn’t climate controlled, your appliance is working extra hard to keep its contents cool.
This wastes your money on energy costs and makes the garage more humid because condensation forms on and around the appliances themselves.
Consider adding an AC unit and taking additional climate control measures if you intend to keep using refrigerators or freezers in your garage.
If your appliances are older, replacing them with newer models that operate more effectively and have better moisture seals to lessen the frequency of hot and cold air mixing would also be a good idea.
- Coat the garage floor
Unfinished concrete floors make it difficult to control the amount of moisture in the space because they allow water to seep in and out.
Additionally, concrete is frequently cool, which causes it to perspire when in contact with warm air. Consequently, using a water-resistant floor coating can prevent unwelcome moisture from entering your garage and assist you in lowering the humidity level.
If you don’t act quickly, your garage’s humidity may deteriorate. It is simpler to stop mold or decay in its early stages. Controlling the temperature inside to keep the space dry is the best way to remove humidity from your garage.
FAQ
- Why is the humidity so high in my garage?
The amount of moisture in the air increases when the wind cannot move freely. Your garage’s interior becomes more humid as a result.
- Is 70% humidity too high in a garage?
Yes, because mold and mildew can begin to grow on surfaces if the relative humidity of a room is above 70%.
- Is it worth putting a dehumidifier in the garage?
Yes, it is worth it. A dehumidifier gathers and removes extra moisture from a room.
