Keeping Garage Dry

JP08

Having finally got the garage to the point where there is space for a small (we're talking Austin 7 dimensions here due to the size and multiple uses of the space) classic car, I'd like to keep said vehicle, once found and purchased, in suitably dry conditions.

The garage is basically dry and weatherproof with weatherstrips at the bottom of the doors etc. There is a very small moisture ingress, makes a damp patch maybe 3" diameter through one wall, and a plan to resolve that. Sadly there is not enough space to use a Carcoon.

So what is the best way to keep things nice and dry without busting the initial outlay and power budgets - and for that matter the power capabilities of a garage that already has a fridge and a freezer in it ?
I'm thinking a small dehumidifier and a small heater, eg http://www.screwfix.com/p/dimplex-low-wattage-panel-heater-timer-400w/5368h#product_additional_details_container to keep above frost temperature, partly so a dehumidifier will work when the air is at its dampest in winter ?
Are there such things as combined units suitable for what is effectively a single room - ie not a "suitable for 3 bedroom house" beast ? When it comes to actual products Google is not being my friend on this :O(

Tank size is not an issue as such - permanent drainage can be arranged into the lean-to greenhouse on the back of the garage where it won't freeze !

Mistral001

I would not forget about good ventilation. Heat combined with good ventilation usually provides a dry building. A dehumidifier is only really effective when the air inside the building is fairly warm and the vents are blocked up, so it might not be a permanent solution, but it will speed up drying out the building if it is presently damp.

JP08

Thanks Mistral. Might be a simple solution - a cheap fan heater and some ducting to feed it with fresh air ... and maybe add a couple of external vents ...

PasturesNew

Something intended for caravans might be OK. This sort of thing always intrigues me

http://www.solarventi.com/

They do some for the caravan and holiday home markets.

No prices on there though.

JP08

Well, going back to this thread. In the end I invested in a dehumidifier, as the garage has had some damp issues - a bit more than the damp area in the original post as it turned out - , and we have a use for the thing once it's done its job out there.

I identified and rectified one issue a while back, a previous owner had wedged a load of rubbish between the wire fence and the wall, and a creeper plant had managed to take root in the rubbish. Result was a 6"deep, 6 foot wide three foot high mat of decaying leaf and timber acting as a sponge against the garage wall for several years. Solution (with agreement of next door neighbour - the fence is between our two garages 18" from his and 6" from mine) was to remove the wire fence in its entirety as the debris was so intertwined with it, leaving the metal posts as a boundary marker.

The second problem was the garage wall was three inches from the edge of the base - and the outside concrete sloped towards the garage ! It now slopes the other way. Fortunately the base top is above ground level all round. Addressed a couple of pointing issues whilst I had the bucket of muck to hand.

Anyhow - the question now is, with the dehumidifier, does anyone have any ideas how long will it take to dry things out ?

It's been going for a couple of weeks now, though the low temperatures have impaired its efficiency a bit. There appears to still be some moisture in the floor in the vicinity of the affected wall though it looks like the wall has stopped seeping. I've been getting a couple of litres a day on a warmer day.

Once I get the wall / base dry the intention is to weather-sheild the wall between the garages.

PeppaPig123

What model dehumidifier did you get? I like this one (I tried to send you a pm but your messaging is turned off I think).

JP08

I ended up with this one - just because I could nip 500m down the road and pick it up from screwfix there and then.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/12ltr-dehumidifier/72503

What can I say - it works.

Never had one before so nothing to compare with. Water ends up in the bucket, the damp patches are nearly dry. Garage air "smells" drier. Like all that work on this principle, it doesn't like the cold (below 5C or so the water extraction drops off). Pretty quiet when the bucket is correctly seated, otherwise it will buzz. Bucket feels a little flimsy, but it has survived a month in the garage fine.

I'm happy with it.