Your garage can become a typical victim of excessive humidity. This place, after all, often has no proper air circulation. If there are no windows or ventilation systems, moisture can easily develop there. Of course, you don’t want this to happen as unbridled humidity is the perfect breeding ground of allergens. Moreover, it can also cause a musty smell and swampiness.
At this point, it is essential that you get the best dehumidifier for garages. Dehumidifiers can suck the excess water out from the air so that the latter will be able to achieve the appropriate levels of humidity. By the way, the prescribed humidity level is around 45% to 55%.
The following dehumidifiers are rated to excel for basement use. Check and see which one will fit your setup.
Best Dehumidifier For Garages
1. Inofia 30 Pints Dehumidifiers for Home Basements – Editor’s Pick
The Inofia Dehumidifier is designed to deal with humidity problems in home garages. It is a device that is capable of absorbing 30 pints of water from the air per day, which is quite the standard for dehumidifiers these days. Its optimal performance peaks if the room humidity is at 90%, and the temperature is at 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
It works well for damp rooms that are as big as 1056 square feet. Hence, it is a great choice for basements, bathrooms, garages, and even RVs. The built-in humidistat of this item enables it to detect the current humidity levels of the room. After all, it automatically adjusts its power until such time the appropriate humidity is achieved. Once that happens, the device turns off on its own. It is a guarantee that this device will not burden your power bills.
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Comes with a drain hose for a hassle-free emptying
- Large water reservoir (0.5 gallons)
- Capable of absorbing large quantities of water in a day
- Comes with an auto-defrost function
Cons:
- No significant issues
2. Yaufey 30 Pint Dehumidifiers – Runner-Up
The Yaufey 30 Pint Dehumidifier is an excellent option for home garages and basements. It is highly efficient as it can remove up to 32 pints of moisture per day. It is a workhorse that is ideal for large spaces and multi-room applications. Based on its ratings, the device can accommodate any indoor spaces that are up to 1,500 square feet.
The convenience that this dehumidifier provides is one of the reasons why many want to acquire it. The interface is pretty simple and easy to navigate, thanks to its light-touch control panel. It enables you to adjust the ideal moisture setting of your room. Meanwhile, the water reservoir of this device is meant for heavy work. It can hold up to 4 gallons of water before you need to drain it.
Pros:
- Easy to operate
- Comes with automatic and manual drain mechanisms
- Movable; comes with wheels and handles
- Detects indoor moisture accurately
- Whisper-quiet operation
Cons:
- It runs continuously even if the desired humidity is achieved
3. Vacplus 30 Pints Dehumidifier – Budget-Friendly Pick
The Vacplus 30 Pints Dehumidifier is an ideal pick if you are trying to save money. It is a cost-efficient pick since it shuts off automatically once its 1.35-liter tank is already full. If you don’t want manual drainage, this device offers a drain hose that you can connect to your floor drain for easier emptying. However, I do find the 1-meter drain hose somewhat short, especially if your garage is far from drainage systems.
Like the first units that I featured here, this device can remove 30 pints of water in the air per day. Meanwhile, you can experience its maximum performance under 90 degrees room humidity, with a temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, you simply need to set your ideal humidity level, and this dehumidifier will do the rest. It frees you from the burden of checking the room humidity manually.
Pros:
- Includes a programmable 24-hour timer
- High moisture absorption capacity
- Requires minimal maintenance and cleaning
- Maintains a specific level of humidity
- Comes with an automatic shutdown function
Cons:
- The drain hose is quite short
4. AmazonBasics Dehumidifier – Premium Pick
Do you have a large garage? Then I suggest that you get the AmazonBasics Dehumidifier. This one is rated to dehumidify up to 4,000 square feet of space. It can absorb 50 pints of water in a day, which is necessary for areas that have severe humidity problems. When there are power outages, the device can reboot in its previous setting. You don’t need to configure it again once the power is back manually.
This dehumidifier is also capable of detecting the indoor humidity of a room. In its default setting, it can maintain the humidity level to around 45% to 55%. A timer feature and auto-defrost function are also integrated into the device to minimize the need to babysit it. Furthermore, the AmazonBasics Dehumidifier has overflow protection that prevents its water reservoir from spilling when it is full.
Pros:
- Ideal for large spaces
- Easy to move; includes carry handles and wheels
- Surprisingly simple to use
- Automatically sets the room humidity to the appropriate levels
- Hassle-free maintenance
Cons:
- The tank is quite difficult to pull away from its body
5. AIRPLUS 70 Pints Dehumidifier
When you need a powerhouse in dealing with extreme humidity levels in your garage, basements, and other rooms in your house, the AIRPLUS 70 Pints Dehumidifier should be a reliable choice. Under 90% room humidity and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, this machine can absorb up to 70 pints of moisture in a day. Its efficiency is undoubtedly higher than most of its counterparts, but it comes along with its slightly expensive price tag.
There are four functional modes that this dehumidifier offers: standard, drying, raining, and sleep. Each of these functions can be selected depending on the external conditions. Since it can detect the room humidity, it can optimize its moisture absorption for enhanced moisture regulation. Meanwhile, this item has a hose that continuously drains water. You no longer need to empty the reservoir manually.
Pros:
- Powerful and accurate moisture absorption
- Regulated noise level
- Automatically drains water continuously
- Detects external room humidity
- Offers multiple dehumidification modes
Cons:
- Does not switch off when the water reservoir is full
How To Choose The Best Dehumidifier For Garages
When picking a dehumidifier, it is essential that you are aware of where you are going to use it.
Given that you are planning to set it in your garage or basement, it is essential that you pick something that is powerful. After all, these areas have minimal ventilation. Air does not circulate properly, which makes it natural for moisture to grow there abundantly.
You shouldn’t pick mini dehumidifiers at this point. They will no longer have the power to eliminate the moisture on the air. The only exception to that is when the garage itself is small. However, I don’t think that it applies to most of you.
Either way, there are still particular standards when it comes to choosing dehumidifiers. It is essential that you take these considerations into account to get the right dehumidifier for your garage or any rooms with limited ventilation.
Room Size And Humidity
A dehumidifier can only perform at its optimal capacity when you place it on the right “setting.” This means that if the humidifier that you got is too small for your room, you will never feel its effects. It will not be able to absorb the moisture in the air entirely.
You need to measure your garage and pick a dehumidifier that is designed to accommodate its floor space. It would also be great if you have a “feel” about the room humidity of your garage. Is the air too wet? Is it slightly musty? These questions will also help you determine the kind of dehumidifier that you need to get.
Check the chart below so that you can get a good idea of how sizing and humidity are being measured in dehumidifiers.
| Room Size | ||||
| 300 square feet | 500 square feet | 800 square feet | 1200 square feet | |
| Condition | Humidifier Capacity | |||
| Slightly Damp50%-60% HumidityAir feels slightly heavy | 20 pint | 25 – 30 pint | 35 – 40 pint | 50 pint |
| Moderately Damp60%-70% HumidityOccasional musty smell | 20 pint | 25 – 30 pint | 35 – 40 pint | 50 pint |
| Very Damp70%-80% HumidityWet spots on walls and floors | 25 pint | 30 pint | 45 pint | 55 pint |
| Wet80%-100% HumiditySeepage on walls and floor;Molds are apparent | 25 – 35 pint | 35 – 40 pint | 45 – 50 pint | 60 pint |
Automated Features
Since you are going to put the dehumidifier in the garage, you would want it to function as independently as possible. This means that the right dehumidifier must be able to operate on its own with minimal human interface.
- Various automation has been introduced to dehumidifiers. Among them is the memory function, where the dehumidifier can get back to its previous setting after a power outage. It frees you from configuring the device again.
- The automatic detection of external humidity is also a crucial factor here. The built-in humidistat in these devices can tell the actual levels of moisture accurately. The machine doesn’t guess. It gives you the precise numbers, which allows you to adjust its settings to match the needs of your garage.
- Other automated features are also essential to deliver convenience to their users. An excellent example of this is the shutdown capability of the dehumidifier. It should activate automatically whenever the water reservoir is full or if the device has attained the desired room humidity.
- Automatic draining is also a thing in dehumidifiers these days. Instead of removing the water tank, you just need to attach a hose to the drain inlet of the dehumidifier so that it will just drain continuously.
With all these functions, a dehumidifier becomes a pleasant addition to garages. Given that you don’t stay in your garage all the time, these automated features enable convenience on your part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How to improve the humidity level of garages?
A: Aside from using dehumidifiers, there are specific means of how you can regulate the humidity of your garage. One of these by focusing on the ventilation of the area. As I said, ventilation can ensure that moisture will not build inside the garage. You might also want to use a floor coating if you think that the moisture is coming from the ground beneath.
Q: How often should I drain a dehumidifier?
A: It depends on the capacity of your dehumidifier and the actual humidity of your garage. For instance, if the dehumidifier is absorbing high volumes of water in the air, you might need to drain it daily. However, if the dehumidifier has a drain hose, you might not need to empty it anymore manually.
Q: What is the appropriate level of humidity in your garage?
A: The ideal level of humidity ranges from 45% to 55%. It is on this level where the items you stored in your garage, including your vehicle, will not be compromised by moisture.
Conclusion
We are well aware of the adverse effects of moisture on our health and our items and furniture. For your garage, that spells disaster. From the walls, ceilings down to the objects present there, excessive moisture can quickly deteriorate their quality. Moreover, humidity can make the area smelly.
Hence, you should never hesitate to get the best humidifier for garages if you think that you fall into this predicament. This box might be the only thing you need to make your garage free from being swampy and musty.
I hope you did learn something from this guide. If you have other questions, feel free to ask me in the comment section below.