Simple steps to take when there is too much humidity inside your garage

Have you ever stepped inside your garage for some exercise or to work on an important project only to realize the air is sweltering and humid or even damp and cold? It can be frustrating to do whatever you came into the garage to do. On top of that, high humidity can lead to corrosion or rust, as well as mildew and mold. This kind of situation can happen when you live near a larger water source in a cold area or a climate with hot and humid seasons. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to combat the issue, regardless of the season.

Understanding where excess garage humidity comes from

Several things can lead to elevated levels of humidity in the garage:

• You have a garage that has never been insulated.
• The door to your garage has no insulation or is not weathertight.
• Logs for your fire are stored in the space, as they can contain large amounts of moisture.
• There is a washer, a dryer, or both in your garage. Your dryer’s vent and exhaust hose should always be working appropriately and shouldn’t be obstructed.
• There are several types of liquid in the space in containers.
• You have a garage floor that was sealed by the use of epoxy paint.
• The garage has lots of cardboard boxes filled with items you don’t use anymore. Cardboard boxes can bring in odors and moisture, so plastic storage bins tend to work better.
• Your car is parked inside the garage during the winter, which is when snow and ice and build on the underside of the vehicle or in the wheel wells. This can also happen in hotter months if you drive your car into the garage following heavy rain.
• The floor drain in your garage has a catch basin. This should always be cleaned of debris like sand, stones, and other items regularly. Even when cleaned, it can create humidity and unsavory odors based on standing water.

Now that you know what can create humidity in the garage, measuring how much humidity is there is simple by placing a hygrometer in the area for 24 hours or longer. Everyone is going to have a different opinion on the best level for a comfortable garage, but it isn’t ever going to be as low as a home unless you use the space as a living area. Keep in mind that if you have a cold garage, overheating air that is already humid won’t help. In fact, it can make the garage even more uncomfortable.

If you do not have access to a hygrometer, there’s another way to check the level of humidity in a weathertight and insulated garage if you have a window installed into one of the walls of the garage. Those who are in a cold area can take a quick look at the bottom of the window. If there is any ice built up there or a large amount of condensation, this is a simple way to determine the humidity is higher than it should be.

How you can quickly reduce humidity levels

The first thing to be aware of is the two basic elements that need to be in place if you want to resolve your humidity problem adequately. The first is that your garage must be insulated. If it is not, the idea of reducing and maintaining a comfortable humidity level is going to be challenging if you want the space to be comfortable. If you are in a geographic region that is colder than average, the only solution you have is to heat the area at a low cost, often using wood heating.

The second element is your garage door, really your “fourth wall.” You want to be sure this is appropriately insulated and weathertight. To be confident, you want a garage door that has a thermal resistance factor of R‑12 at a minimum. The way to ensure this is by having garage doors that are insulated using polyurethane foam, which is injected in between the door walls. Another thing to watch for is the weather sealing on the doors. This means having adequate exterior perimeter weatherstripping that overlaps the side and head of the door by 1 ½ inch at a minimum. It also means that the bottom weatherstripping should be doing its job and preventing rainwater from reaching the garage. The threshold of the door should also slope in the correct way to run outside of your garage. While you’re looking at these things, the idea is to find all the ways that humidity can enter the garage, whether it’s winter or summer.

Your next step after finding the way humidity enters it to decide what you can tolerate and what you want to eliminate to ensure the level of humidity is comfortable so you can use the garage. Next, we’ll be looking at some of the ways you can handle these things, but only if you have a garage and a garage door that are already insulated. If they are not, the below efforts won’t fix the existing issues present.

The first thing we want to do is look at basic options. For instance, if you aren’t using the garage regularly for repair work, DIY projects, or other things, you can simply turn the heating system on and open your garage door an inch or two about 45 minutes to an hour before you use it to let humidity escape. If you have a window or an access door, that can also be opened to create a small draft that allows humidity to escape the room more quickly. You can also add a pedestal fan near the garage door to speed things up a bit more.

An additional option you have is to install a home dehumidifier. Turn it on at maximum power and let it run for 24 hours or more. This alone should help lower the humidity by at least five degrees and sometimes up to eight degrees.

If you are someone who uses your garage space regularly who needs a long‑term option, consider using the commercial dehumidifiers you can find on the market, which can be added into your heating system. It really all depends on how much you’re willing to spend to get the level of comfort that you need.

You can purchase a device, 9 x 6 ½ x 4 in. to vent humidity out of the garage via a duct in the wall.

As far as a vent installed in the garage door, it's not as effective as you might think it would be. This applies, whether it includes louvers to open and close or not. The best thing this vent can do is help remove odors from the garage.

Who to call when you’re ready to change out your garage door

Are you someone who is located in the Grand Rapids area? If you answered yes, all you need to do is contact us at 616-453-0164. All you need to do is let us know what situations you’re handling and how you would like to use the garage. We can give you insight into the best choices you can make while ensuring you stick to your budget.

If you prefer, we are also able to email you a quotation. We also have a showroom where you can meet us and see your options. While you spend time deciding, you can also find the door style that suits your home at our Design Centre. You can also reach our image gallery to browse many inspiration photos.