A garage is a space used to store many valuable items; vehicles, bikes, sports equipment, gardening machinery and other expensive tools. Condensation, however, can cause much damage to these prized possessions by creating rust. Furthermore, mould and mildew from condensation also pose a health risk to you and your family. This is why it is important to take actions to stop condensation from occurring.
Eliminate Clutter
Clutter restricts the space’s airflow making it easier for condensation to form. Remove all unnecessary garage items and tidy up and put away items that are not immediately needed. Make sure tools and items are dry when stored away. This goes for your vehicle too. Simply taking a few minutes to dry off your wet vehicle with a towel during the snowy and rainy seasons will reduce your garage’s moisture level. Old fridge or freezers can also cause condensation problems. Fluctuating temperatures can cause drip pans in these appliances to fill up with water quickly. When it gets hotter, condensation will also form on the outside of the appliances and evaporate, so temperature control is paramount.
Control your garage’s temperature
By using a heater in the colder months and a fan or air-conditioning unit in the summer months you will keep the garage temperature stable and its condensation under control. Avoid using propane heaters as these emit high levels of water vapour. Your ventilation will also affect the temperature of your garage, so it is important to have appropriate ventilation in place to maintain the balance between the air inside and outside your garage. Ventilation systems, like turbine roof vents, need to be cleaned regularly to allow for efficient airflow.
Apply a floor coating
An epoxy or polyaspartic garage floor coating will significantly lower garage condensation levels. Both offer good resistance to most chemicals, they also protect your flooring against damage from everyday wear and tear and provide an effective seal to protect the floor foundation from water damage. Polyaspartic floor coating is quicker to apply than epoxy. Polyaspartic can be walked on in one to doors hours after application, while epoxy typically takes six to eight hours. The two systems can even work together provided they are from the same manufacturer.
Install a dehumidifier
Placing a dehumidifier in your garage is a quick and simple solution to effectively minimize condensation. Dehumidifiers work by drawing in warm, moist air that then passes through a wet medium such as a sponge or cloth which removes the humidity before allowing the air to flow back out again. Make sure to empty the water collected in the appliance’s tank regularly or attach a drainage hose that empties outside.
Inspect Your Drainage
Rain gutters, downspouts and floor drainage systems in and around your garage should be checked periodically to make sure they are free of debris and not blocked as this can cause water to enter into your garage. Installing a channel drain in front of your garage door and around your driveway will also help rainwater from getting into your garage.
Taking these preventative steps will help to protect your garage from potential damage caused by condensation. If your garage door is in need of repair or replacing, then contact our expert team to book a free survey.
