Tube heaters in garage.

[Maddog]

Hi guys,

I have a 17' x 17' garage with a pitched roof that gets damp and cold in the winter.

I was considering a pair of 6' tube heaters on opposite side walls to try to keep some of the damp out.

Do you think this will be enough they are around 250w each.

If I mount them high on the wall as this is the only place I have space really will they be effective or will all the heat just go up into the roof void?

Thanks guys.

 

[Lazurus]

Hmmmm think you will need something bigger to actually heat it - how about a small dehumidifier to assist?

 

[Shox Dr]

Heating will not keep moisture out, it will just heat it up, and if not sufficient toheat big lumps of metal, than they will act as condensers, making the situation worse.

 

[jimbo84]

Tube heaters are designed to be fitted low down on the wall. Pitched roofs the heat will rise straight up into the highest point of the roof and stay there, you can fit downward facing fans or could make a crude heat recovery unit that circulates the air back to low level.

I'd insulate and heat it properly or dehumidify. If dehumidifying the condenser ones aren't so good in the cold and it will be defrosting itself for most of the time so you'd be better looking for a desiccant type.

The other problem is that unless it's a well sealed garage you'll be dehumidifying your postcode too so it'll be a waste of electric.

 

[Maddog]

Thanks guys.

Its a reasonably well sealed garage, with an up and over door. The problem is that I work in there with the door open usually and its just raining all the time recently (I live in Manchester where it always rains)

I would keep the door shut if I had heater/dehumidifier.

I'm not really bothered about keeping it warm as such just dry really.

The other problem is the bottom couple of feet at the rear are below the level of the patio behind the garage that I think the previous owner had fitted without a membrane so the bricks get very damp.

 

[Shox Dr]

Thanks guys.

Its a reasonably well sealed garage, with an up and over door. The problem is that I work in there with the door open usually and its just raining all the time recently (I live in Manchester where it always rains)

I would keep the door shut if I had heater/dehumidifier.

I'm not really bothered about keeping it warm as such just dry really.

The other problem is the bottom couple of feet at the rear are below the level of the patio behind the garage that I think the previous owner had fitted without a membrane so the bricks get very damp.

A dehumidifier would be the better first purchase. It will make the biggest difference. Not the best time of year to be buying one though, or a cheap heater for that matter

 

[Shox Dr]

If you do go for one, make sure it had]s a de-ice function. Otherwise if the ambient temp is low it will take an age to defrost

 

[tigdlo]

When the temperature increases the air will hold more moisture drying out every porous material bricks, wood, etc. When it cools it will condense on every cold surface usually stuff that will rust.

Another vote for a dehumidifier but would recommend insulation and heating to reduce temperature changes.

 

[duncans]

Hmmmm think you will need something bigger to actually heat it - how about a small dehumidifier to assist?

would those things they put in caravans do it im sure they are really cheap so you could put a few in the garage to try it

 

[Gritineye]

Dehumidifier every time, but try to seal the door as much as possible so you're not trying to dry out the whole world..

 

[fizzy]

Tube heaters are designed to be fitted low down on the wall. Pitched roofs the heat will rise straight up into the highest point of the roof and stay there, you can fit downward facing fans or could make a crude heat recovery unit that circulates the air back to low level.

I'd insulate and heat it properly or dehumidify. If dehumidifying the condenser ones aren't so good in the cold and it will be defrosting itself for most of the time so you'd be better looking for a desiccant type.

The other problem is that unless it's a well sealed garage you'll be dehumidifying your postcode too so it'll be a waste of electric.

Totally agree.
Compressor type dehumidifiers are great in warm humid weather. Very poor when it's cold.
Desiccant types emit some heat as well. Extraction rates look much worse than compressor types but that is because the compressor ones state performance at say 23C - it drops off alarmingly when you get down to 10C or less. Dessicant types win hands down in typical British winters.

 

[500e]

"The other problem is the bottom couple of feet at the rear are below the level of the patio behind the garage that I think the previous owner had fitted without a membrane so the bricks get very damp"
Can you dig a trench to below wall level & put a drain in & seal the wall.
Some sort of ceiling could help why heat that bit,
Friend asked around a couple of shop fitting Co were they taking any suspended ceilings down think it cost a couple of bottles of Whisky to get enough to do a 20Ft x 12Ft workshop he helped remove it they just want it out & in skip usually so be prepared for odd hours a lot is done over night.
I got 1\2 a small supermarket of shelving for nowt as long as we did not hold up the fitters 3 of us removed it as fast as we could & filled a 7.5 ton, quality stuff as well 4 lifts of shelves you could stand on

 

[ranchero]

insulated ceiling in mine much warmer and dryer even without the heater on. oddly even the loft space is warmer

 

[Shox Dr]

Local tip is a very good place to find dehumidifiers. I found this awhile back, must have cost a small fortune, very well built. This one just needed the humidity sensor cleaning. Anyway to show these things work quite well at low temps, here it is on test today.

A toasty 12*c in the workshop today.

 

[awemawson]

A fridge will work as a de-humidifier AND give you somewhere (to keep your beer) - to shrink bearings I mean ! Just empty the condensate tray regularly

 

[Shox Dr]

Been on an hour now, approximately 250ml.

 

[mike os]

Dehumidifier and if needed a diesel cab heater?