You might be wondering why you would put a dehumidifier in a garage. Garages are often hot, humid and unpleasant, but if you’re grabbing a tool or hopping in the car, who cares?
While there are a few reasons you might want to put a dehumidifier in your garage, the primary reason is to protect the items you’re storing there. Pictures, baby clothes and other mementos often end up in boxes in the garage.
Unfortunately, however, the humidity that collects in your garage can damage these items. The last thing you want to see when you open a photo album to reminisce is mold.
Excess moisture can also cause structural damage to the garage itself, in addition to making it uncomfortable to spend time working out there.
Today, we’re going to review five popular dehumidifiers. We’ll give you our favorite, as well as the specifications of the others. That way, you can make an informed decision about which dehumidifier is right for you.
COMPARISON CHART
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1. hOmeLabs 3,000 Sq. Ft Energy Star Dehumidifier
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2. Vremi 22 Pint 1,500 Sq. Ft.
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3. Pro Breeze Electric Mini Dehumidifier, 2200 Cubic Feet
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4. Ivation 30 Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
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5. Aprilaire – 1830Z 1830 Pro Dehumidifier, 70 Pint
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Specification
| Pints Per Day | 35 |
| Drain Options | Empty the tank or connect a hose for constant drainage |
| Area Coverage (square feet) | 3000 |
| Automatic Shutoff | Yes |
| Fan Speeds | Turbo option |
| Defrost | Yes |
If you’re looking for a garage dehumidifier, our top pick is hOmeLabs’ 3,000 square foot unit. It works quietly and effectively to remove up to 35 pints of water from the air in your garage every single day.
Better yet, you have two different drainage options. Like a traditional dehumidifier, you can wait for the 1.6-gallon tank on this unit to fill. When the tank is full, the unit shuts off automatically to prevent overflowing and other hazards. Then, you can empty it.
If you aren’t interested in emptying this unit daily or even more frequently, you can connect a hose to it and direct it toward a floor drain. That way, you won’t have to worry about it.
The hOmeLabs dehumidifier has an automatic defrosting option, and it’s Energy Star certified, so you can trust that it’s doing the work to justify its energy consumption. If you need it to work a little harder on particularly humid days, it has a turbo option.
WHAT WE LIKE
We like is that this unit looks sleek and modern. It’s also heat resistant, working at temperatures up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, it has a timer you can set if you don’t want to leave it running unattended.
PROS
- It covers a large area.
- The unit removes plenty of moisture.
- Quiet.
- Attractive appearance.
CONS
- If you don’t have access to a floor drain, emptying the tank frequently can be annoying.
- Weighing 40 pounds, it may be challenging to move..
Specification
| Pints Per DayLorem ipsum | 22 |
| Drain Options | Empty the tank or connect a hose for continuous draining |
| Area Coverage (square feet) | 1500 |
| Automatic Shutoff | Yes |
| Fan Speeds | Turbo option |
| Defrost | Yes |
Our next selection is from Vremi. It operates on a slightly smaller scale than the hOmeLabs unit, potentially removing 22 pints of water from a 1,500 square foot area each day.
Like the hOmeLabs unit, you can connect a hose for drainage purposes, so you don’t have to bother with emptying the tank. If that’s not an option, you should note that the tank is only 0.8 gallons which comes out to a little less than six and a half pints. You may have to empty it frequently.
This Vremi dehumidifier has an automatic shut-off function and automatically defrosts as well, should that become necessary. You can also increase the fan speed to the turbo setting if you need it to work more quickly.
WHAT WE LIKE
We like that there’s a panel to see into the water tank without having to remove it to check the water level. This unit also has a memory feature. Should you lose power, you won’t lose your settings. The dehumidifier will pick up where it left off when your power comes back on.
PROS
- Easy to use.
- Relatively quiet.
- Energy Star certified.
CONS
- Small water tank.
- At about 33 pounds, it’s still on the heavy side for something meant to be portable.
Specification
| Pints Per Day | 0.5 |
| Drain Options | Large tank that needs to be emptied |
| Area Coverage (square feet) | 250 |
| Automatic Shutoff | Yes |
| Fan Speeds | No |
| Defrost | No |
This next dehumidifier is a little different than the others on our list today. Note that it’s rated for 2200 cubic feet, not square feet. That means it’s actually meant for a space somewhere around 250 square feet.
With that said, Pro Breeze’s mini dehumidifier is excellent for small spaces. If you have a one-car garage, for example, this is a great choice. This dehumidifier removes half a pint of water from the surrounding air every day.
While it doesn’t have a hose drainage option, the water tank on this unit is slightly more than three pints. That’s relatively large for the amount of water it will collect every day.
Like the other dehumidifiers on our list, this one has an automatic shut-off function. It has the added benefit of an LED indicator light that will tell you when it needs to be emptied.
WHAT WE LIKE
This unit is small so that it won’t take up much space. It’s also quiet. If you’re looking for a dehumidifier that will work in an office or bedroom as well as a garage, this is it.
PROS
- You won’t have to empty it daily.
- Very quiet.
CONS
- Limited options for fan speed and defrosting.
- It won’t work for large spaces.
- The unit doesn’t work at temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
Specification
| Pints Per Day | 22 |
| Drain Options | Tank that needs to be emptied, hose hookup. |
| Area Coverage (square feet) | 1500 |
| Automatic Shutoff | Yes |
| Fan Speeds | Two, regular and turbo |
| Defrost | Yes |
Next up is a dehumidifier from Ivation. Its name is a little misleading.
The Department of Energy is the entity responsible for regulating dehumidifiers, and recently, they changed their standards.
Before the standards shifted, this unit was said to remove 30 pints of moisture from the air on a daily basis. Now, it’s rated for 22 pints of water a day. The dehumidifier itself didn’t change, just how the Department of Energy does its calculations.
The Ivation unit works best in an area of 1,500 square feet or less. It features an auto shut-off function when its tank is full, and it will also defrost automatically. It has both regular and turbo fan speed options, so you can adjust it as needed.
As with the other dehumidifiers on this list, you can empty the water tank manually. As the reservoir is only 0.8 gallons, you will find yourself having to do so frequently. Luckily, you can also connect a hose for continuous drainage.
WHAT WE LIKE
It features an LCD interface that makes programming its timer and viewing information about the filter and reservoir simple.
PROS
- While weighing in at slightly more than 30 pounds, this unit has wheels for ease of movement.
- The filtration system is focused on improving asthma symptoms and reducing allergens.
CONS
- While the company is understandably reluctant to label this unit in a way that makes it seem less effective, it feels a little disingenuous to cling so tightly to the old standards.
- You’ll have to empty the tank relatively frequently if you don’t use the hose drainage option.
Specification
| Pints Per Day | 70 |
| Drain Options | Drains continuously via hose |
| Area Coverage (square feet) | 3800 |
| Automatic Shutoff | Yes |
| Fan Speeds | No |
| Defrost | No |
The final dehumidifier on our list is a behemoth. It can remove up to 70 pints of water from the air every day and covers an area of up to 3,800 feet. It’s generally meant for commercial use, although for hobbyists with large garages or people interested in using it for their entire home, it’s certainly an option.
The best thing about the Aprilaire unit is that it requires very little input from you once you have it set up. It drains continuously via a hose, and it automatically shuts off and turns back on depending on ambient humidity levels.
WHAT WE LIKE
It features an LCD interface that makes programming its timer and viewing information about the filter and reservoir simple.
PROS
- Heavy duty.
- Low maintenance.
CONS
- Some potential buyers might consider its industrial appearance a drawback.
- It takes up a lot of space.
- Requires hose drainage, which is an issue for someone lacking a floor drain.
Will a Dehumidifier Work in a Garage?
The obvious answer to the question, “will a dehumidifier work in a garage?” is yes. We wouldn’t be recommending you purchase one to keep your garage drier if they didn’t. Where there’s humidity, a dehumidifier can work.
Generally, the moisture in your garage comes from the warm air coming into contact with the cool concrete of the flooring and causing condensation. Garages don’t tend to be well-ventilated, so the moisture sticks around.
The lack of ventilation is actually a benefit when it comes to setting up a dehumidifier. Instead of attempting to dehumidify the entire outdoors—no matter how tempting that might be some days—your efforts are confined to a manageable space. As long as you keep running the dehumidifier, your garage will stay dry and comfortable.
Conclusion
There you have it. The right dehumidifier for your garage will depend on the size of the area you’re working with and how much effort you want to put into it.
However, we think that the hOmeLabs 3,000 Sq. Ft Energy Star Dehumidifier is the best choice. We hope you’ve found this review helpful and that you have some idea of what’s on the market now.
For more product reviews and other great information, check out our other posts.
