Garages are often used as storage space, making them easily neglected. Spills, leaks, and messes can be left unnoticed until it starts causing humidity and mold issues. To prevent this, you should invest in the best dehumidifier for the garage with the capacity that matches your needs.
Take note that your garage is one of the most moisture-prone areas of your home. Its large door also allows outdoor moisture to seep easily. Before you know it, your garage is already harboring a massive mold infestation.
The key here is nipping moisture in the bud before it harbors spores and germs. A trusty dehumidifier is the best solution since it sucks the excess moisture out of the air.
If you’re in the hunt for an efficient garage dehumidifier, the following options will give the best bang for the buck:
| GARAGE DEHUMIDIFIER | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | hOmeLabs 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier |  | Check Price |
 | Waykar PD160B 34-Pint Dehumidifier | | Check Price |
 | TOSOT 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier | | Check Price |
 | Vacplus VA-D1903 30-Pint Dehumidifier | | Check Price |
 | Keystone 35-Pint Dehumidifier | | Check Price |
 | Kesnos PD10A 100-Pint Dehumidifier |  | Check Price |
 | Honeywell TP70WKN 70-Pint Dehumidifier | | Check Price |
 | Frigidaire 50-Pint Portable Dehumidifier |  | Check Price |
Best Dehumidifier For Garage – Our 8 Picks!
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: hOmeLabs 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
Product Name: hOmeLabs 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
Product Description: OUR TOP PICK: hOmeLabs 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier If you’re looking for a dehumidifier for your garage, you’ll never go wrong with the hOmeLabs 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier. This unit is made to cover up to 4,500 sq. ft. It has a 50-pint extraction rate per day and a 1.6-gallon tank. If you wish, you can also use the drain hose outlet for a continuous drain option. This will let you run the dehumidifier for24 hours. However, the hose isn’t included yet, which is just a small niggle for this price range. Aside from that, this hOmeLabs dehumidifier has an intuitive control panel complete with indicator lights for the filter, drain option, and speed.
Offer price: $$$
Availability: InStock
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Capacity
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Draining Options
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Extraction Rate
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Value For Money
Overall
Summary
Overall, I like the sleek design of this dehumidifier, which fits well even on small garages. You can also get this in 22 and 35-pint versions to suit your needs. I also like to mention that the tank of this dehumidifier is very easy to remove. It pulls out like a drawer and it will be a breeze to drain manually. The only complaint I have over this unit is it doesn’t have a built-in pump. This means that you need to place it on an elevated surface to allow gravity to drain the water efficiently.
Pros
It allows manual and continuous drain. Auto shut-off once the tank is full. Sleek design with a small footprint Intuitive controls, easy to use
Cons
No built-in pump Slightly noisy than other dehumidifiers I’ve tried
RUNNERS-UP
Waykar PD160B 34-Pint Dehumidifier
If you’re looking for a smaller unit in your garage, you should consider the Waykar PD160B 34-Pint Dehumidifier. It can cover up to 2,000 sq. ft. of the floor area, complete with a continuous drain and manual drain option using the 2.5-liter water tank.
Aside from that, this dehumidifier has an automatic humidity sensor that detects the humidity levels in your garage. The unit itself will adjust its operation to ensure optimal moisture removal.
Moreover, this dehumidifier has an auto shut-off feature once the bucket is full. I also like its power outage auto restart, so you no longer have to babysit the unit during operation.
This Waykar dehumidifier is also equipped with a timer as well as two fan speeds. And when the water tank is full, it has an alarm to let you know that it’s time to drain.
Lastly, this unit is very easy to move around the garage since it’s designed with a large handle. It also has 360-degree rotating wheels.
Overall, this is a quiet dehumidifier, but the drain tube is a bit tricky. It would be better positioned lower to drain properly. But other than that, I still think that this unit is right for the money.
TOSOT 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier
If you can afford to shell out more for a garage dehumidifier, you should consider the TOSOT 50-Pint Energy Star Dehumidifier. This premium unit is rated for up to 4,500 sq. ft., which is more than enough for large garages.
Aside from that, this dehumidifier can extract up to 50 pints of moisture per day. The best thing is that it has an internal pump for efficient continuous drainage. You also have the option to drain the water sideways or vertically in as much as 12 feet. Nevertheless, you can also use the manual drain using its drawer-style tank.
Moreover, this TOSOT dehumidifier has a simple control panel. There’s a small LCD screen that displays the current humidity level of your garage, and you can also set a target humidity level. Once this target is achieved, the dehumidifier will shut off automatically.
Since this is an Energy Star-certified unit, the TOSOT dehumidifier will consume 30% less electricity than other models. It’s also quiet and will only produce 51 dB of noise even on the highest setting.
Vacplus VA-D1903 30-Pint Dehumidifier
The Vacplus VA-D1903 30-Pint Dehumidifier is rated for up to 1,500 sq. ft., which is ideal for most garages. You can also choose between a continuous drain and manual drain option using the 1.3-liter tank inside.
Moreover, this has a 24-hour timer, so you can leave the unit running without supervision. I also like the condenser and evaporator layers for a faster and improved drying process.
There’s also a washable filter inside to trap large air particulates. This is a big plus since you no longer have to spend more on filter replacements.
Aside from that, this unit has a low-noise operation, and you can also adjust the fan speed to limit the sound. The best thing is that this Vacplus dehumidifier has dehumidify and dry clothes modes.
This unit is suitable for garage, living room, basement, dining rooms, and more. It’s a very versatile option at a reasonable price.
Overall, this is a functional dehumidifier. However, I wish they could make the water tank bigger, considering that the unit can be used for 24 hours.
Keystone 35-Pint Dehumidifier
The Keystone 35-Pint Dehumidifier might be compact in size, but it’s not short of dehumidifying power. It’s made to cover up to 3,500 sq. ft. of floor area and collect up to 35 pints of moisture per day.
Moreover, this has a 0.8-gallon tank with an easy-carry handle to avoid spills. There’s also a water level indicator to let you know if it’s time to drain the tank.
I also like that this unit has a continuous drain option for long-term use in your garage. Note that the hose isn’t included in the package, so you need to purchase it separately.
Aside from that, this dehumidifier has a simple control panel with a small LCD screen. There are also separate buttons to adjust fan speed, drain option, timer, and filter change.
Another thing I like about the Keystone Dehumidifier is that it has a washable filter. This is money-saving since you don’t have to purchase replacements repeatedly.
My only gripe over this dehumidifier is that the tank can be tricky to reposition. The connector for the continuous drain is also challenging to set with the screws.
Kesnos PD10A 100-Pint Dehumidifier
The Kesnos PD10A 100-Pint Dehumidifier might be perfect for garages with severe moisture problems. This unit is made to cover up to 5,000 sq. ft. of floor area, and it can collect up to 100 pints of moisture per day.
Aside from that, this has a built-in humidistat that allows you to set a target humidity level. You can also utilize the timer, so you don’t have to supervise the dehumidifier all the time.
Inside this Kesnos dehumidifier, there’s a washable filter and a 0.6-gallon tank for manual draining. If you prefer the continuous drain option, there’s also a two-meter hose in the package.
This unit is fairly quiet, with an average noise level of 46dB on the highest fan setting. It’s also easy to move around the garage since it’s built with ergonomic handles and 360-degree wheels.
The only downside I see here is that the water reservoir is a bit small. If you prefer the manual drain, you’ll need to empty the tank multiple times a day.
Honeywell TP70WKN 70-Pint Dehumidifier
Honeywell is a known HVAC appliance brand, and they don’t disappoint with their TP70KWN 70-Pint dehumidifier. This is rated for 4,000 sq. ft. It can collect up to 70 pints of moisture per day.
This unit has a continuous drain option and a water tank for manual emptying. It also comes with an air filter that will trap dust and other airborne particles.
Moreover, this has a digital humidistat that will automatically adjust the unit’s operation based on the current humidity level of your garage. You can also preset a target humidity level to avoid making the air too dry.
Also, this is Energy Star-certified to help you save electricity, especially when running the dehumidifier for long hours.
If there’s one thing that I don’t like about this dehumidifier, it would be the loud noise. It’s not deafening, but it’s enough to keep a light sleeper awake.
Frigidaire 50-Pint Portable Dehumidifier
My last pick for this list is the Frigidaire 50-Pint Portable Dehumidifier. This can collect up to 50 pints of moisture per day with hassle-free continuous or manual drain.
Aside from that, this dehumidifier has an auto shut-off feature that turns the unit off once the tank is full. I also like the front-loading bucket, complete with a splash guard and a handle.
Moreover, this dehumidifier has a built-in pump for a more efficient continuous drain. This way, you wouldn’t have to worry about the proper placement of the unit.
This Frigidaire dehumidifier is also made to withstand low temperatures of up to 41F. It will not freeze easily, even if it’s colder than usual in your garage.
Overall, this dehumidifier works fast, but I hope they can fix the pump tubing because it’s hard to remove.
How to choose the best dehumidifier for garage
If this is your first time buying a dehumidifier for your garage, it’s important to consider the following aspects:
✔️Coverage area
First, you should consider the floor area of your garage. Dehumidifiers are always rated based on the maximum floor area they can cover. This ensures that the unit is matched to the amount of moisture in the area.
Take note that getting the right dehumidifier size is also a matter of energy efficiency. A dehumidifier that’s too small for your garage will consume more electricity than it’s supposed to. Worse, it will spike up your energy bill while doing very little to control the humidity in your garage.
If your place is notorious for extremely high relative humidity (RH), you should consider getting a bigger humidifier. With that, you should always check the rating of the dehumidifier by square feet. You should compare this to the size of your garage.
Whatever capacity you choose, make sure that the unit has a built-in humidistat. This will detect the humidity level of your garage and adjust the dehumidifier’s operation based on your target moisture level.
✔️Capacity
A dehumidifier’s capacity dictates how much water it can suck out from the air within a day. This is often measured in PPD or pints per day.
If your garage has excessively high RH, you should get a high-capacity unit. A dehumidifier with at least 30 pints of extraction capacity is a champ, but you can always bigger ones ranging from 50 to 100 pints. While there are dehumidifiers with 200-pint dehumidifiers, I think it’s already overkilling for your garage.
Aside from the extraction rate, you should also check the tank capacity of the dehumidifier. This is often measured in gallons or liters. The bigger the tank, the better if you’re dealing with too much moisture to deal with.
✔️Drain options
The next thing you should consider is the drain method of the garage dehumidifier. Most dehumidifiers nowadays offer manual and continuous drain options.
The good thing with garages is instant access to the outdoors. This makes continuous drain a practical choice, especially if you’re dehumidifying after flooding or severe water damage.
A hose is connected to the dehumidifier with a continuous drain, which is funneled into a sink or outside the garage. But if this setup isn’t possible, you can opt for the manual drain, which involves emptying the water tank inside the dehumidifier.
✔️Filtration
Dehumidifiers are fitted with filters to trap large air particulates, including dust, pollens, and animal fur. Note that its main function isn’t to clean the air fully but only to reduce airborne contaminants.
Most of the dehumidifiers I’ve used have replaceable filters. The replacements are often sold by the unit manufacturers, but you should always check the availability.
Meanwhile, there are also some that use washable filters. This is more cost-efficient, and you no longer have to worry about availability.
✔️Dimensions
Not all homeowners have the luxury of space in their garage. If you’re one of them, you should always check the unit’s dimensions.
The good thing is that you can find dehumidifiers with small footprints. It compensates for the device’s height, so more water can still be collected per day.
✔️Additional features
Aside from the mentioned features, you can also look for additional functionalities. This will add value to your purchase as well as to the efficacy of the unit in your garage.
- Timer. Dehumidifiers with built-in timers will let you operate the unit within a specific timeframe. This way, you don’t have to supervise the unit all the time, and you can leave it running overnight if need be.
- Auto-defrost. An auto-defrost feature is indispensable if you’re going to operate the dehumidifier in low-temperature areas. It will prevent ice from forming inside the unit so that it won’t block the airflow.
- Auto shutoff. An auto-shutoff feature is a safety feature that will prevent the unit from overflowing (when using the manual drain) and overheating.
- LCD screen. An LCD screen will display the humidity level (current and target), timer, temperature, and more. This will let you monitor the dehumidifier easier. Some would even come with intelligent functions and mobile phone connectivity.
- Variable fan speed. A variable fan speed will let you adjust the drying speed based on the humidity level in your garage. This will also help you save electricity, not to mention that you can also control the unit’s noise level.
✔️Price range
Lastly, you should decide the budget you’ll allot for the best humidifier for garage use. While dirt-cheap options are convenient, these units rarely last, and accuracy are dodgy.
Still, you don’t have to spend a fortune just to get a dehumidifier that works. The key here is finding the right balance between quality, capacity, and cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are dehumidifiers good for garages?
A: Dehumidifiers are ideal in garages since it removes hidden moisture. This will prevent the proliferation of molds, bad odor, and bacteria. Aside from that, dehumidifiers will help reduce rusting on metal items brought by excessive relative humidity.
Q: What is the best way to dehumidify a garage?
A: To dehumidify your garage, you should remove or fix any source of moisture. You can use a vapor barrier and seal leaks where moisture may seep into your garage. Another effective way to combat humidity in your garage is to use a dehumidifier. This will suck out moisture from your garage, not to mention that many of these units have humidistats to ensure healthy air quality.
Q: What humidity should my garage have?
A: Garage humidity should range from 45% to 50%. Others would stretch the humidity level to 55% to 60%, but this is already leaning toward moisture retention. This is to prevent mold buildup while ensuring that your garage remains comfortable to stay in.
Q: How do I stop mold from growing in my garage?
A: To stop mold growth in your garage, you should control the humidity level inside. This is possible by using a dehumidifier. It will remove excess moisture to prevent mold from spreading inside. You should also fix leaks and other sources of moisture in your garage for optimal results.
Q: Why is everything in my garage getting moldy?
A: Molds thrive in two things: moisture and darkness. Unfortunately, your garage has these two components. The key here is combatting excessive moisture by maintaining a healthy humidity level. A dehumidifier will be a big help here since it takes the guesswork out of moisture removal.
Q: How can I lower my garage’s humidity without a dehumidifier?
A: If you don’t have a budget for a dehumidifier, you can still try other methods to reduce the moisture in your garage for now. Make sure that you increase your garage ventilation, fix leaks, and install a vapor barrier. However, nothing beats a dehumidifier if you’re dealing with massive water damage and retained moisture.
Final words
The best dehumidifier for garage will let you combat moisture before it causes rusting and molds in your belongings. Most of all, it will save you from potential health risks associated with trapped moisture.
What do you think of these dehumidifiers? Let us know below!
Home Air Quality is founded by Bernard K to provide information on Indoor Air Quality in Homes and enlighten people about what they need to know about creating and maintaining a comfortable and healthy home environment.
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