Condensation , perfect storm.

[ZRX61]

Airflow.... Ya need to install an oscillating fan (or 3 or 4), run them 24/7, cheap as chips.

[Dodgy69]

I've had it bad aswel, I got the bikes out in the fresh air yesterday and I'll keep the door partially open as much as possible. It don't last forever.

[Count Steer]

Airflow.... Ya need to install an oscillating fan (or 3 or 4), run them 24/7, cheap as chips.

I've got a couple of greenhouse fan heaters (I assume they're more damp-proof than ordinary domestic ones) and leave one in the cabin and one in the conservatory. They're set to kick in before the temperature drops to 7ºC. There's a panel heater in the cabin set the same. I leave a couple of windows on 'night vent' setting too.

As an aside, our en-suite shower room can be a bit chilly so I sometimes put a fan heater outside, blowing in through the door. After a shower there's not even condensation on the shaving mirror - which there always is normally.

So yup. Airflow. Even draughty/open windows can be better than closed up tight.

[Count Steer]

Oh, also the OP said he'd been working in the shed the day before. Perfect storm sort of thing. Spend a day working in the shed/garage, get it nice and warm, breathe a lot. All that nice warm, moist air cools down overnight, hey presto, condensation. (Probably the same with cars).

Might be better to wear thermals and keep the door open!...or run a dehumidifier while working and for a while after.

[weeksy]

Weirdly and it's hard to tell this, but i'm not convinced it happens until i open the door and go in there. It seems to be 20s after going in it all then goes nuts... But that may not be correct.

[Count Steer]

Weirdly and it's hard to tell this, but i'm not convinced it happens until i open the door and go in there. It seems to be 20s after going in it all then goes nuts... But that may not be correct.

Could be, if it's colder inside the garage than outside?

(Or if you're breathing heavy with the excitement ).

[Skub]

Weirdly and it's hard to tell this, but i'm not convinced it happens until i open the door and go in there. It seems to be 20s after going in it all then goes nuts... But that may not be correct.

That's exactly when it happens. If everything is sitting cold in the garage and nothing changes,that's fine. If the outside temperature has risen,especially if it's been raining and the humidity is high,then you get condensation on all the cold parts from the entering warmer air.

It's the same as breathing onto a cold,shiny surface,your breath will cause moisture.

The contrast in temperature is the danger point.

[weeksy]

Weirdly and it's hard to tell this, but i'm not convinced it happens until i open the door and go in there. It seems to be 20s after going in it all then goes nuts... But that may not be correct.

That's exactly when it happens. If everything is sitting cold in the garage and nothing changes,that's fine. If the outside temperature has risen,especially if it's been raining and the humidity is high,then you get condensation on all the cold parts from the entering warmer air.

It's the same as breathing onto a cold,shiny surface,your breath will cause moisture.

The contrast in temperature is the danger point.

So i guess the answer is to not go in on these days... Which isn't always viable of course as i end up in there most days... but is something to consider i guess

[Count Steer]

If anyone wants to get scientific, I've got one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youshiko-Cont ... Rm&psc=1

(It's not the same brand name, mine says 'Techno' but the screen looks v similar).

I can see from here indoors that the greenhouse* is about 10ºC and the RH is 91% and that's lower than it was first thing...it looks a bit foggy in there. I guess with a bit of monitoring you could spot when condensation is a risk and turn on a dehumidifier etc. Maybe use something like Hive to do it remotely?

* where I don't have one of my greenhouse fan heaters.

[Skub]

So i guess the answer is to not go in on these days... Which isn't always viable of course as i end up in there most days... but is something to consider i guess

The thing is,if like me the garage door lets in a draught even when closed,the condensation will still happen until the two temeratures equalise. It'll just happen more slowly.

I'm doubly screwed because I did away with the garage side door,so the only way in is the up and over. The freezer lives out there too,so we are both in and out every day. The humidifier provides damage limitation in a less than perfect scenario.

I'm fucking obsessed with the battle at this time of year.

[Skub]

If anyone wants to get scientific, I've got one of these...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Youshiko-Cont ... Rm&psc=1

(It's not the same brand name, mine says 'Techno' but the screen looks v similar).

I can see from here indoors that the greenhouse* is about 10ºC and the RH is 91% and that's lower than it was first thing...it looks a bit foggy in there. I guess with a bit of monitoring you could spot when condensation is a risk and turn on a dehumidifier etc. Maybe use something like Hive to do it remotely?

* where I don't have one of my greenhouse fan heaters.

I have one similar. Helps keep an eye on things and feeds my paranoia

[ZRX61]

If you have a *proper* metal toolbox stack:
Put a terrarium heater pad under the bottom drawer. Put in on ceramic tile, drill hole in the back of the box for the power cord. Pad will heat the entire stack & prevent rust... the heat may be enough to warm the entire garage enough to stop the condensation when coupled with a fan nearby.

[Dodgy69]

So i guess the answer is to not go in on these days... Which isn't always viable of course as i end up in there most days... but is something to consider i guess

The thing is,if like me the garage door lets in a draught even when closed,the condensation will still happen until the two temeratures equalise. It'll just happen more slowly.

I'm doubly screwed because I did away with the garage side door,so the only way in is the up and over. The freezer lives out there too,so we are both in and out every day. The humidifier provides damage limitation in a less than perfect scenario.

I'm fucking obsessed with the battle at this time of year.

My up and over door is the only entrance for airflow. I was considering an airbrick at the other end, but haven't managed to convince myself it'll make much difference.

[Felix]

I built a lean to onto the wooden shed to store my bike. It has plenty ventilation as it is just planks of wood and four posts. When i was looking in on the bike at the weekend it was soaking with condensation but i have not put a floor in yet and its just sitting on dying grass. Should i put a raised wooden floor in or just slab it??

[mangocrazy]

Insulate then raised wooden floor. You can get strong grade Extruded polystyrene that can take heavy loads and is essentially impermeable to water.

<Edit> This is the kind of stuff you want - heavy duty XPS. Don't confuse extruded polystyrene with expanded polystyrene. Extruded polystyrene is tough stuff. Expanded is shite.

https://insulation4less.co.uk/products/ ... -all-sizes

[Felix]

Insulate then raised wooden floor. You can get strong grade Extruded polystyrene that can take heavy loads and is essentially impermeable to water.

<Edit> This is the kind of stuff you want - heavy duty XPS. Don't confuse extruded polystyrene with expanded polystyrene. Extruded polystyrene is tough stuff. Expanded is shite.

https://insulation4less.co.uk/products/ ... -all-sizes

Was just looking at some on the wick web site

[mangocrazy]

There are different grades, depending on what compressive strength you need, but all grades are closed cell and water impermeable. It's perfect stuff to put under a concrete slab so you don't get a cold floor, plus it acts as a DPC.

[Felix]

When i was first stripping down my bus to convert it the walls were all lined in 5cm of polystyrene. I seemed to have been working well with no obvious signs of condensation runs or dried puddles so i just left it. Only dripping from the ceiling is the pop up skylight so i am going to add a couple of small slatted vents to see if leaving them open helps.

[Tricky]

Does that require the garage to be pretty much air tight though? Otherwise you're just sucking water out of constant airflow?

Doesn't on mine, as I have a typically draughty up and over door, and previously had the dampest garage known to man due to it's height relative to the garden immediately behind it, but since I've had the dehumidifier in there, never a hint of damp or corrosion on the bikes or tools. I just leave it going 24/7, and it pulls multiple litres of water out of the air every day

[Skub]

Does that require the garage to be pretty much air tight though? Otherwise you're just sucking water out of constant airflow?

Doesn't on mine, as I have a typically draughty up and over door, and previously had the dampest garage known to man due to it's height relative to the garden immediately behind it, but since I've had the dehumidifier in there, never a hint of damp or corrosion on the bikes or tools. I just leave it going 24/7, and it pulls multiple litres of water out of the air every day

Do you run yours on the low setting,@Tricky ?