what temperature?

Hi all,

just after some advice.

I've insulated my garage, added double glazing and swapped the personnel door for a double glazed one and the entry door with a roller one, although that needs something adding to the bottom to seal the last little gap.

I use the garage as a workshop/gym/piano practice area.

Before winter hits I want to ensure it's setup to ensure nothing rusts or in the case of the electrical stuff - gets damaged.

so, heating.

What temperature should I be aiming for? just as a bottom line so nothing breaks. I don't mind it being cold - although of course I'd be wanting to crank up the heat when i'm in there but i'm keen to keep it above whatever is deemed as the lowest point.

the space is 6m(l) x 3m(w) x 2.4m(h)

speaking to my electrician, he's advised nothing over 3kw in order to keep load on cabling safe.

I was thinking of getting a couple of 1500w heaters, connect them to an inkbird thermometer, then set it to whatever you lot tell me is a safe number.

 

Not sure but I think you need to calculate the dew point dew point calculator

 

You need ventilation to prevent damp and rust, heating will be pointless when unoccupied, especially with no insulation to roller door.

 

Have you got a piano in there? I'm not a musical expert, but I think you need to keep them bone dry.

 

digital piano, so no different to any other electrical item

Venitilation I have - I just assumed it best to keep it at a base temperature but if that's not the case then fine.

the door is insulated, not sure where I said it wasn't but it definitely is, just needs a seal along the bottom as the floor isn't perfectly flat so there is a slight gap of 2mm

 

I would make a guess at - just a couple of degrees above the outdoor temperature, up to say 16C then none. I would also suggest a dehumidifier, with an auto-setting, will be as useful as heating.

 

thanks for that, that's ideal.
I was looking at dehumidifiers, trying to find one with a wall pipe so I can just run it into the flower bed outside the garage.
as much as it's ventilated, I perhaps will look at a through wall vent, I've got one wall where I could install two of these. If that's not enough, it's a flat roof so can always add a vent there but don't want to go nuts.

 

It’s a garage not a sauna so dehumidifier is pointless and costs money unlike ventilation which is free.

 

your garage will be very prone to condensation if the temperature fluctuates wildly, or if it has a floor with no dpm.

If it is well-insulated and has a DPM, you only need to ventilate it and keep the temperature above outdoor temperature.

An oil-filled radiator will do this and is I think very safe because it gets no hotter than a teapot, and won't start a fire even if paper or rags fall on it.

Maybe one at each end to spread the heat evenly.

and leave the thermostat turned down very low.

 

Heating will cost much more, with a lot of ventilation. A dehumidifier is extremely cheap to run and will pull the dew point way down, preventing rust. Too much ventilation will mean the dehumidifier working overtime, trying to dry the outside atmosphere too.

 

He doesn't need much ventilation or any heating or dehumidifier.

 

They how would that keep the condensation at bay, in a cold room?

 

No condensation in a cold room .
My laundry room and garage are unheated and neither suffer condensation.

 

Is there anything in those rooms to suffer from a high humidity?

 

Tv’s , all my tools, running machine etc.