Engine Room Dehumidifier

[Vincentc]

The recent hard freezes here led me to put covers over the engine room vents. With warmer weather has come high humidity. I set up a small (30 pint) portable dehumidifier in the ER and it has done a nice job of keeping humidity at 45-50 inside vs the 80-90 outside.

I am planning on connecting the dehumidifier to a condensate pump and discharge the condensate out thru the bar sink drain thru hull, making the dehumidifier secure in the ER and having it run full time while at the dock with the ER vents covered. Seems to me that keeping the humidity lower shoud help with corrosion.

Other than the cost of electricity ( 2.4 amps ) do you see any downside to doing this long term.

Thanks

 

[rwappleton]

Vincent,

We are interested in seeing pictures and info on what products you used. It looks like Panama City will be our long term location so we will be facing the same issues.

It sounds like a good idea to me. Our opinion is you will get a significant reduction in humidity without blocking the vents.

Please keep us posted.

Becky and Russ

 

[bobk]

Just a word of caution. Many US companies had their dehumidifiers made in China by Gree. Gree recently announced a recall of a lot of models due to a fire hazard. Here is a link. Wouldn't want to lose a vintage Hatteras.

http://www.greedehumidifierrecall.com/

 

[eze2bme]

One of the defective dehumidifier units manufactured by Gree was for Danby. According to the Danby site NO units were sold in the US. Here's the link:
https://www.danby.com/en/US/press

 

[eze2bme]

I should also mention that I have a Danby dehumidifier in my boat salon and also in my mountain cabin that does a great job of controlling the humidity. On the boat I have plumbed the unit to drain overboard and the one in the cabin to drain into the AC condensate drain line.

 

[magnawake]

I have a small one I bought a Lowe's that has a bucket to empty. It works great in the winter when we take nice hot showers and steam the place up. Also, I place a large noodle (pool toy) inside my ER vent from the outside and keep the wind out. That also helps. Also keep the neighbors asking questions, whats that for.

 

[bobk]

Keep a check on any of them. I use them in my condo. I burned out three GE and one Danby unit each within their warranty period. In each case, the problem was low Freon and they were not repairable. I'm trying a Frigidaire unit now because it has a five year warranty. Fingers crossed.

Bobk