Dealing with humidity

[Dr. John]

For those of us who live in humid areas and have our layouts in non-airconditioned spaces, humidity can be a problem! Track and exposed wire can rust as can metal or tin-plate buildings. Mildew and mold can form on plastic structures and simple tasks such as securing ballast or painting can take longer. What are the solutions?

Buy a de-humidifier - effective but pricey

Install air conditioning - see above

Move to Arizona - again, effective but still pricey and not always practical

I think I may have a cheaper solution. There is a product on the market called "Damp-Rid". It comes in small plastic containers and is CHEAP! I place an old cotton sheet over the layout and place a couple of containers under the sheet at either end of the layout. (This was on a 5x9 garage layout I once had).
The sheet allows moisture to escape and prevents dust and bugs from taking up residence. The Damp-Rid traps moisture in the vicinity of the layout. I noticed that I did not have to clean the track as often and my rust and mildew problems ended. During the summer, a container lasts about 6 weeks before needing to be replaced. This may vary with weather conditions. Since my new layout will be in an un airconditioned workshop, I will try Damp-Rid again.

[macdannyk1]

Gee, I thought that's what you did with all those little packets that come with your trains, just spread them around the room for humidity control. :) Humidity isn't too much of a problem here in the Fremont area. I'll be installing an A/C unit in my new shed which will house my layout. Thanks for the info.

[wrmcclellan]

Dr. John,

Did you ever try drying the containers out to see if they work a second time.

You can do this with the moisture absorbant that comes in those little packets by heating them up for a while.

Regards,
Roy

[Dr. John]

Roy,

No I haven't. Can't hurt to try! I imagine DampRid is the same stuff that comes in the packets, just on a larger scale.

[cnw1995]

Wow. neat stuff - it sounds like those little packets of unknown crystals I would find inside a new shoe. Fortunately, our basement - and the house in general is pretty dry. We run humidifers in the children's rooms during the winter.

[Roger Bielen]

If the Damp Rid is silaca gel it can be reactivated by heating, low heat in the oven to drive off the moisture. For that matter if you can get silica gel, (the stuff in the packets is sil. gel), you can use it. There is also silica gel with an indicator that is blue when dry and pink when saturated.

I don't know where it can be found I used to get it from an induatrial supplier in my other life. You can try W.W.Grainger, look under desicants.

[Anonymous]

The only real effective way to reduce humidity in your space is with a dehumidifier.
Most folks go wrong and buy the largest dehumidifier they can find. Figure your room size and buy one the right size or slightly undersized for your size room or space. Never buy oversized.

Buy a digital humidity gauge and keep the humidity in your space slightly below 60-percent. If you don't have a gauge, then simply set your dehumidifier to the max dry position and let it run for 24 hours. Then move the switch to counter clockwise until the unit cycles off. Leave it at that position and you'll be at the ideal condition for your space. Always be sure to keep your doors and windows closed.

BillFromWayne

[selector]

I agree with BillFromWayne, and the one-size-too-small thing goes for wood stoves, too.

Your dehumidifier works most efficiently if it runs constantly (cycling on and of takes lots of power and increases wear on the compressor). Wood stoves, if off topic, work best and more cleanly if, like diesels, they are given lots of fuel and air. My dad always said to get a small stove and run it red hot.

My layout is only six weeks young, so it has not been around in our basement long enough to show signs of deterioration due to humidity. However, one day the flex-track over my bridge had flexed (it was supposed to be straight!!) and deviated tightly to the side of the bridge deck kerb. I instantly guessed the problem, bought an auto-defrost dehumidifier, and have not looked back. I, too, keep the basement around 55-60%.

[laz 57]

I run a dehumidifier from May till November in the basement and don't have any problems with moisture.
laz57

[underworld]

I don't know if Damp Rid is silica gel but it probably is. Silica gel can be obtained quite cheaply from chemical supply houses......usually a few dollars per pound.

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]