Hi all,
Trying to air condition and dehumidify a 12 x 12 tack room located along the Gulf Coast. I have an 8000 btu portable air conditioner that is supposed to be able to remove 48 pints per day of water, it has a hose which drains outside. It is cooling the room OK but not controlling the moisture. I have a dehumidifier that I turned on also, I am emptying the 2 gal bucket twice a day. And I’m still getting moldy tack. What else can I do? Room has concrete floor and is insulated, no windows. Door seals OK, could be better. We don’t go in and out a lot. Help!
Move? :lol: Seriously, that’s insane you still have that much moisture! I have a similar size tack room and it stays dry with just the A/C running, and I’m in the humid Midwest.
Can you try a bigger dehumidifier? Or for a cheaper solution you could hang a few of those damp-rid bags up around the room. Plus, they smell nice 
As for the tack, my friend swears by this specific cleaner that deters mold…I’ll ask her for the name. If nothing else, you can keep your tack from getting moldy.
I live on the Gulf Coast as well and I dont have AC. But my tack area has great air-flow so my tack stays pretty ok
Concrete will absorb moisture, It is important that the run off from roof drains away from slab.
I have an 8x12 tack room and a mini split AC unit that does a great job in Central Florida. The mini split unit is a bit more of a financial investment but I’d definitely recommend saving up for it and having one installed!
1 Like
I also have a mini split but run a dehumidifier as well and yes I’m emptying it once a day. It’s really humid. I put the dehumidifier near the tack, so far haven’t had issues.
1 Like
Any fans to keep air moving?
Can you run a hose from the dehumidifier to a drain, so you don’t have to keep emptying the collection tank? Home Depot has carried models that has a fitting for a hose.
The other piece that can help is an ozonator: an ozone generator. I’ve mentioned them before in other threads. People who live on boats use them to prevent mildew/mold, and to wipe out any pests like roaches and bugs. We have used one in Florida for years, to eliminate musty smells, mold and that “closed up house” smell. Everything smells so fresh after using it.
Example: http://www.odorfreemachines.com
It sounds like the air conditioner us cooling faster than it can dehumidify. A smaller unit may be needed.
[QUOTE=Pecos;8808191]
It sounds like the air conditioner us cooling faster than it can dehumidify. A smaller unit may be needed.[/QUOTE]
Good point. We’re building a small office/lounge/tack room inside a horse barn, and originally had a 2-ton AC unit spec’ed. When it came time to install it, the AC guy actually suggested dropping to a 1.5 ton unit, as he felt 2 tons was too big, and wouldn’t run enough to keep the humidity down.
Try a smaller portable ac running longer and see how it works.
Eva-Dry makes eco friendly alternatives to calcium chloride products that are safe to have around your animals and there is no risk of leaks or spills (E333 & E500). Also several different sizes and technologies in conventional dehumidifiers (EDV1100, EDV2200, EDV4000)
