when to use a dehumidifier?

I have a walk out basement split down the long way with a cement block wall and a walk thru door. One half is a garage more or less and the other half is the basement with my propane furnace, electric water heater, and a toilet at one end and the other end has a household pressure tank and a stair way going upstairs. It is very sandy soil and typically dry except during the summer months, my cold water pipes will get condensation and the pressure holding tank also gets condensation on it. This causes rust on my shop tools that I keep in this side of the basement. The average winter temp is 52-55 degrees in the basement. It gets a hot as 68 degrees if I remember right during the summer months. Do I need a dehumidifier? This side of my basement is approx. 500 sq. ft. If I do need a dehumidifier, what size? etc. I know nothing about this. Thanks all!

 

Yes i would suggest a dehumidifer..i would go with one that is rated as a low temp..some dehumidifers are worthless below 60...a low temp one will run as low as in the 30s to help draw out the moisture...i would also suggest getting a small heater to run just to keep the air temp up a little bit

sounds like the air temp is getting lower than the dew point in the area helping to draw out the moisture better...