Humidity in Gun Safe

[Milo]

What do members do to control the humidity in your Gun Safes ?

 

[snapping turtle]

Golden rod heater.

Used to use giant desiccant bags.

Normally a well regulated AC and heated home has little issues. Now when my wife puts the water on the stove all day long and I walk in with the windows all fogged on the inside I explain how this is not going to happen.

 

[TJ Kackowski]

Start by controlling the humidity/environment of the space where the safe is located. If you still want more a golden rod provides the easiest solution. If you like to bake things on a regular basis, then silicone desiccant packs work well also.

However, start with the room and monitor the safe with a humidity meter before trying the other methods.

 

[Milo]

Thanks for the replies.
Presently the safe is in a finished basement.
It is in a closed room that has a HVAC register in the dropped ceiling
The house has central AC.
I have a dehumidifier in the basement set at 50%
Do you think this is acceptable ?

 

[IUKalash429]

Thanks for the replies.
Presently the safe is in a finished basement.
It is in a closed room that has a HVAC register in the dropped ceiling
The house has central AC.
I have a dehumidifier in the basement set at 50%
Do you think this is acceptable ?

That should be fine. My setup is pretty much the same, and I've had no issues with humidity. I always hang a Damp-Rid pack in the room as well, as an extra level of notification. And you can't go wrong with a few palm-sized packs of desiccant in the safe as an added precaution. They are super cheap on Amazon and eBay.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

I use a Hornady moisture absorbing canister. 35 bucks at TSC. When it has absorbed its limits the stuff inside turns purple I think. Its never happened but if when it does you bake it in the oven and that recharges it. Seems to work. Haven't had any rust issues. Probably just a desiccant pack inside but it is reusable and looks nicer sitting there than a desiccant bag.

 

[armalitesheepdog]

Canister Dehumidifier - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc.

Protect your valuables against rust and corrosion. When the moisture control crystals turn pink, recharge unit by placing it in the oven. Unlimited recharges ensure a lifetime of use.

www.hornadysecurity.com

 

[PRasko]

I use these
https://www.eva-dry.com/product/eva-dry-air-dry-system-bundle/ these I recharge about every 3 months in summer. 2 of them these only take an hour to recharge. Which is nice compared to other products.

EDV-1100 Petite Dehumidifier | Eva-Dry Moisture's Natural Enemy

Eva-Dry 1100 portable is an electric, petite dehumidifier. Ideal as a 1 room dehumidifier, and gun-safe dehumidifier.

www.eva-dry.com

This I empty every other month but it never gets full. It also puts off a decent amount of heat so it's always 10-15f over ambient inside my safe. And it keeps air moving inside the safe.

The humidity in it never goes over 34%.

 

[BrassBandit]

Thanks for the replies.
Presently the safe is in a finished basement.
It is in a closed room that has a HVAC register in the dropped ceiling
The house has central AC.
I have a dehumidifier in the basement set at 50%
Do you think this is acceptable ?

50% is absolutely fine. If it gets around 60% I’d maybe want to do something. Get one of those cheap temp/humidity gauges and stick in the safe and check it periodically, but I honestly wouldn’t worry too much if you have a dehumidifier in your basement.

 

[Farmerjon]

I have mine on a heated slab (hot water heat), no problems. I put a piece of clean metal in mine years ago and if that started to rust I figured I would do something, still new looking and no rust so not worried about the guns.

 

[Creedmoor]

For 25-45 bucks you can buy a Goldenrod that plugs in and will take care of excess humidity in your safe. Just order the correct size, I usually order them off Amazon.
You want the inside if the vault warmer than the outside of it. The moisture migrates to the outside of the vault.
Get one by Goldenrod. Money well spent.

 

[Bombryder]

I'd buy the biggest golden rod you can fit, the reusable desiccant tubs, and maybe a temp/humidity monitor. I've got a 3 sensor one that can send me notifications when the humidity is over 60% in my safes (means it is time to refresh the dessicants). Have one in each safe and one out of the safes in the same room as a control. Its a little overboard but hey I'm just trying to protect my stuff.

 

[Mij]

Just what I do, I put a clean tin can full of small bags of -do not eat- that I get for free, in the dark place, they come in about every piece of junk my wife orders off the www. Once a year thereabouts I nuke’em in the microwave for a minute and they’re good for another year. That’s just my way, ymmv. Good luck with whatever way you choose.

 

[JTClark]

Thanks for the replies.
Presently the safe is in a finished basement.
It is in a closed room that has a HVAC register in the dropped ceiling
The house has central AC.
I have a dehumidifier in the basement set at 50%
Do you think this is acceptable ?

Yes

 

[indyblue]

I have a desiccant that just plugs into a wall outlet to recharge when the crystals turn pink. Works well.

 

[2A-Hoosier23]

Amazon product ASIN B086PC5962
Amazon product ASIN B01H1R0K68
These work pretty good to measure humidity. I have 4 total and they all read almost the same, about 1 degree Fahrenheit/ 1% humidity difference max

 

[DadSmith]

What do members do to control the humidity in your Gun Safes ?

Dollar Tree has these I switch out once they get full. They keep the moisture away. Just check it once a month. I've not had any problems and I've used them for several years. I also use them in my ammunition containers.

$1.25 each.

 

[Hardscrable]

I have a desiccant that just plugs into a wall outlet to recharge when the crystals turn pink. Works well.

I have one of these in the safe. Safe is in climate controlled area ( heat, a/c ) with dehumidifier set at 50%.

 

[Pepi]

These work great BUT you have a bit of maintenance with it.

https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/photo/92939589.cms

 

[Creedmoor]

The correct size Golden Rod has zero maintenance.
Zero.