Gun Safe Humidity

[BigTrucks4Life]

Hey guys I have a question about my safe. I have a liberty lincoln stored inside my home. It is an add on part of the home that has a wall unit to circulate ac. I keep the temperature at 74 degrees. I recently installed a golden rod and have been monitoring the humidity inside the safe. It is staying at about 66% inside the safe which I believe is to high. I have had several weapons show surface rust so I have been keeping them all oiled regularly. What are some options to lower humidity? I live in south ga where it is incredible hot and humid. Thanks

 

[Spats McGee]

I use one of these. In all honesty, I've only had it for a couple of months, but so far, so good.

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

I use one of these. In all honesty, I've only had it for a couple of months, but so far, so good.

thanks, I looked at those before and went with the golden rod instead. In some humid areas do people use both? I believe I might end up trying that.

 

[rcmodel]

You must have something adding extra humidity to the add-on room.
Our uncured concrete, a leak, laundry room, or shower??

Ideal storage conditions is 70 degrees at 50% humidity.

Maybe you should get a dehumidifier for the room if you can't find out where the moisture is coming in from??

rc

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

You must have something adding extra humidity to the add-on room.
Our uncured concrete, a leak, laundry room, or shower??

Ideal storage conditions is 70 degrees at 50% humidity.

Maybe you should get a dehumidifier for the room if you can't find out where the moisture is coming in from??

rc

yes I do. The laundry room was added on to which is the room has all of my reloading gear and safe. I have looked at getting a dehumidifier but the big ones are very expensive. I might end up having to do that though. Thanks for the response.

 

[rcmodel]

I bought one of these years ago for way less then this.

http://www.sears.com/lg-50-pint-deh...W334455110001P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

It works very well for a bedroom and attached hot tub and shower.

The laundry room was added on

Is the dryer vented to outside air??

If it isn't, you are pumping all the heat and moisture out of the clothes dryer back in the room.

BTW: Where are you located??
I don't see a location on your user sig??
Go to 'User Options' and fill it in!

If you were close, I could make you a heck of a deal as I don't use it any longer!!

rc

 

[ColtPythonElite]

A dehumidifier isn't expensive. I have always ran one in my basement. It has all the bad variables...a sump pump, a laundry room, and a wet weather leak or two. A 50 pint dehumidifier keeps my 1000 Sq ft basement 40-45%. I just got a new one. It was about 200 bucks.

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

I bought one of these years ago for way less then this.

http://www.sears.com/lg-50-pint-deh...W334455110001P?prdNo=6&blockNo=6&blockType=G6

It works very well for a bedroom and attached hot tub and shower.

Is the dryer vented to outside air??

If it isn't, you are pumping all the heat and moisture out of the clothes dryer back in the room.

BTW: Where are you located??
I don't see a location on your user sig??
Go to 'User Options' and fill it in!

If you were close, I could make you a heck of a deal as I don't use it any longer!!

rc

yes the dryer is vented outside. I am in south ga in a small town. Where it is one of the most humid places in the country. In august it is regularly around 95% and has reached 100% humidity this month. In fact I checked the weather tomorrow and it is supposed to be 99% humidity. Yea, I have looked at a lot of dehumidifiers. I just do not want to spend a few hundred bucks and it only last a few years. I have read where a lot of them go out after a few years because of compressors or pumps. Thanks for the sears link. I will go check that one out. I also have looked at purchasing the frigidaire fa704dwd.

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

A dehumidifier isn't expensive. I have always ran one in my basement. It has all the bad variables...a sump pump, a laundry room, and a wet weather leak or two. A 50 pint dehumidifier keeps my 1000 Sq ft basement 40-45%. I just got a new one. It was about 200 bucks.

yea you are right, 200 bucks is nothing compared to several thousands in guns. I just am cheap I would rather spend 200 on some ammo! But it is a small penny to pay compared to guns continually rusting. I left one in the case in the safe on accident. I went on a two week vacation and came back and there was surface rust all over. I was so mad I left it the case. Do not leave guns closed up inside of a safe. I always keep mine open unless I forget.

 

[herrwalther]

I use both a Golden rod style and silica gel. It is overkill but works out in the very humid summers. The combination also allows much more time before recharges on the gel. I have seen humidity in my safe as high as 75% before I figured out how to keep it in check, so it is possible without a room dehumidifier.

 

[shootniron]

I live down south, HIGH humidity, and I have my safes inside my house that has central H/AC. I have had them for years and have never used anything to control humidity...never had a problem.

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

I use both a Golden rod style and silica gel. It is overkill but works out in the very humid summers. The combination also allows much more time before recharges on the gel. I have seen humidity in my safe as high as 75% before I figured out how to keep it in check, so it is possible without a room dehumidifier.

thanks herr I will probably try that before I buy a dehumidifier

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

I live down south, HIGH humidity, and I have my safes inside my house that has central H/AC. I have had them for years and have never used anything to control humidity...never had a problem.

Thats great! but that doesnt help or contribute to this post.

 

[shootniron]

Thats great! but that doesnt help or contribute to this post.

Well, pardon me, but I live in South Ga also...perhaps your safe would be better off in another area of your house...that is all that I was saying.

Sorry for not drawing a picture of what I meant, so you could understand it.

Some folks prefer to have guns rust and jump through all kind of hoops to control humidity, rather than simply put their safe in an area that is better suited for it.

Gee whiz

Grouch!

 

[rcmodel]

Guys!

Why can't we all just get along!

Nobody was putting you down Bigtrucks4 life.

Just trying to help you!

Rc

 

[oneounceload]

I am in south ga in a small town. Where it is one of the most humid places in the country. In august it is regularly around 95% and has reached 100% humidity this month. In fact I checked the weather tomorrow and it is supposed to be 99% humidity

And I am in central FL; even hotter and higher humidity. This AM on walk it was 75, humidity was 95%. Mine is under heat and air inside, but I also use a gfolden rod and three large desiccant boxes which I recharge every 6 weeks or so - no issues on anything in the safe.

 

[ku4hx]

Thats great! but that doesnt help or contribute to this post.

Why sure it does. It relates experience that just might be a bit of needed information. I too live in the very sunny and often very humid Southeastern USA. With proper attention to corrosion prevention, I've never had a problem with any of my guns rusting and my experience goes back to 1959.

I do have desiccant packs in my safes, but then I believe in redundancy, defense in depth and preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

 

[GBExpat]

I keep 2 Eva-Drys and a golden-rod-type heater (along with a small fan for air circulation) in each of my gunsafes. I monitor the in-safe environments with ThermoHygrometers.

Years ago, when I realized that my basement had aged enough to start getting a bit humid in the summer, I bought a 70pt Frigidaire dehumidifier (~$200/delivered) that I will usually have to run once a day (until it shuts off, full) during the spring/summer/fall to keep the RH in the basement at ~50-55%.

Since adding the DH to the space, I have found that I rarely have to recharge the Eva-Drys.

Ideally, I like my gunsafe interiors to be a couple/few degrees warmer than the room and no more than ~55%RH.

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

Well, pardon me, but I live in South Ga also...perhaps your safe would be better off in another area of your house...that is all that I was saying.

Sorry for not drawing a picture of what I meant, so you could understand it.

Some folks prefer to have guns rust and jump through all kind of hoops to control humidity, rather than simply put their safe in an area that is better suited for it.

Gee whiz

Grouch!

Yea i agree, I wish I could put in a better room. The room is not the most climate controlled but unfortunately it is the only room I can fit in right now.I apologize for my earlier response.

 

[BigTrucks4Life]

I keep 2 Eva-Drys and a golden-rod-type heater (along with a small fan for air circulation) in each of my gunsafes. I monitor the in-safe environments with ThermoHygrometers.

Years ago, when I realized that my basement had aged enough to start getting a bit humid in the summer, I bought a 70pt Frigidaire dehumidifier (~$200/delivered) that I will usually have to run once a day (until it shuts off, full) during the spring/summer/fall to keep the RH in the basement at ~50-55%.

Since adding the DH to the space, I have found that I rarely have to recharge the Eva-Drys.

Ideally, I like my gunsafe interiors to be a couple/few degrees warmer than the room and no more than ~55%RH.

thanks for the response. I will try some eva dry and then if that does not improve i will invest in a dehumidifier

 

[jlr1962]

I had never noticed any rust of any kind until one day I found some in the chamber of a cherished heirloom ppk. I freaked out. I have multiple silica gel devices now. I have room for one of those passive, flat ones with the plug in-recharge feature. I don't like the idea of a 110 volt heating stick in with my guns.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I'm paranoid and used to leave for months/years on end so needed things to be well protected.

I have dehumidifies in the areas with firearms (run to your sump if you won't be around to empty it), desiccant packs, golden rods and VCI's in the safes. It is redundant but I haven't had any issues over the years and sleep well knowing things are protected.

I like the golden rod and a dehumdifier. The VCI's are nice but have to be replaced every few years. Desiccants are good but have to be recharged and I honestly never know when they are "full" which I don't like.

If I had to do only one thing it would be the golden rod (and the VCI's, said I was paranoid about this )

 

[GBExpat]

One important note ...

By design the goldenrod-type heaters depend upon convection to do their job; they warm the air in the gunsafe which rises and leaks out of the top of the door frame which draws in outside air at the bottom.

In my experience (which may not match that of others), that works fine ... until the air being drawn in from the room is too humid. Keep in mind that heating the air does not remove moisture (like desiccants), it only increases its capacity to hold moisture (why they call it Relative Humidity).

My initial solution to this new, unexpected problem was to seal the gunsafe doors. The result was that, with the "goldenrod", Eva-Drys and circulation fan, the insides of my safes stayed dry (no rust or mold) and a bit warmer than outside so I had no problems when I opened gunsafe door and the outside, humid, air entered (no condensation issues).

Since adding the room dehumidifier to the mix, I could probably unseal the gunsafe doors and not suffer a re-occurrence of the gunsafe-interior humidity problems ... but currently my system "ain't broke", so ...

IMO, that is, pretty much, all that one needs to know, but a DewPoint aficionado may wander by and explain it from a slightly different perspective.

HTH!

 

[btg3]

Golden Rod can make things worse if you do not provide for the air flow/venting/circulation as described for in the installation instructions -- think sauna. If you understand the operating principle, you can better assure success with its use. May also help to know the difference between humidity and dew point.

 

[GBExpat]

The explanation of "How GunSaver Works" on the card with the Installation Instructions that came with the GoldenRod GunSaver (model GS-18) that I bought as a backup are inaccurate and a bit silly.

"GunSaver heats to a surface temperature of less than 130° F (which is almost too warm to hold) and circulates warm, dry air throughout an enclosure on a 24 hour basis. This increases the air inside to several degrees above the ambient outside temperature. Expansion of the heated air forces the moist air outside through the vents or the loose fitting doors leaving the dry air inside."

The Installation Instructions are simple and straightforward:

"GunSaver must be mounted horizontally at the bottom of an enclosure to work effectively. Simply attach the universal brackets using the enclosed screws and snap the GunSaver in place."

Elegantly simple.

Perhaps they have changed the instructions on the card since I bought mine. If the attorneys got ahold of it, it could now go on for pages instead of 2 sentences.

Golden Rod can make things worse if you do not provide for the air flow/venting/circulation as described for in the installation instructions -- think sauna.

For reference, the doors on my gunsafes (Ft.Knox Defender 6637) have been sealed for several (6-7?) years and the 18" heaters ("Eliminator by Rantec" ... measures ~127° in the center and ~15° less at the ends) installed never make the temperature inside more than a couple/few degrees higher than the outside room temperature. There have times when one may have not been opened for months ... and the temp has always been right where I expected it to be. In addition I have one small desk fan in each, constantly running, that also add to the heat in the space.

Before I sealed the gunsafe door, same thing ... always a couple/few degrees warmer and the temp always paralleled that of the room.

BTW, goldenrod at the bottom & ThermoHygrometer on the top shelf.


EDIT:
Again, for reference ... when I was downstairs in the gunsafes the room temp was 75.7° while inside it was reading 78°.