Gun safe can be the perfect way to protect your firearms and other valuables from being stolen. This secure product gives you the kind of peace of mind that lets you know that once you have locked your pistols and rifles behind the locked door, you can have confidence that no one is gaining access to them.
However, thieves are not the only thing you have to be concerned about when dealing with your firearms. Damage that occurs due to humidity and condensation can cause damage to your firearms such as rust and corrosion, and ruin your digital media, documents, or other valuables. This is why you need to know how to Keep Moisture Out of Your Gun Safe and take the proper steps to do so.
Why You Need Protection from Moisture?
What many people don’t realize is that your firearms are far more likely to be damaged due to rust or corrosion caused by excessive humidity that they are in being stolen. Your safe does a great job in protecting your valuables, but you will need to take additional steps to keep condensation from building up inside your safe.
What Causes Moisture?
To defeat moisture build up inside your safe is important for you to understand what it is that will cause the humidity.There are some homes that are more likely to have higher levels of humidity, primarily because of the climate of that area. Places where it rains often are such an example, but dramatic temperature changes can also cause this, where it snows and is extremely cold in the winter, but will get hot during the summer.
The location in your home may also cause moisture to build up. If you are storing your safe any basement area where humidity is already a factor, you can be sure that it is going to cause condensation to build up inside your safe. Consider that your safe is made of metal. This means that when temperatures rise around it, it causes dew to build up inside the safe as the cooler temperatures of the inside meet the warmer temperatures of the exterior of the safe. You have to make sure that you maintain a proper temperature inside your safe so that condensation cannot become an issue.
#1 Gun Safe Dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is the number one way for you to stop moisture from building up inside your safe. There are several different products that you can purchase which are specifically designed for use inside a safe. You are able to set the temperature and humidity level so that it does not matter where the safe is located, you can be sure that you will not have issues with excessive moisture.
Of course, these dehumidifiers require a source of power to be able to operate. If you do not have a power strip inside your safe, it will require you to either purchase a dehumidifier that can control the moisture level around your safe or for you to drill a hole through the safe to be able to run a cord for your product. The latter option may reduce the fire protection your safe offers, which may make the dehumidifier a last option.
#2 Silica Packs
If you have ever purchased clothing or other items that needed to be kept dry during shipping, then you have likely seen this product before. The silica packs are often found in shoeboxes, beef jerky, the pockets of clothing, and many other similar items.
The gel inside these packets helps to absorb moisture to keep your clothing or food humidity free. The same method he uses to control moisture in these items is how it would work inside your safe. All you need to do is place the packet inside your safe and replace it on a regular basis.
For a person who regularly enters their safe this is the ideal option. However, you may find that if you live in an area where humidity levels are high that you are forced to replace these packets on a weekly basis, maybe even every three or four days. The design and construction of some safes make them more prone for condensation buildup, which will also increase your need to replace the packets on a regular basis.
#3 Making Your Safe a Safer Location
Of course, there are things that you can do to help reduce the amount of moisture in your safe. You may be able to eliminate altogether without ever having to use a dehumidifier or silica pack. This includes:
- Location. The location in your home can play a central role in the amount of humidity built up inside your safe. If you placed the safe in damp cool areas, like a basement or seller, you can be sure that you are going to have an issue with moisture. This is true if you put the safe inside a floor. While this added security is beneficial, having your weapons damaged through rust and corrosion reduces its benefits.
- Thermostat. You have a great deal of control over the level of humidity in your home, simply by adjusting thermostat. Many air-conditioning units even come with a humidity control even if you don’t have that, you can still help to reduce the amount of moisture by keeping the temperature in your home at about 70°.
- Keep the Door Open. When you are in the room where your safe is located, consider leaving the door open for the duration of time you spend in there. This will help the safe to acclimate to the room temperature so that moisture is reduced. You may consider giving it will wipe down inside to help eliminate any condensation that is already present.
You know that you want to protect your firearms, and that can be done by taking a few simple steps to reduce moisture from building up inside your safe. This is not only a practical thing to do, but is a cost-saving one. The last thing you want is to be having to purchase new firearms on a regular basis because they have become damaged because of the moisture.
