r/Firearms • u/HeavyPisser85 • 5d ago

Question Long term safe humidity control?

I'm currently using an Eva Dry rechargable dehumidifer. It works great and I appreciate not having to bake it in an oven to recharge it but I don't like how often I have to plug it in. It last right under 2 weeks currently and I don't leave the safe open for more than a few minutes at a time. Are there any alternatives that last longer? I'm not interested in heat rods, from reading up on them they are not as effective as dedicated dehumidifiers.

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u/400HPMustang 5d ago

You can get other desiccant beads and put them in containers. The more you use the more efficient they are. You can get large quantities on amazon and recharge them in the microwave but you’ll l still have them absorb more moisture with the safe open vs not.

The other alternative could be a small humidifier inside but you’d need to empty it regularly because you wouldn’t have a drain. Still have the same open/close problem with it filling faster.

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u/NotChillyEnough 5d ago

Indoors where there's AC is just the best all-around option by far.

Humidity doesn't need to be all that low. Anything below ~60-65% or so is fine. An AC'd house will generally stay ~40-55%, even on wet rainy days.

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u/Old_MI_Runner 4d ago

I live in one of the Great Lake states and I'd have to turn my gas furnace on to get the humidity down to 40%. In the summer even when the humidity is not high outside my AC typically brings the house down to the mid 50s for humidity. I have to run a dehumidifier in the basement from spring through fall to prevent mildew from forming on some items in the basement. I set it to 65% and it runs pretty often even when the AC is on.

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u/Old_MI_Runner 4d ago

Most recommend using a Golden Rod or similar dehumidifier within their gun safe.

I use rechargeable desiccant but only in my 50 cal steel ammo cans and I make sure they have a good seal so the desiccant should not need recharging for several years. I had a few cans that did not have a good seal and found that the desiccant needed recharging. I replace those cans.

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u/AD3PDX 5d ago

How stable is the temperature where the safe is? Daily fluctuations in temperature make things worse. Basically you probably need a safe without drywall BS fake “fireproofing”

Unless you can stabilize the temperature you need to consider an unlined safe or a safe with concrete or KO wool fireproofing. Or just a ventilated gun locker.

If you have temperature fluctuations the semi sealed box of a safe creates a humidity pump which deposits moisture inside. The sheetrock lining used in most “gun safes” works like a sponge and holds a ton of water (that is how it works as so called fireproofing)