If your hobby is collecting guns or hunting, you need a gun safe to store your firearms. And the problem we get from hobbyists is that they want to know what to put in a gun safe to keep moisture out.
Sadly, most hunting areas are often in places with high humidity. And if the moisture level is too high or too low, your guns will malfunction or quickly get damaged.
As per the National Rifle Association (NRA), the recommended humidity level for a gun safe is 30% to 50%. And a room temperature level of 70 degrees.
But what can you put in a gun safe to keep moisture out? There are many ways to do so, such as:
- Gun safe dehumidifiers
- Non-porous materials like plastics or metal.
- Dryer Sheets or other absorbent material.
- Cotton balls, cloth, or paper towels.
We’ll go into more detail below.
How Does Moisture Develop in a Gun Safe?
The truth is Moisture is everywhere. It is not something our normal eyes can see. And storage places are not an excuse for that, no matter how tightly sealed they look.
The downside is when humidity develops in a closed space; it turns into mold. That is why the metal parts of the gun start to rust. This is very dangerous because the gun barrels might get stuck, which could then destroy the firearm.
What happens to the gun if the Moisture is below the recommended humidity level? Fungi and other bacteria will start to form in the safe. (1)
That is why the NRA concluded the safest humidity level for a gun safe is 30% to 50% at a room temperature level of 70 degrees. (2)
What to Use to Keep Moisture Out of Gun Safe?
Using a dehumidifier tends to be the best method to keep the Moisture and dampness out of a gun safe. But do gun-safe dehumidifiers work? Its role is to extract water from the air, prevent metal corrosion, and reduce and maintain humidity.
If you ask a professional, the recommendation is; a desiccant, dehumidifier rod, or mini dehumidifier. However, you can use do-it-yourself (DIY) options to keep Moisture out of the safe.
1) A gun-safe dehumidifier
A gun-safe dehumidifier is a device that removes moisture from the air. It is used to prevent rust and corrosion in the metal parts of a gun safe.
A gun safe dehumidifier is usually plugged into an outlet with a tube that extends into the safe. The tube has openings on both ends to allow airflow. When the dehumidifier runs, it pulls moisture out of the air and evaporates it outside the safe.
There are many different types of unsafe dehumidifiers.
Types of gun-safe dehumidifiers (One of the most common models comes in the shape of a rod):
- Air Dehumidifiers
- Refrigerant Dehumidifiers
- Dry Peltier Dehumidifiers
2) Use a sealant to prevent Moisture
Another way to keep your safe dry is to seal any small holes or leaks in the safe. It is best to seal up such gaps, so Moisture cannot penetrate. Since doors are the most vulnerable to leakage, the safe’s door is the most familiar portion sealed up with sealants.
Sealants such as silicon, caulking, and foam are used to close the leak and other interior parts with minor holes.
3) Use under-mat rubbers and epoxy
Place a rubber mat under the safe before bolting it down. Seal your rubber mat with epoxy and place it on the ground before mounting the safe. Rubber mats help to reduce the amount of Moisture that reaches the safe in this manner.
How to Secure a Gun safe on the Ground to Minimize Moisture?
Another factor to remember when purchasing a gun safe is where you will place it. Choosing the perfect room with enough level of Moisture is problematic. The safe’s position could affect the humidity it receives inside.
The standard choice for safe gun safe support is concrete flooring. Concrete floors are strong; they can withstand the extreme weight of heavy gun safes.
However, concrete or stone flooring produces Moisture. If your gun safe directly lies on the flooring with no additional protective layers, the steel rots up over time, and the metal corrodes. Additionally, the rotten parts unnoticeably eat up a more significant portion of the metal safe, which will become a huge problem.
Another consideration is that if the gun safe is placed improperly, it can cause damage to both the floor and the safe. A gun safe pinned to an unpaved surface could jeopardize the safe’s placement. It lacks ground support, resulting in a power imbalance.
It would help if you also placed your safe on a comparatively solid and flat surface to maintain weight control.
If you want to elevate the safe slightly, you will want to build steel or concrete flooring anchors Just a few inches off the ground and makes it durable with solid support so that it can withstand the weight of your gun safely. The high gun safe also eliminates the possibility of Moisture accumulating from the bottom part of the gun safe.
Wrapping Up
A dehumidifier is needed to keep the Moisture out of a gun safe. An alternative method is putting a desiccant. However, if you are on a budget, you may try the easy DIY options we suggested here.
We love your thoughts about this post by leaving a comment below. Suggestions and recommendations are very much welcome.
You may also want to check this learning guide on running a power cord to a gun-safe dehumidifier. Until the next article!
References
(1) Fungi and other bacteria – https://askabiologist.asu.edu/explore/puzzling-pathogens
(2) NRA – https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-35261394
