Gun safe humidity is unfortunately one of the problems associated with safe storage of your guns. Whether you own guns now or plan to get a few in future, you will likely have to invest in a safe to prevent unauthorized access.

Once firearms are placed inside a safe and locked, excessive humidity begins to kicks in. Failure to sort out the problem quickly can lead to rust, corrosion, and mildew on your guns.

Humidity is usually a big problem in all kinds of security safes, not just those designed for firearm storage.

Optimum Humidity and Temperature Levels For A Gun Safe

How do you control humidity when you don’t even know the right temperature and humidity level to shoot for?

The truth is there’s no perfect number to look for when it comes to the amount of moisture in a safe.

In most cases, where you live and which part of your home the safe is mounted come into play in determining how much humidity is attracted.

However, 50 percentRelative Humidity all year round has been found to be a decent number to try to achieve.

How about temperature? What numbers should you aim for? Well, 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year is a decent number to target.

What Causes Humidity in Gun Safes?

There are several reasons why a safe may be experiencing unhealthy levels of humidity. Knowing the reasons behind can only be an advantage in your battle to keep your personal effects in perfect condition.

Continuous Drops and Spikes in Temperature

Most gun owners mount their safes in non-climate controlled areas such as garages, basements, or sheds. During day and night, room temperatures go up and down so much that condensation and evaporation occurs on consistent basis.

Moist Fireboards Integrated into Fireproof Firearm Safes

Excessive gun safe humidity can be caused by the type of material used in the manufacture of the safe. Some security safes are designed with wall-boards which are intentionally filled with moisture to ensure insulation when there’s a fire.

True, safes that integrate fireboards may provide world-class fire protection for guns.

However, the presence of these fireboards means that humidity will always be an issue in the safe. This is why you need to find a way to battle it as efficiently as possible.

Tropical Climate

Tropical climates experience significant amounts of humidity compared to other areas. If you live in a tropical area, keeping humidity out of your safe will be even more difficult.

Moisture-Prone Home Walls

The nature of the build of your home can increase the levels of humidity in gun safes. Some homes are constructed to allow lots of moisture in.

If you live in one of those then you have got real work on your hands to minimize humidity.

What are the Disadvantages of Humidity in Your Safe

Why do so many gun owners freak out over humidity levels inside their safes when this is a natural phenomenon? Well, unless don’t give a crap about the state of your guns, you have to fight humidity with everything you have.

Rust, Corrosion, and Mildew

First of all, humidity and condensation has always been associated with rust and corrosion in the metallic parts of guns. The steel and wooden components can also be prone to mildew and corrosion.

This causes your guns to suffer physically and lose their monetary value. Many of us purchase rifles, pistols, and shotguns as a form of investment that we can cash in.

Firearms that lose their physical qualities through rust and corrosion suffer serious dents in monetary value.

Would you want to get only a small fraction of the cost of your gun when the time comes to sell?

Misfiring Guns

Firearms are built to be fired but they can only do so when they are kept in tip top condition.

When properly maintained, there’s no reason why your firearms shouldn’t be firing 100 percent 50 years from now.

However, failure to incorporate the best gun safe humidity control practices can lead to misfiring firearms. Whether your pistols or rifles are for hunting or your personal protection, you need to hit the target every time.

As long as you eliminate excess moisture from your safe, clean, and oil it regularly, you can expect it to stay in top shape for a lifetime.

How to Minimize Gun safe Humidity Levels

Eliminating humidity completely from your handgun or rifle safe may be impossible so there’s no point trying.

Fortunately, there are several tried and tested ways that can be used to remove excess moisture from your security safe.

Such methods ensure healthy gun safe humidity levels with minimal effect on the physical and operational areas of your guns.

GoldenRod Gun Safe Heaters

GoldenRod heaters are a great way to keep excess moisture out of your security safe so your guns stay dry. These rods are an innovative and effective way to battle humidity and been making huge waves in the market within the last 10 years.

Once mounted inside your safe, these heaters work to raise the room temperature by expanding the cold air and forcing lots of it to evaporate.

Even when the safe is opened, the level of moisture that condenses on your firearms is minimal at best. This is because the temperature on the guns is already higher than the cold air circulating in from outside.

Gun owners serious about keeping their guns dry swear by the magical effects of this technology.

Silica Gel Dehumidifiers

Silica gel dehumidifiers are another popular option used by gun owners for gun safe humidity control.

They feature silica gel beads which absorb and hold the moisture in your safe. Unlike other types of dehumidifiers, these models don’t eliminate moisture through evaporation.

They simply absorb and hold it so your valuable guns are moisture-free.

The only drawback is that there’s a limit to the amount of moisture silica gels can hold.

It is important to recharge or replace them when they reach their limit. Some of the best brands on the market give you an indication when it reaches its absorption limit.

Each brand comes with specific instructions to recharge. Some may require you to plug it into an electrical outlet. Other models can only be recharged by placing it inside a heated oven.

Recharging simply empties the moisture from the silica beads so they are ready to go again. If you want to see our top picks for the best gun safe dehumidifiers then you need to check out this article.

Dryer Style Dehumidifiers

Dryer style dehumidifiers can also help you control moisture in rifle and handgun safes of varying sizes. These models operate by blowing hot air into every corner of your safe in order to counter moisture and keep the safe dry.

Consistent warm air causes the cold air to expand so minimum condensation occurs on your guns. Many gun owners have reported awesome results from this type of dehumidifiers.

We reviewed the best gun safe dryers & heaters – check it out.

Gun Safe Humidity Monitor

Finding the best gun safe humidity monitor is absolutely critical in your fight against excess moisture.

In fact, it is one of the best accessories that accurately informs on the exact amount of moisture your guns are exposed to.

Failure to install a humidity monitor in your safe means you are practically going to war blind and defeat is inevitable.

Conclusion

Employing advanced gun safe humidity control tactics is one of the smartest decisions you can make after purchasing a gun safe. Remember, cash, jewelry, and other valuables suffer enormous damage when exposed to excess moisture.

Find the right humidity-battling option today coupled with an effective gun safe humidity monitor today so you can always keep your guns in mint condition.