What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need For My Gun Safe?
You’ve purchased a gun safe that’s perfect for you. You couldn’t have asked for a better size and quality. This purchase gives you peace of mind since you know your firearms will be protected.
Your gun safe is starting to experience some humidity, and you are becoming concerned. There is no doubt that dehumidifiers are the best solution for any kind of humidity in a gun safe.
How big should my gun safe’s dehumidifier be? Is it important to have a dehumidifier of a particular size? It’s a question almost all gun owners have wondered.
You can definitely install an electric dehumidifier for your gun safe, especially if you need it to remove moisture from the air. Using the wrong size dehumidifier could potentially ruin your gun if there is too much humidity inside.
Before you buy a dehumidifier for your gun safe, you should know what size is required. Therefore, we have compiled this guide to help you determine the appropriate size of your dehumidifier.
So, what size dehumidifier do I need for my gun safe? A dehumidifier comes in a variety of sizes, so check the instructions for your gun safe to find out which one you need.
Is a Dehumidifier Necessary in a Gun Safe?
What is the humidity like where you live? How often do you use your gun safe? Where do you keep your gun safe? Dehumidifiers might not be necessary if you live in a dry climate, such as the desert or somewhere equally arid, although you want to ensure your gun safe doesn’t get too dry.
However, if you live in a humid climate, either because you often have rain or because humidity levels are constantly changing, then a dehumidifier can be helpful. Dehumidifiers keep the air at a safe level of moisture even when the conditions outside aren’t conducive to it.
A dehumidifying unit is necessary for your gun safe. The most effective gun safe can withstand high temperatures and force, however, it cannot keep your firearms dry if you do not use a dehumidifier. Getting a great fireproof safe is a fantastic way to help alleviate these issues.
Wood and metallic components of your gun can rust and corrode as the environment becomes more humid, resulting in mildew and rust.
How Does It Work?
Dehumidifiers provide your gun with adequate protection against the long-term threats of moisture. Monitoring the humidity inside your safe is imperative to prevent the integrity of your guns and ammunition from being damaged.
Dehumidifiers should be selected according to the size of your safe. An incorrect size could lead to excessive humidity building up inside the safe, which can then condense to form water droplets.
A gun can be corroded or rusted by this vapor or droplet. Corrosion affects guns by causing corrosion, pitting, inaccurate fire, jamming, and misfiring.
The gun safe does not have to be dehumidified if you use it often, which here means once a week or so. Your gun safe doesn’t circulate air in a constant manner if you don’t use it frequently.
You will need a dehumidifier to maintain a constant airflow when the air is still. It is important to choose a safe place for your guns. You should not only place this along an interior wall but also in a temperature-controlled room so that it will stay dry.
What Size Dehumidifier Do I Need For My Gun Safe?
Depending on the type of dehumidifier you pick, you will need a different size of dehumidifier for your gun safe. Dehumidifiers for gun safes come in two types.
1. Electric Dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers using electric power are more effective than those using desiccant. In order to connect with the power outlet, the safe must be drilled a hole in the wall and the wire must be run through the hole.
A person who does not want to create a hole in the wall of the safe can opt for desiccant. Your gun safe’s size will determine how big you need your dehumidifier to be. As the size of the area increases, the dehumidifier must be more powerful.
A dehumidifier that uses electricity usually lasts longer and is more efficient than a dehumidifier that uses desiccant. This dehumidifier needs enough power to run effectively, so there are two choices for you.
An external power source can be connected to your safe wall using a hole you can drill. You can purchase a small battery pack to use with your safe. Since the batteries will have to be replaced on a regular basis, this could become very expensive over time.
Advantages Of Electric Dehumidifiers
The electricity in an electric dehumidifier heats the air around it, forcing water from a safe through the safe’s ventilation.
Most gun safe owners prefer electric dehumidifiers, as they remove larger amounts of moisture than desiccant dehumidifiers, as well as moisture that the desiccant dehumidifier would miss.
Disadvantages Of Electric Dehumidifiers
Electric dehumidifiers have the one real disadvantage that they require two kinds of power in order to function.
It is possible to purchase a smaller battery pack, however, it would require periodic replacement and could be costly.
The second option is to drill a hole in the wall of your safe so that the dehumidifier’s power cord can be connected to a power source outside your safe.
2. Desiccant Dehumidifier
To reduce condensation inside the gun safe, we recommend using a desiccant dehumidifier. Considering its ease of use and that there’s no need to drill a hole into the wall of the safe, it’s very popular.
Among desiccant dehumidifiers, there are different varieties like the Eva dry E-333, the Damp Rid moisture absorber, and the Dry Pack Silica gel canister. Dehumidifiers use desiccant gel to reduce moisture, condensation, and water vapor up to a certain point after they have been recharged.
We recommend recharging it every 3 to 4 weeks. Size doesn’t matter when it comes to desiccant dehumidifiers. What is more important here is the capacity.
For larger gun safes, a high-capacity desiccant dehumidifier would be the ideal solution. The new and improved Eva-dry E-333 dehumidifier can cover 333 cubic feet of space, which is impressive.
On the other hand, electric dehumidifiers have the ability to reduce excess mold and mildew inside the gun safe in case you’re expecting better results.
Advantages Of Desiccant Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers are very useful for protecting firearms and valuables from rust when used inside a gun safe. It is designed to keep the interior of the safe at constant humidity.
The dehumidifiers that use desiccants are usually more affordable than those that use electricity. Since no hole needs to be drilled in the wall of the safe, the installation process is simpler.
Disadvantages Of Desiccant Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers containing desiccant are not durable and are not a good option for people seeking long-term solutions. They do not soak up all the moisture. There is still a chance that your gun will be exposed to some level of humidity due to this flaw.
How To Measure Cubic Feet?
In general, a 12-inch-long electric dehumidifier will cover 100 cubic feet. 24-inch dehumidifiers will cover a safe of 300 cubic feet.
You can calculate the size of an electric dehumidifier by estimating your measurements around these figures. If you choose the desiccant dehumidifier, you should consider its capacity instead of its size.
It is estimated that some of these absorption dehumidifiers have a capacity of about 333 cubic feet. Using the right method, you can easily measure the area that your gun safe covers.
If you multiply the length, height, and width you will find the cubic area. Suppose the height, length, and width of your gun safe are 6 feet, 3 feet, and 5 feet. This means it will have a total cubic area of 90 cubic feet, which goes with a 12-inch dehumidifier rod.
How Dehumidifiers Are Beneficial To Gun Safes?
Let’s say your gun is always spotlessly clean, and you keep it oiled regularly. You have an accurate, reliable gun that never jams.
A gun owner takes great pride in maintaining his or her guns and tries to maintain them responsibly. The best way to ensure no problems arise with your gun storage is to buy a gun safe.
It is automatically assumed that gun safes will never fail. You will be able to keep your guns protected and in top condition with the ideal storage space. Nevertheless, gun safes are not without risk, namely corrosion.
The effects of gun corrosion are as follows:
- Rust
- Pitting
- Unreliability
- Jamming
- Misfires
The gun and the safe rust due to the moisture in the air and the interaction between the gun and the moisture.Despite having durable interiors, standard modern safes become corrosive in humid environments. A gun’s integrity is eroded by corrosion.
When rust is caught early enough, a gun can be cleaned, but a problem is still likely to arise after it has been cleaned. If corrosion occurs in the barrel of the gun, it leads to pitting, which can affect the accuracy of the gun, with the result that it may not fire the correct bullet.
A gun’s firing mechanism and ejecting mechanism may also be damaged by corrosion. Guns that are unable to eject bullet casings effectively after firing face a severe jam risk.
After firing a bullet, the casing gets stuck in the chamber, interfering with the operation. Guns that jam easily or are inaccurate are dangerous. Gun owners are responsible for ensuring that their guns and the associated parts are in good working order. Keeping a gun in bad condition can cause serious problems.
The humidity inside your safe must be removed in order to prevent these consequences. In order to maintain a consistent climate in your gun safe, the best way is to use a dehumidifier, one of the best ways to monitor your gun safe’s condition.
Dehumidifiers remove moisture or humidity from the air. In this application, both types, desiccant, and electric, will work. Maintaining a firearm continuously requires a dehumidifier after cleaning and proper storage.
Final Words
If the dehumidifier is a perfect fit for the size of your gun safe, you should consider it before making the final purchase decision. Whether it’s an electric or desiccant depending on your preference.
You will never have a problem with your gun’s functionality and durability if you choose the right size or right capacity dehumidifier. The above discussion should have made it clear that it is vital to buy a dehumidifier that perfectly fits your gun safe.
When purchasing a gun safe, you should take into account the dehumidifier’s capacity/size and the area where the safe will be located. It is possible for a gun safe’s environment to change for many different reasons.
Invest in a dehumidifier. Desiccant dehumidifiers, as I mentioned before, are cost-effective and do not require any major changes to your safe, and are one of the best options, especially if you don’t want to spend a lot of money.
This could prove to be sufficient for you, or you may go ahead and upgrade to an electric dehumidifier if the need arises. Hopefully, after reading this article, you now know what size dehumidifier you need for your gun safe.
