Guns are an important investment for many owners. That’s why most gun owners buy a gun safe because they want their weapons to be safe and secured. While gun safes can prevent theft or damage to guns, these storage containers aren’t safe from gun safe humidity. Moisture control is important even in the best gun safe.
Moisture can be considered the silent killer of cheap gun safes. It can damage a gun safe because fresh air doesn’t get into the storage very much often and the gun safe is closed most of the time. Thus, moisture inside the safe builds up and causes mold and mildew to grow.Moisture is especially a concern for gun owners who live in a humid weather area.
There are several ways to control moisture in a gun safe, whether you have a fingerprint gun safe or a fireproof gun safe:
1.Put silica packets
One of the most cost-effective ways to control moisture in your gun safe is to place a can of silica gel inside it. A silica gel is a desiccant, which absorbs and holds water vapor. This is the same product that you see in small packets, used for keeping moisture out of boxes and purses. You can easily buy silica gel from online stores and even home improvement centers.
Ideally, you must place at three silica packs in the gun case. But make sure that these packs won’t touch any of your guns, as these can damage the metal of the gun and cause corrosion and rust in the process.
Most silica packs have an indicator that changes color, which tells you when to replace it. Once the indicator has changed color, you don’t have to throw away the silica gel. Simply put it in a low heat oven for several hours, then dry it out. You can then reuse it.
2.Use an electric dehumidifier
A more advanced level of moisture control can be achieved when you put an electric dehumidifier on your gun safe. Unlike silica packs, an electric dehumidifier circulates warm air throughout the gun safe. This, in turn, keeps humidity and condensation away thus preventing mildew from growing inside the safe.
An electric humidifier usually comes with a mounting bracket. This way, it can be mounted low inside the safe, and won’t get in the way when you draw out your gun.
Electric dehumidifiers can be plugged into a wall outlet, or powered by a rechargeable battery. For battery-powered dehumidifiers, there’s usually an indicator that tells when it is time to recharge the battery.
3. Sealant system to control moisture
You can also buy a case with some type of sealant system to control moisture in your gun case. This is very handy in case the gun safe doesn’t have any kind of sealant system.
There are different sealants to choose from such as foam, silicone, and caulking. Regardless of the sealant you buy, you will have to apply it around the door jamb to the case interior. This should prevent air and moisture from seeping into the safe.
4.Natural solutions
If moisture has caused mold to grow, there are a number of natural solutions to solve this problem. These include bleach, ammonia, vinegar, detergent, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide. Most of these solutions must be diluted, then put on a spray bottle or with a rag for cleaning.
You can also use lavender oil and tea tree oil. Put a few drops of these natural solutions on one or two cotton balls. Then leave them inside the gun safe. These should work as a natural desiccant and prevent mold from growing in your gun safe.
You must also make it a habit to periodically check your weapons for signs of corrosion, which would indicate that there’s excess moisture inside your safe. And wipe down the metal parts of your gun with oil and gun to get rid of moisture and rust.
As you can see, even the best biometric gun safe isn’t protected from moisture wreaking havoc on your gun. Thus it is important to prevent excess moisture from seeping into your gun safe and affect the overall condition of your valued possessions.