We’ve all heard of the phrase prevention is better than cure, right? If you can brush your teeth twice every day to prevent those pesky cavities from forming, then why not take care of your guns the same way? Fixing or removing rust and corrosion from guns, is much harder and more time consuming than just preventing it in the first place. Even worse, sometimes the damage is too bad and cannot be fixed or reversed, so just take care of your guns and prevent it in the first place and they will serve you and generations to come well.
Why do you need a gun safe dehumidifier?
Those expensive firearms that are stored away in a safe require some special care, as I am sure you would not be thrilled seeing rust spots on them the next time you take them out of the safe. Humidity is something that can absolutely devastate your guns and even in the worst case scenario make them unpredictable or dangerous when firing. Rust is not the only threat either. Humidity can exacerbate the growth and build-up of mold or mildew, and not only in extremely humid climates. Even the smallest amount of moisture can cause rust given enough time. All that is needed to prevent all of that is just a good old dehumidifier. So, let us explore which options there are to help prevent or alleviate humidity from your gun safe.
A gun safe dehumidifier can be a great addition to any gun safe. Especially to keep the humidity in your gun safe in the 30-50% range as recommended by the NRA. It can be placed in the less accessible parts of the safe and will keep moisture away from the firearms. If you’re planning to install one, you’ll need to make a hole in the wall or inside the safe. Some models feature a wireless design and recharging capability. Read on to learn more about gun safe dehumidifiers.
How does a gun safe dehumidifier work?
As is very apparent from the name itself, a gun safe dehumidifier keeps things dry and humidity free. Now, a dehumidifier can be of two types depending on how it functions. There is the desiccant dehumidifier and the electric dehumidifier.
The desiccant dehumidifier contains substances like silica gel that can absorb invisible water vapor from the air. We’ve all seen those tiny packets of silica gel that protect cameras and a bunch of other electronics, right? That is essentially how a desiccant dehumidifier works as well. All you must do, is make sure to dry it out once it reaches its full capacity and is unable to soak up any more moisture. How do you do that? You either need to heat it in the oven or simply leave it outside to dry, except in a very humid climate or area obviously!
The electric dehumidifier is quite a bit different. It works through refrigeration, which essentially cools the air inside the safe which removes the moisture from the air onto the coil in the dehumidifier, similar to a refrigerator or air conditioner. For proper usage of this dehumidifier, every once in a while, you need to allow ventilation and recycling of the air trapped within, or removal of the water collection bowl inside it.
The choice between the desiccant and the electric dehumidifier depends on a range of variables and your own requirements. For example, if you want a long-term solution that does not require much maintenance, then electric is the way to go. On the other hand, if you want a dehumidifier that does not require any plugging in or a power source then the desiccant dehumidifier is your best bet.
What is the best gun safe dehumidifier?
While we will provide a few alternatives and worthy mentions, there is one that stands out to us. The best overall gun safe dehumidifier the LOCKDOWN Goldenrod dehumidifier.
Goldenrod
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As it’s name might suggest, it comes in the shape of a rod. It is extremely versatile and comes in 4 different sizes – 12 inches, 18 inches, 24 inches and 36 inches. You can pick a size based on the space available inside your safe. The Goldenrod offers simplicity and is extremely easy to use. It comes with a power cord and has attachable legs for proper placement and positioning. The cord simply needs to be plugged in and the Goldenrod will take care of the rest. This means that your safe needs a small hole or some other opening through which you can pass the power cord. Now, if you are looking for a dehumidifier that does not require a plug, we have you covered. Just keep reading.
The Goldenrod is our recommendation because of its fantastic cubic feet protection power. Installation is no headache at all and it does not take up a whole lot of space either. It is an electric dehumidifier that heats up the air inside the safe. This increases the temperature of the air and decreases the humidity. However, since it is always plugged in, the rod does heat up and needs to be handled carefully. It is definitely not safe to the touch. In fact, you need to make sure that the rod is not touching anything at all. Since the Goldenrod remains plugged in, you do not have to worry about recharging it. This is a massive advantage of the Goldenrod since it is more or less a permanent solution to your humidity problem. Just let it do it is thing and your guns will be good to go. If you are worried about leaving something that hot inside your firearms safe, you have nothing to worry about. It is tested and entirely safe!
A few worthy alternatives
There are two other alternatives in case your safe does not have an opening for the power cord or you simply do not have a vacant outlet for the Goldenrod. The ZARPRAX dehumidifier bags are reusable and rechargeable and do not require a power source. What you do have to do, is dry them out every three days when it fulfills its moisture holding capacity. They need to be heated in a microwave before being reused. And the bags themselves will tell you when it is time. They have moisture indicators which turn pink when it needs to be recharged. So, if you are looking for something reusable but highly efficient, these desiccant packed bags might be your answer.
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There is also the Hornady rechargeable dehumidifier which comes in a portable and compact size. It contains desiccant crystals that whoosh away the moisture and keep your guns safe. This is another alternative. Moreover, after drying it for a day by plugging it into an outlet, it can then run for several weeks at a time. So instead of drying it once every three days like the ZARPRAX bags, Hornady has your back for a much longer period. The desiccant crystals once again change their color from blue to pink when they reach their capacity.
When you use the link above to shop for one of the products, we receive a small commission from the sale, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep this site going, and does not affect the price you would pay usually in any way whatsoever.
Conclusion
Now that you have heard all our recommendations, we hope you have found some answers. So, what are you waiting for? If you want your guns to have a long, happy, rust-free life, then go get that gun safe dehumidifier right away!
AJ Deysel is a competitive rifle shooter in the PRS and NRL Hunter series, a lifelong hunter, and a recognized ballistics specialist whose load development expertise has been featured by industry leaders like Hornady. He is the founder and lead editor of LoadDevelopment.com. Read more about AJ or view our Editorial & Testing Guidelines.
