Investing in a gun means you value your security, and you probably want to ensure you keep it safe and in good condition. It’s also common for gun owners to keep their gun inside longer and only get to use it when there’s a need to. But do you know this could damage your rifle? Think about moisture damage.

Your firearm is made of metal, which means rust and corrosion can affect your gun. If you’re wondering how you can prevent all this damage, read on to understand how moisture forms and ways to keep your weapon safe from it.

What Exactly Is a Dew Point?

A dew point refers to the temperature when air gets saturated with moisture. The dew point is proportional to the humidity level in the region. So the more significant the dew point, the higher the humidity.

If you reside in a high-humidity region, you should keep your gun safe because warmer air contains more moisture than cooler air. So once you get a gun, your worry should not just be outsiders or children getting access to it but be on the lookout for damp conditions.

What Causes Moisture to Enter a Gun Safe?

Moisture and humidity are everywhere, and you may overlook the air quality in your indoor space. Your home may also have a high humidity level, meaning more moisture. Still, moisture may enter your home through the walls or ceiling, causing a humidity build-up. So anytime you take your gun from your gun safe, you capture some moisture.

 The longer your gun safe stays open, the higher the chances of your gun trapping in more water, leading to rusting. Trapped air inside the gun safe rapidly gets heated up, resulting in 

additional wetness that spreads quickly. 

There is a greater danger of elevated safe humidity in lower places and also areas with high humidity. It would be best to do your due diligence to ensure your firearm is secure and free from damage. You could do this by keeping moisture out of your gun safe.

How to Keep Moisture Out of a Gun Safe

You can use several techniques to keep your gun safe free from moisture. These may include DIY, traditional, and modern methods which help minimize moisture levels. Let’s get started.

Gun Safe Dehumidifiers

A dehumidifier is an air conditioning device that lowers and regulates the humidity level inside a limited designated space like your house. Gun safe dehumidifiers help stabilize the temperature in your gun safe and maintain air circulation. As a result, condensation is minimized, and moisture is eliminated.

 You can either get an electrical or desiccant humidifier which is affordable and will help keep your gun safe from moisture.

• Desiccant dehumidifiers: Rely on extremely absorbent materials to absorb moisture inside a limited space.
• Electrical humidifier: These have an electric heating element such as the goldenrod or a Peet dryer.

Silica Gel Packs

If you’re looking for an affordable, effective, and reliable method of absorbing moisture from your gun safe, you should try silica gel packs. They are tiny crystals that can last for weeks and soak up moisture from closed areas like your gun safe. However, it would be best to be cautious with these crystals as they can damage your gunmetal surface once they come in contact.

Built-in Sealant System

Some gun safes have a built-in sealant system that helps keep out moisture. The sealant concept is available in foam, caulking, or silicone that is found around doors. It keeps harmful humidity and moisture away.

It’s good to check if your gun safe has this extra feature of an inbuilt sealant system. If not, you can build and customize your gun-safe sealant system with absorbent materials like silicone or foam.

The Lightbulb Method

This is a traditional method where you add a light bulb to your safe and connect it with electricity. It works the same way as an electric dehumidifier. A light bulb, when fully powered, will quickly heat its surroundings, drying up the moisture and atmospheric humidity.

For this approach to be effective, you must drill a hole in your safe and link a wire from the plug socket to the light. For a large gun safe, ensure you use bigger bulbs.

Dry Rice

If your smartphone drops in the water, you quickly submerge it in dry rice to soak out the moisture. It works the same way with gun safety devices. If your gun safe is small, you can add a cup of rice inside your safe every three months to prevent moisture from your gun.

Using Baking Soda

Baking soda contains Sodium bicarbonate which is suitable for absorbing and controlling moisture. You may do this by adding a cup of sodium bicarbonate inside your safe and leaving some gap between the pistol and the cup. If you notice any change in efficacy, replace the cup immediately. This is a simple DIY technique that you can easily do.

Use of Mothballs and Damp Rid

Damp Rid contains calcium chloride, which is effective in moisture absorption. Finally, Mothballs are great in moisture absorption. You can apply any of these but use safety measures when handling mothballs as they are toxic and damage your gun.

Conditioned Environment

If you live in dry-weather areas, this method can be effective. Dry air contains low humidity, minimizing trapped moisture from your gun safe once you open the door. This also reduces any wet air surrounding your safe. An air conditioner can still work the same way. Place your gun safe directly opposite the air, conditional on sucking out excess moisture.

Why Do You Need to Keep Moisture From Your Gun Safe?

Its simple, moisture causes rust and other damages to your gun. In addition, high humidity levels lead to germs and microbes breeding the area around your weapon. When this happens, you will notice your gun is sticking together, which can lead to a misfire and even gun jamming, which is dangerous. This is why it’s crucial to maintain a regular check-up for humidity levels.

How Do You Check for Humidity Levels for Gun Safe?

Get yourself a hygrometer to monitor temperature levels in your home and around the safe. Hygrometers are cheap and accessible in many retail outlets. If you measure the humidity and notice high levels, you can use the above methods to soak out moisture.

The humidity level is shown as a percentage on the hygrometer. Anything less than 50% is deemed risk-free. If the hygrometer reads a high percentage, your humidity level is excessive, which can endanger your gun safe and the rifle itself.

 After purchasing a gun safe, you should immediately select an appropriate solution for keeping moisture out of the safe. Maintain a dry or heated environment to keep moisture at bay.

Final Thoughts

Having a gun safe doesn’t mean you stop taking care of your gun. It’s vital to ensure your gun safe is free from moisture which can damage your weapon. Ensure you regularly open your gun safe and check for any rust or moisture signs. The above tips may also help you regulate and maintain your gun’s safe temperature and humidity level.