Safe question

[Walker_Texasranger]

Have a new safe in a new house and it’s in the garage. I run a dehumidifier in the garage, a goldenrod in the safe, and a 750g desiccant canister in there as well. Humidity according to my hygrometer ranges from 40-45% throughout the day but temps hit 90+.

I know ideal is 70 degrees and 50%. Is my humidity level ok considering the heat or do I need to add more desiccant or another dehumidifier in the garage or what?

[lovetashoot]

I live in humid South Carolina and have a safe in the garage. I only have the heating element “dehumidifier.” I’ve had no problems in the three years I’ve had this arrangement.

[SteyrAUG]

Are you in Texas?

[Walker_Texasranger]

Are you in Texas?

Arkansas.

[Artos]

Installed a double insulated garage door, blow insulation, a mini-split & it added another big room onto the house...no noticeable change in electricity costs.

[SteyrAUG]

Arkansas.

High heat, high humidity. Even the safe is going to start to rust eventually.

If you have any real guns, you'd have to wipe them down every month. I can't think of a single good reason to not have a safe in the house. No amount of desiccant is going to accomplish anything meaningful for guns. Humidifier rods are meant to keep things normal inside a house, not inside a garage.

Go look at any tools that have been in your garage for a year or more. Your guns will be in about the same condition.

Also the garage is the least secure place in your home other than a tool shed. Daily views of "hey look a gunsafe in the garage" every time you go to work, come home from work or open your garage door to mow the lawn. Great way to get scouted by the local heroin/meth community.

Lived in South Florida for 30 years, sold gun safes as well as guns. Most people bought gunsafes AFTER they got hit so I heard all the stories. One that I heard more than a few times was "I just can't believe they backed a pickup truck through my garage door and then chained my safe to the truck and ripped it off the wall and loaded it in the truck and were GONE in less than 15 minutes."

[DG23]

Have a new safe in a new house and it’s in the garage. I run a dehumidifier in the garage, a goldenrod in the safe, and a 750g desiccant canister in there as well. Humidity according to my hygrometer ranges from 40-45% throughout the day but temps hit 90+.

I know ideal is 70 degrees and 50%. Is my humidity level ok considering the heat or do I need to add more desiccant or another dehumidifier in the garage or what?

You are way better off than most.

Would not be concerned with any of those numbers if it were my firearms.

They do make desicant you can oven bake to dry out and reuse over and over again. May save you some coin in the long run?

[Walker_Texasranger]

You are way better off than most.

Would not be concerned with any of those numbers if it were my firearms.

They do make desicant you can oven bake to dry out and reuse over and over again. May save you some coin in the long run?

Yup. That’s what mine is. I put it in the oven once a week or so.

I lowered humidity on the dehumidifier from 50 to 40 as well.

[ABNAK]

So is 40% a decent humidity level to leave a dehumidifier set at? I have one of those "root cellars" or "fruit cellars" underneath my front porch. It gets a little cool (not cold) in there in the winter and a little stuffy (not hot) in the summer but I have a dehumidifier that I run set at 40%. Seem reasonable?

[Walker_Texasranger]

So is 40% a decent humidity level to leave a dehumidifier set at? I have one of those "root cellars" or "fruit cellars" underneath my front porch. It gets a little cool (not cold) in there in the winter and a little stuffy (not hot) in the summer but I have a dehumidifier that I run set at 40%. Seem reasonable?

I’m not a rocket surgeon but I know it depends on the temperature. Higher temps hold more moisture so 40% at 70 degrees is not the same as 40% at 90 degrees.

[SteyrAUG]

I’m not a rocket surgeon but I know it depends on the temperature. Higher temps hold more moisture so 40% at 70 degrees is not the same as 40% at 90 degrees.

The problem is that 40% is not going to be consistent. Every time you open and close your garage door those numbers are gonna change. Your garage is not climate controlled in any way, shape or form. You could install a window AC unit and that would help a LOT, way more than desiccants, dry rods and anything else along those lines. But you are still going to have a dramatic humidity change every time you leave or come home.

[Walker_Texasranger]

The problem is that 40% is not going to be consistent. Every time you open and close your garage door those numbers are gonna change. Your garage is not climate controlled in any way, shape or form. You could install a window AC unit and that would help a LOT, way more than desiccants, dry rods and anything else along those lines. But you are still going to have a dramatic humidity change every time you leave or come home.

Negative. An AC unit is the worst thing if the garage is not properly insulated. If you get an insulated garage door and insulate the ceiling then ok, otherwise you are drawing moisture in with an AC.

The dehumidifier in my garage is the first barrier. I’m making a better environment for the safe to be in, then I’m treating the safe as well of course.

And I probably am going to get new doors, insulate it, and put in a split unit but not the point of this post. I can get the humidity in the safe lower. I’m controlling it easily. My question was if 45% in my safe is adequate or if it should be lower.

[SteyrAUG]

Negative. An AC unit is the worst thing if the garage is not properly insulated. If you get an insulated garage door and insulate the ceiling then ok, otherwise you are drawing moisture in with an AC.

The dehumidifier in my garage is the first barrier. I’m making a better environment for the safe to be in, then I’m treating the safe as well of course.

And I probably am going to get new doors, insulate it, and put in a split unit but not the point of this post. I can get the humidity in the safe lower. I’m controlling it easily. My question was if 45% in my safe is adequate or if it should be lower.

You are correct. Didn't realize your garage was not finished.

Honestly I wouldn't get too comfortable with any humidity percentage. If you are going to store them in a safe in a garage, maintenance is going to be your number one defense. I'd do a wet patch and wipe on everything every few months and store them almost wet.

Southern states are a PITA for this stuff. I lived in South Florida for 30 years and I've seen a lot of gun nightmares. Worst of course are those who were dumb enough to "store" them in their roof attic. This includes one guy who put his fathers "theater capture / papered vet bringback" WWII P-38 and all his fathers medals in a box that he put in the attic "oh about 10 years ago."

It was in really sad shape but I didn't want to rub it in. Non gun people shouldn't be allowed to inherit guns.