I just picked up a safe for my study and I'm looking at a dehumidifier for it. I started to wonder if it makes sense for the safe as it will be indoors in a temp controlled house unlike a garage safe or something like that.

Any thoughts on the usefulness for a house that's basically 69-73 all year round?

I would say it's probably wise just because of the weather in your location. Y'all get rain like it's a sport out there. Since most are relatively inexpensive, it seems like cheap insurance.

I live in So California and have a safe in my most temperature controlled room with an Eva Dry and I have to take it out once in to plug in. I’m assuming the Eva Dry is working because I dry it out to orange and it eventually turns green, and my guns n stuff aren’t rusty… I’d recommend getting something in the to dehumidify

Cool, thanks for the feedback. I think I usually only thought of them only for more varying climates but all good points and there's little cost so why not pay the insurance.

I ran a goldenrod bar in my safe in CA that was in the garage for 13 years no problems. I run one in my safe here in FL that’s inside the house 3 years no problem. Oddly, next door only uses desiccant packets in his safe that sits in his non climate controlled garage. Not the big ones either just 2-3 little ones the size of a quarter you get with and item sometimes. He reports no problems. Personality I would get one and plug it in and forget it. They use very little energy and the make just enough heat to not allow any moisture to form. Keep it away from touching any gun of course. Very cheap insurance

Goldenrods in both of my safes

You can attack the problem by increasing the temp inside the safe above the dew point, reducing absolute humidity (dehumidifier) inside the safe, or both. There are those who argue that because the safe is not a closed system that using both methods is counterproductive, as the more humid ambient air will find its way into the safe to achieve equilibrium within the safe. I have not found this to be the case.

I personally prefer to use lightbulbs and a PEET dryer to raise the temp.
https://www.peetdryer.com/products/safekeeping-peet


Additionally, you can use volatile corrosion inhibitor (VCI) chips/packs.

I like these:

Zerust VC2-2 NoRust Vapor Capsule - Pack of 4 https://a.co/d/40l315Y

VCI molecules sit on the surface of metal and prevent the electrochemical oxidization process. The beauty of VCI is that the appropriately sized chip/capsule will protect a certain volume. Choose the right size and replace per manufacturer’s instructions. The VCI molecules treat all surfaces (including cracks and crevices) within the treatment zone. More information can be found here:

https://daubertcromwell.com/vc...ation/how-vci-works/

I use dehumidifiers (the rechargeable large EvaDry desiccant type), a 40 W lightbulb, PEET dryer, and VCI capsules (changed every two years). And I have a wireless weather meter, with the transducer placed inside the safe, display outside. With the weather meter I can see temp and humidity inside the safe and ambient in the room to ensure conditions are optimal for avoiding condensation inside the safe.

My safe is stored in a room with HVAC. In the past it has been in an unconditioned garage and in a basement that vents to the outside with standard basement vents.

With my setup, in all those scenarios it stays about 4 degrees warmer than ambient temp and around 47-50% humidity.

I have my safe indoors and the house is air conditioned (reducing humidity) here in Texas and I did the same in NC, where the humidity could get very high.

Eva Dry here too. the big cylinder one you put on the drying base.

Goldenrod in mine, too. Lately, I'm not sure it's working, though. It doesn't feel warm to the touch at all. I remember being able to feel it when I bought it. It wasn't much, but seemed to be more than nothing.

I don't really have much of a rust problem in NM, regardless, but I'd still like it working.

I use 3 of the Eva dry units in my Sturdy Safe. When I do check them it seems none of the
are on the damp side. The Sturdy safe does an incredible job of keeping humidity really good.

related question: what is the ideal humidity #?

My hone thermostat shows ~45-55% (main level)
I have a portable unit in the corner of the unfinished basement, it has an auto whatever feature, and not too hard to keep it showing ~45-50% (Granted this is a new construction house and I understand the cement floors and wall will "Bleed" excess humidity for 12-18 months while it continues to cure.

FWIW: I was told by a very wise and knowledgeable man: You don't have to exactly control the humidity inside the whatever. A dehumidifier near the target area will draw humidity to it like a wick and away from the stuff you're concerned about. (i.e. small lightly reinforced room for guns, tools, workshops area and a dehumidifier parked outside of it say 10' away (So you don't have to hear it run) will take care of everything.

I have a Golden Rod in mine as well for the above stated issues.

A while back I was investigating these questions. What I found was:

50% relative humidity is ideal, levels between 40% to 60% will keep guns in good condition.

70* temperature is considered ideal, between 50* and 85* is acceptable.

I bought a Goldenrod and a battery powered thermometer/hygrometer for my safe, all seems well.

I'm curious if people's safes are considered airtight? Mine have little or no weather stripping and holes for bolting. My assumption is that the condition of the air inside the safe is exactly the same as that of the air surrounding it.

My safes are in the unfinished portion of my basement, directly adjacent to the finished portion which is conditioned. Therefore the unfinished portion is partially conditioned due to air transfer through doors and hvac transfer grilles.

So I just run a dehumidifier out in the basement space, about 15' from the safes. I have a thermo/hygro magnet stuck on the front of my safe so I can always see the reading and have the dehu set to 50% RH, which it achieves without too much trouble even here in the deep south.

quote:

Originally posted by Eaganite:
A while back I was investigating these questions. What I found was:

50% relative humidity is ideal, levels between 40% to 60% will keep guns in good condition.

70* temperature is considered ideal, between 50* and 85* is acceptable.

I bought a Goldenrod and a battery powered thermometer/hygrometer for my safe, all seems well.

Those numbers can’t be examined on their own. You also need to compare them to ambient conditions. You want the safe a couple degrees warmer than the ambient temp outside the safe. And ideally less humidity inside than outside the safe. That’s why I like a weather monitor. And VCI capsules add another layer of protection.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
I'm curious if people's safes are considered airtight? Mine have little or no weather stripping and holes for bolting. My assumption is that the condition of the air inside the safe is exactly the same as that of the air surrounding it.

My safes are in the unfinished portion of my basement, directly adjacent to the finished portion which is conditioned. Therefore the unfinished portion is partially conditioned due to air transfer through doors and hvac transfer grilles.

So I just run a dehumidifier out in the basement space, about 15' from the safes. I have a thermo/hygro magnet stuck on the front of my safe so I can always see the reading and have the dehu set to 50% RH, which it achieves without too much trouble even here in the deep south.

Not airtight. But if you use the appropriate measures and monitor with a weather station, you’ll see that the safe will be 2-4 degrees hotter and a few points less humid than ambient.

I use silica gel desiccant packs, that I buy at Dollar Tree for $1.25 each.
They work great in my safes, and when they fill up with moisture, I just toss them in the trash.