Can A Gun Safe Be Too Dry?

A gun safe is a place where you can store your guns and other valuables in a secure manner. But, if you are not careful, the inside of the safe can get very dry. This is due to the lack of air circulation and moisture in the safe.

The inside of a gun safe should not be too humid or too dry. If it is too humid, then you might have problems with rust, mold, and corrosion on your guns and other items stored inside the safe.

If it is too dry, then you might have problems with condensation because there isn’t enough moisture in the air to keep everything cool inside your gun safe.

We have already discussed the importance of maintaining the humidity level in a gun safe, but we need to talk about dryness as well.

It is equally important because it can cause the same problems like too much humidity. So in this article, I’m going to explore what happens when a gun safe becomes too dry.

How To Check If A Gun Safe Is Becoming Too Dry?

Even the top rated biometric gun safe can become too dry. This is especially true if you live in a dry climate or store your guns in an area where the temperature fluctuates. It is important to make sure that your gun safe stays at the right moisture level in these cases.

To ensure that your valuables are kept at the proper humidity level, you should invest in a device that measures the moisture level in your safe. A good way to check for this is to use a hygrometer.

You should also pay special attention to this if you keep your safe in a hot environment such as a garage or under your bed during the summer. You can buy one at most hardware stores for less than $20.

Then, you just need to place it inside your gun safe and wait 24 hours for the reading. If the reading is below 20%, then you need to add more moisture – either through humidifiers or distilled water – until it reaches 30 – 50%.

What Is The Best Way To Raise The Humidity Level?

How would you feel if you detected a lower than the desired humidity level? In this case, you may want to remove any dehumidifier that you have been using. On the other hand, maybe the environment is naturally dry enough, so it is unnecessary to add one in the first place.

Then, after removing the dehumidifier, check your levels again. Try a less effective dehumidifier if now it is more humid than you prefer (above 60% is probably too high). It might take a couple of attempts to get it just right.

In a desert climate, there might be a low humidity level in your gun safe without you having done anything to cause it. You might want to think about a gun dry pack inside portable gun safes for cars for extra peace of mind.

It’s just a bag you put the gun in before sucking it out of air. A vacuum forms inside it, so the gun is protected from any environmental issues that could cause it harm. That also means the gun isn’t as readily accessible in an emergency.

How Do You Keep The Moisture Level In Check?

While bedside safe for gun are designed to keep moisture out, they also need to have a certain amount of humidity inside to protect your firearms. If the humidity level in your safe drops below 30% RH, then you should consider getting it fixed or buying a humidifier.

Make sure that you keep the humidity under control when storing your guns in your gun safe. If you are not careful, the gun safe might become too dry. Fortunately, you can take a few steps to prevent this from happening:

Avoid Excess Light

Don’t add too much light to your safe. When left in the same place for too long, light can heat the safe and dry its contents.

Adding A Humidifier

Make sure you keep a humidifier in your safe, but you should also use a hygrometer every now and then.

The humidity should stay between 40 and 60 percent on average without fluctuating too much. Hydrometers can be used to measure humidity when necessary.

Air-Conditioned Environment

Make sure you stay and keep your safe for pistol in an air-conditioned environment to prevent the air from getting too warm. You should keep the temperature between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Regular Maintenance

Cleaning and lubricating your guns regularly is another excellent way to protect them against the elements. You will soon be able to recognize when a firearm is too dry when regular maintenance is a part of your regular routine.

Finally, Try Changing Locations

It is not uncommon for the humidity levels in some houses to differ greatly from room to room. Basements, for example, tend to have higher humidity levels. That’s why you should check in every part of the house you think you might want to put the safe.

Does it naturally dry out enough for you to store your firearms here? If not, what would you have to do to make it suitable for storing firearms? Maybe there is a perfect place for the safe that you hadn’t considered before.

Here’s Why Your Gun Safe Is Too Dry

A gun safe can become dry when the climate is arid or when a dehumidifier is used longer than necessary. To prevent your firearms from becoming damaged, you must check your safe regularly. Also, here are some common reasons why gun safes are becoming too dry.

Items That Collect Excessive Moisture

You may be also utilizing more moisture-accumulating items in your safe than needed. For instance, you can use silica gel packets (or canisters) to control excess moisture. This gel is capable of collecting airborne moisture.

However, if you add too many of these packets, the space may become dangerously dry. After some time, silica can also weaken, making it difficult for the item to work.

It’s The Material That Makes All The Difference

The temperature of some gun safes will rise faster than others. Safes made from steel or iron will take longer to warm up, ensuring the relative humidity in the safe stays constant. Metal surfaces may also be slightly lubricated to prevent moisture from accumulating.

After some time, a wood safe will become hotter as it is more vulnerable to heat. The wood safe’s contents can become dry due to lack of air.

It’s also possible that any ammunition you keep inside the safe will degrade faster since there’s no moisture keeping it lubricated.

Heat From The Outside Can Cause Problems

It is possible for a gun safe to become too dry if you live in a hot area without a lot of humidity. It takes only minutes for a gun safe to dry out in arid conditions of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Especially in bright spaces, where lights can reflect the safe, heat can be a significant concern. A poorly insulated storage place may also present a problem. In the summer, for example, a garage might become very hot.

What Happens When A Gun Safe Gets Too Dry?

Your gun safe should have an optimal humidity level for storing all the firearms you keep inside. Guns that become too dry may stop working properly or develop corrosion.

When the stocks become dry, they may crack and become unusable. Gun safes can keep these things from happening, but they can also turn into too dry places.

It’s more likely that the stocks will crack if the humidity falls too low particularly if the humidity levels fluctuate a lot during the year.

Humidity levels that consistently remain low are much less dangerous than those that vary greatly. However, this is not as bad as a humid safe, which can cause rust to set in rather quickly. In the long run, it can still result in some damage.

Does A Gun Safe Need To Be Airtight?

There is no such thing as an airtight gun safe, and they shouldn’t be. Even though a gun safe has multiple holes, there is not enough airflow to make a real difference.

In addition, it wouldn’t be a good idea to modify a safe to be airtight since they are designed that way by design. For example, in the case of ammo, you need to ensure that the gasses have somewhere to escape.

Final Words

All in all, the effects of an overly dry gun are not as dramatic and noticeable as the effects of a too humid one. But if you don’t take action before it is too late, you may end up facing problems in the future.

A dehumidifier and a hygrometer should always be kept in your safe to ensure that it does not get too dry. You can prevent your items from becoming too dry or too humid by following these instructions.

Also, make sure you are not using too many moistures collecting items or devices. You don’t want the safe to become too dry if you go overboard. For example, you may go overboard if you use baking soda or silica gel, plus a dehumidifier. Therefore, it is crucial to keep track of your safe’s environment.