A Gun Safe Dehumidifier Protects Guns From MoistureWater and even moisture is a big enemy of guns as their working mechanism made of steel and gun metal can become jammed due to rust. Dehumidifiers are therefore used inside gun safes to absorb moisture. A gun safe dehumidifier is either a paper bag containing dried silica gel or is a heating element used to slightly warm the gun safe internals, electrically. Dried silica has the property of absorbing moisture from its surroundings. It is used most commonly inside packages to prevent moisture from coming into contact with the products stored inside them during transportation. The same dried silica gel is also used in larger thin-walled paper packets inside gun safes to provide protection from moisture to guns and ammunition stored in gun safes. Together with the above, the silica gel dehumidifier also provides protection from moisture to the gun safe locking mechanism. The mechanism can include key-based locks or a number and key-lock combo. Generally, the mechanical locks are made from brass. Moisture is also an enemy of the locking mechanism material. It can cause the key to become jammed inside the lock insert and may cause obstruction in the rotation of the locking tumblers. Then again, you may opt to keep a certain high-sentiment-value antique gun inside a gun safe. Antiques especially require protection from the corrosive effect of moisture inside the gun safe. The silica-based dehumidifier works well even for this purpose. In case of dried silica gel dehumidifiers, you need to replace the paper packets containing the gel from time to time with entirely new packets. This is because after a certain time the dried silica inside the originally installed paper packets becomes saturated with the water it absorbs from the moisture in the air inside the gun safe. Thereafter, it cannot absorb any more moisture and therefore needs a fresh replacement to be made. You also need to keep children from handling the gel. Dried silica-based dehumidifiers are easily available in your local market. Many gun safe manufacturers also do supply them. Their cost depends on the packet size. It generally varies from approximately $8 for a 40 gram packet to $50 for a 900 gram packet. You need to base your silica gel requirements on the cubic feet of internal space in your gun safe. The electrical heating element option of the gun safe dehumidifier is placed just slightly above the floor level of the safe. It works by slightly warming the air inside the safe. The warm air rises up taking the moisture away from the lower portion of the safe where the gun mechanism is generally located. This technique only helps you keep the moisture away from the gun mechanism, especially in summer, but does not lower the absolute humidity inside the safe. The electrical heating element dehumidifier is not so efficient in the winter. The silica gel version of the gun safe dehumidifier is more efficient than the electrical heating element over all seasons. However, you need to remember to replace it with fresh dried gel periodically. |