Safe Humidity Issue

[VTski4x4]

Alright NES braintrust, I need some ideas on controlling the humidity in my safe. It's in the basement bolted down, and I have no other location to move it to - so that's not an option. Also, the room that it's in doesn't have an easy way to plug in a goldenrod so that's also sorta out. Safe is a Winchester 36 from TS and there's about an inch between it and the cement basement wall (below grade). During the winter I had no issue with keeping the humidity between 30-40%, but since the weather has changed, it's now hitting mid-high 60% and that's not frigging good. I'm a bit lost here - I have 3 large Damp-rid units in it, one bucket style, and two others rechargeable plug ins. They are all fresh, and the plug in models have only been recharged twice - beads indicate no moisture in them. Any ideas? I can't imagine how the humidity is rising so much when I add more and more large dessicant bins. Today when I checked it was up to 68% and I'm starting to panic.

 

[Dave @ Villen Tactical]

Room dehumidifier

 

[Ron Jablonski]

Room dehumidifier

This, remove The moisture from around the safe and the inside of the safe will be fine. My basement is so bad I run 2 dehumidifiers spring - Summer

 

[jek]

Room dehumidifier

Another vote for this. I run one in my basement all year. It only runs when humidity hits the set point.

 

[VTski4x4]

Guess I have my answer. Thanks guys.

 

[Grendizer138]

Room dehumidifier + mylar bags

 

[kalash]

Eva-dry E-333 Mini Dehumidifier, Pack of 1, White Sand https://a.co/d/7eb2zAU

 

[VTski4x4]

Eva-dry E-333 Mini Dehumidifier, Pack of 1, White Sand Amazon.com

I have two of these in there already along with a huge damp-rid bucket. It's also mounted on an elevated panel 3" off the concrete floor. Just ordered a 3000sqft dehumidifier which should be overkill for a 600sqft basement.

 

[walter62]

maybe look into a GOOD adhesive doorsealing gasket on a roll.

No cheap ass foam crap.

It will at least limit the amount of humidity entering the safe so *maybe* the
buckets will work.

some ideas:

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

 

[BTSDOG]

I run a Frigidaire dehumidifier set at 35% 24-7. It empties into a condensate pump an goes into the washing machine trap so i dont have to keep emptying buckets. In the winter i run a couple electric heaters on timers and keep it at 68-70 deg. Shut em off right around now. Also have a couple eva-dry dehumidifiers, one in gunsafe, and one in powder cabinet. Never had a problem yet.....

 

[Caveman]

Fwiw I also run VCI in my safes. Have dehumidifier in the basement. Gel packs in the safe. Zerust capsules and vci emitter disks. BROWNELLS DAUBRITE® 10 DISK VCI EMITTER | Brownells

 

[DW357]

Room dehumidifier

This. I gave up on rechargeable dehumidifiers and desiccants in the safe. Can’t keep up when it’s really humid outside. At least in my case with a house built in the 1930s
I run a dehumidifier in the basement 24/7

 

[Gerbs54]

Golden Rod

https://www.amazon.com/MAXSafes-GoldenRod-Safe-Dehumidifier-Power/dp/B0BM9NQPW4/ref=asc_df_B0BM9NQPW4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693072171763&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16520747702740635320&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001953&hvtargid=pla-2188315657339&psc=1&mcid=ccfea4549043338299766015addf2f43&gad_source=1

 

[Arto]

Zerust capsules work great on Turbines & Motors & gun lockers:

Gun Storage Products - Zerust® Archives

Zerust® offers simple, yet effective rust prevention gun storage products that offer solutions for guns, firearms, ammo and firearm parts.

www.zerustproducts.com

 

[sschevy]

Pull the damp rid buckets out , they’re corrosive

Bullfrog large VCI plates will protect everything for a year for around $20

 

[VTski4x4]

Pull the damp rid buckets out , they’re corrosive

Bullfrog large VCI plates will protect everything for a year for around $20

The Eva Dry posted above are still OK right? I'll pull the damp rid.

 

[sschevy]

The plug in rechargeable ones are fine

but the damp rid buckets are a big no no , they are highly corrosive to metal and can wreck your guns in short order

 

[peterk123]

Golden Rod

https://www.amazon.com/MAXSafes-GoldenRod-Safe-Dehumidifier-Power/dp/B0BM9NQPW4/ref=asc_df_B0BM9NQPW4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693072171763&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16520747702740635320&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001953&hvtargid=pla-2188315657339&psc=1&mcid=ccfea4549043338299766015addf2f43&gad_source=1

I used this when I lived in mass. Safe was below grade. It works.

 

[timbo]

Golden Rod

https://www.amazon.com/MAXSafes-GoldenRod-Safe-Dehumidifier-Power/dp/B0BM9NQPW4/ref=asc_df_B0BM9NQPW4/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693072171763&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16520747702740635320&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001953&hvtargid=pla-2188315657339&psc=1&mcid=ccfea4549043338299766015addf2f43&gad_source=1

This is what I run in my safe…relative humidity is always running about 45% or less in there, even when RH gets over 90% elsewhere. Uses very little power, I think it’s about 17 watts.

 

[VTski4x4]

I have a golden rod, but have two issues. First, safe was supposed to be pre-drilled for power cord - it's not, and there isn't enough room behind it to run the wire without unbolting it and getting 3 friends to help me move it. Second, the room that it's in has on/off power that only works of a light switch that runs all the basement lights (stupid, annoying) so a full-time on golden rod won't work at this point without electrical work to the tune of $5000 (panel would have to be updated for code). My full basement dehumidifier arrives today, so we will see if that helps.

 

[Flint]

I just had to get a new dehumifier, my old started acting weird.

FYI

Dehumidifiers | Mass Save

Purchase an ENERGY STAR® certified dehumidifier—and get a $30 rebate.

www.masssave.com

 

[VTski4x4]

I just had to get a new dehumifier, my old started acting weird.

FYI

Dehumidifiers | Mass Save

Purchase an ENERGY STAR® certified dehumidifier—and get a $30 rebate.

www.masssave.com

Awesome. Just bought a Frigdaire energy star unit that's being delivered today. Already got $50 off, I'll take another $30

 

[jpdopes]

Agree that the room dehumidifier is a must but you should also put one of these in your safe: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00069IASY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It's cheap insurance.

I write the date on mine and change them out once a year. I also have a golden rod and a dehumidifier.

 

[DarthRevan]

Room dehumidifier

/thread

It's what I have in mine as well. One in the room with the safe, another in the garage. Wish I ponied up for the self pumping version to run a hose out the room but the buckets fill up every other day so it isn't that bad to empty.

 

[VTski4x4]

Agree that the room dehumidifier is a must but you should also put one of these in your safe: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00069IASY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It's cheap insurance.

I write the date on mine and change them out once a year. I also have a golden rod and a dehumidifier.

Ordered. Thanks

 

[DarthRevan]

I have a golden rod, but have two issues. First, safe was supposed to be pre-drilled for power cord - it's not, and there isn't enough room behind it to run the wire without unbolting it and getting 3 friends to help me move it. Second, the room that it's in has on/off power that only works of a light switch that runs all the basement lights (stupid, annoying) so a full-time on golden rod won't work at this point without electrical work to the tune of $5000 (panel would have to be updated for code). My full basement dehumidifier arrives today, so we will see if that helps.

Lol paying the state to work on your own house.

NES has plenty of sparkies, I hear about them all the time.

 

[VTski4x4]

Lol paying the state to work on your own house.

NES has plenty of sparkies, I hear about them all the time.

I have an NES electrician, but the town has ridiculous BS. As soon as they pull the meter someone shows up to investigate. Can't follow new code because I'm not building a new laundry room (panel has to be 4ft away from washer and dryer and is currently above them with no room to move).

 

[DarthRevan]

I have an NES electrician, but the town has ridiculous BS. As soon as they pull the meter someone shows up to investigate. Can't follow new code because I'm not building a new laundry room (panel has to be 4ft away from washer and dryer and is currently above them with no room to move).

Sounds like a public utility? Yikes.
I wish you the best.

 

[VTski4x4]

Sounds like a public utility? Yikes.
I wish you the best.

Municipal electric department.

 

[Gerbs54]

I have a golden rod, but have two issues. First, safe was supposed to be pre-drilled for power cord - it's not, and there isn't enough room behind it to run the wire without unbolting it and getting 3 friends to help me move it. Second, the room that it's in has on/off power that only works of a light switch that runs all the basement lights (stupid, annoying) so a full-time on golden rod won't work at this point without electrical work to the tune of $5000 (panel would have to be updated for code). My full basement dehumidifier arrives today, so we will see if that helps.

This is how my basement was, I did some rewiring myself to make to work until we ended up updating the panel. How is the dehumidifier going to stay running if it’s on off power?