Moisture: The Subtle Threat

A threat that is commonly overlooked by most people who buy or already own safes is moisture. Unlike a fire or burglary, moisture will, overtime, deteriorate and or even destroy personal valuables. By the time you realize that you have a moisture problem, the damage has already been done. To prevent this from happening, there are devices that are placed in the safe called dehumidifiers.

Dehumidifiers are an essential accessory to a safe that helps protect your valuables such as guns, jewelry, and other precious metals from rust, corrosion, and pitting. They limit the amount of moisture within a certain area. There are a few different types of dehumidifiers designed for safes.

The first is a type of heating element. They are most commonly known as “Dri-Rods” or “Goldenrods”.  They function by using electricity to heat up the rod. They sit at the bottom of your safe and as heat radiates off the rod, it circulates the air throughout the safe preventing condensation from forming. This type of dehumidifier requires virtually no maintenance as it continually runs off of a very small amount of electricity.

Another type of dehumidifier is a desiccant type of dehumidifier.  Desiccant or Silica beads absorb the moisture in a given area. With these dehumidifiers, the desiccant needs to be dried out after prolonged use. In order to dry it out, it needs to sit in an oven for about twelve hours at 250°. After which time, it can go back into the safe.

An Eva-dry dehumidifier is a new an improved version of a desiccant dehumidifier. Eva-Drys contain water glass technology crystals. These crystals have a much higher absorption rate than traditional desiccant products.  These crystals are encased within the unit. There is an indicator on the front that lets you know if the Eva-Dry needs to be recharged. To recharge the Eva-Dry, simply flip out its plug and plug it into a wall outlet for 8-12 hours. The Eva-Dry has a life span for about 10 years.

For climates with higher humidity, it is a good idea to use any of the three units together. These items are available at a minimal cost and can save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of damage to your firearms and or other valuables.