For gun owners, a gun safe is an essential thing to have. However, while a gun safe can prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing your guns, it’s completely incapable against moisture and humidity. And as we all know, when guns and other metallic objects are exposed to moisture over time, they can start corroding. With the best gun safe dehumidifier, you can keep your firearms dry and thereby protect them from corrosion.
With that said, we must mention that buying the best gun safe dehumidifier is not all that straightforward. If you don’t want to end up with an ineffective one, there are many factors you must take into account. The first key factor is absorption capacity, which means the amount of water a dehumidifier can absorb. Then you should consider the coverage area, which will determine if the device can handle your safe. Of course, the dimensions are important as well, as you need to ensure it’ll fit in your safe.
To help you eliminate the guesswork out of your shopping, we have compiled the top gun safe dehumidifiers on the market at the moment. In terms of research, we invested a lot of effort and time into it, as usual. In the end, we have streamlined this guide as much as possible. In this article, you will find a comparison table, the reviews of our chosen products, a buying guide, and an FAQ section.
More features: other sizes available; UL listed
There are not many more efficient methods for preventing corrosion on stored items than heated rods. That’s the reason everyone loves the LOCKDOWN GoldenRod Dehumidifier Rod, and that’s why it takes the top spot on our list. Most dehumidifiers often reduce the relative humidity by eliminating water from surrounding air, but this model heats the air to lower the humidity. Apart from being helpful for humidity, it also increases the difference happing between dew point and ambient temperatures.
There is an electric element in the rod’s glass tubing, which helps to heat the air. Then, it is insulated in a naturally occurring mineral called Vermiculite. With this construction, the rod is nearly indestructible when properly used. It also helps to aid even distribution of air. While the rod’s 150 degrees Fahrenheit maximum temperature means you cannot hold the rods in your hands, it is also sufficiently low that it couldn’t start a fire, even with a piece of paper.
Furthermore, the product is made in multiple sizes, which range from 12 to 36 inches long. This enables you to customize the road to fit the available space in your gun safe. The product is also backed by a lifetime warranty, which indicates the amount of trust the manufacturer has in the product. While we almost couldn’t find any flaw to mention, we realized that nothing is ever perfect. That’s why we would note that it would have been better if could be mounted on the roof of the safe, as the floor mounting means it’ll be knocked about when taking your guns.
More features: works for up to 10 years; lasts 20-30 days before renewing
We understand that human beings are made to crave convenience at all times, which is why we have included the New and Improved Eva-dry E-333 in our list. It’s easy to see that this desiccant dehumidifier was designed for optimum convenience. The first proof is its tank-less design, which means you won’t have trouble carrying it around, either to clean spillage or to empty it. It instead contains crystallized silica gel beads, which lock moisture in by absorbing it.
While the beads come in orange color, they turn to green during the absorption process. There is an indicator window that provides you with a clear view of the beads, so it’s easy to know when they are due for renewal. Moreover, the unit has a capacity of six ounces, which is equivalent to about four to six weeks. And for the absorption process, this unit doesn’t require any power outlets or batteries, which is convenient. However, you need to plug it into a power outlet when the beads are full to dry them out.
Thanks to the compact size of the device, you can put it not only in a gun safe. This means you can put it in a bathroom, kitchen, closet, or damp cupboard, as long as the space isn’t more than 333 cubic feet. In terms of longevity, this device is expected to last for up to ten years. Plus, that, it is odorless and non-toxic, which makes it safe to use. While recharging it takes eight to ten hours, its low price means you won’t really be disappointed.
More features: backed by a 5-year warranty
The next product coming up is the PEET SafeKeeping Dryer and Dehumidifier, which is another model that uses unique technology for dehumidification. While PEET as a company might not be renowned for its production of gun safe dehumidifiers, this offering might just be the statement they need. The first thing you will notice when you see this unit is its unique design – this one sits vertically rather than horizontally lying on the safe’s bottom.
However, this might not be the right design for you if your safe is cramped already, but if there is enough space in it, this model is one of your best options. The way it works is quite straightforward – the rod produces heat, which reduces the level of moisture in the safe and thereby protects your firearms. As soon as the unit is plugged in, then the heat slowly rises out of the rod’s top. And since it doesn’t have a fan, there won’t be noticeable airflow or noise; only the heat required to eliminate humidity.
In terms of installation, installation is a breeze with this dehumidifier. Besides, it’s less expensive than many models in its category, but it comes in only one size option. It also comes with a five-year warranty, which is quite generous from the manufacturer.
More features: rechargeable – place it in the oven at 325ºF for two hours
Every gun owner needs a high-quality dehumidifier like the SnapSafe Canister Dehumidifier to protect their weapon from moisture. Being a compact unit that would perfectly fit in your toaster oven or safe, it’s not surprising that it’s one of the most popular options on the market. There is the blue to pink indicator at the top of the silica gel, which is there to let you know when a recharge is required and can be easily viewed through the top, everything while the remaining gel fills up the rest of the container.
Furthermore, the snap safe is recharged by heating, like most modern canister dehumidifiers. It’s recommended you utilize it in an oven at 300 degrees temperature and ensure you heat the oven up prior to putting the canister in it. In terms of recharging time, this device doesn’t really need to be recharged often. Full recharge takes about four to eight hours, and you wouldn’t need to charge again for the next 20 to 30 days once it’s been fully charged.
Another good thing you will find is the lifetime warranty, which is a good reason to buy the product. However, it’s worth noting that it covers only defective devices, so you don’t need to pay for the mistake of the manufacturer. Generally, this is a nice product that should serve you perfectly. The only thing we’d like to mention is that you shouldn’t rely on this for a large safe as it might not be effective for it. It also won’t work as a full garage dehumidifier, as it’s rather small for that purpose.
More features: renewable; can last a lifetime; adsorbs 15 percent of its weight in water vapor in 2 hours
If you are looking to humidify a gun safe that’s about three cubic feet, then you can’t look beyond the Hydrosorbent Dehumidifiers Desiccant Drying Unit. Apart from being suitable for humidifying your gun safe, it’s also perfect for small spaces like your toolboxes, telescope cases, and camera boxes. Additionally, this device operates without any power source, which is a pretty extraordinary feature. You just have to place it in your gun safe, and it will start dehumidifying.
Furthermore, the Hydrosorbent Dehumidifiers Desiccant Drying Unit is equipped with a built-in recharge indicator, which although is in orange color originally, turns itself clear whenever it needs to be reactivated. Another impressive part is that the silica gel used will last you for a lifetime, which is something you don’t see every day. You just need to put it in the oven for reactivation. And it’s needless to say that the reactivation procedure is extremely simple.
It’s also worthwhile to mention that the unit doesn’t contain any cobalt, which explains why it’s not susceptible to spoilage. In general, this product is bound to amaze you with its extensive range of features. The only downside it has is the fact that it is not ideal for large gun safes.
More features: rechargeable; beads change color from blue to pink
While there are lots of dehumidifiers that offer basically the same features, then there are some like the Interteck Packaging Silica Gel Bulk Desiccant Beads with extraordinary abilities. The premium-quality silica gel used in this product is ideal for eliminating mold, mildew, moisture, and corrosion. If you are always concerned about the increasing moisture in your gun safe, then you must not look beyond this as it is capable of effectively dehumidifying an enclosed area of around 470 cubic inches.
Apart from your gun safe, you can also use it to dehumidify ammo cans, jewelry, books, firearms, electronics, cameras, and clothing. Another excellent feature you will find is a recharge indicator, and the way it works is quite simple. When the silica gel is filled with moisture, it turns to green from orange, which is a way to inform you to recharge it again for uninterrupted operations. And once it is time for reactivation, the silica just turns to pink from blue.
Furthermore, this unit is not susceptible to spoilage, which makes it different from some other silica gel-based dehumidifiers we came across when writing this review. But why isn’t it susceptible to spoilage? Well, it’s simple. It doesn’t contain any cobalt. However, the fact that the can is made with plastic instead of metal is a huge cause of concern.
Firearms do well in pretty dry storage conditions. High levels of humidity, in fact, may cause metallic objects to corrode and rust, which shortens your guns’ lifespans. We have reviewed the best gun safe dehumidifiers to help prevent humidity from spoiling your firearms.
However, you need more than just reviews to choose the right dehumidifier. You need to know the things you need to look for during your shopping. To help eliminate the guesswork form your shopping, we have included everything you need to know.
According to experts, a dehumidifier is almost a must-have for your gun safe, and the reason is quite simple. Of course, you don’t want the firearms stored in your gun safe to get damaged, right? But that is exactly what’ll happen when the humidity gets to the wooden and metal parts of the gun. Therefore, corrosion and rust are the primary reasons why you require a gun safe dehumidifier for your safe.
It is quite simple to assume that a gun safe will adequately protect your guns. This is a lie that is far from the truth taking into account that these safes usually limit air flow. As a result, moisture will start attacking your firearms except you, of course, take the necessary safety measures. Humidity causes corrosion, mildew, and rusting to your guns’ wood or steel components.
Mold and rust might not only damage your firearms, but can damage the safe as well. Consequently, the only way to guarantee a long life for your gun safe and its content is to invest in a high-quality gun safe dehumidifier.
Dehumidifiers guarantee longer lifespan for gun safes. Fortunately, the market is filled with an abundance of premium-quality dehumidifiers to choose from. We have invested a lot of time to pick the best products when it comes to resisting the threat of excess moisture or humidity.
There are two primary types of dehumidifiers for gun safes on the market – desiccant and electric. If you are a total beginner that doesn’t know what they mean, we will break everything down for you.
A desiccant dehumidifier utilizes beads to absorb humidity from the air within the gun safe. While they usually come in many various shapes and sizes, all of them contain silica gel packets. The silica gel can absorb only a particular amount of humidity before you will have to remove them from the gun safe for recharging. It’s quite simple to do this – you just need to use heat to vaporize the water. While you can plug in some desiccant dehumidifiers to produce their own heat, others have to be put in an oven to recharge.
Furthermore, desiccant units are the easiest to install or set up, as you just have to put them inside your gun safe. Generally, electric dehumidifiers need that you drill a hole in the gun safe, which may be stressful. Desiccant units are durable and don’t utilize electricity, which means the extra cost to utilizing them is little. You can recharge the beads over and over for many years before it will need replacement.
While desiccant models are cheaper than electric models, you will probably need to change them eventually as the silica gel weakens as a result of its absorption duties.
In recent years, electric dehumidifiers are starting to gain popularity for being a premium solution. Using an exposed heating element, these units use heat for moisture evaporation. This kind of dehumidifier is suitable for individuals in excessively humid climates. In general, they are believed to be more powerful than their desiccant counterparts.
Installing them, however, can be complicated as you will have to drill a hole in the gun safe, through which you will run the power cords. While some electric units are battery-operated, they need constant attention.
Besides, they have a tendency of being smaller in size and being less powerful, which makes them unideal for large gun safes. You’ll also need to monitor the temperature in your safe carefully when utilizing an electric unit. While it’s not possible for it to get too hot to be at a risk of exploding, it could make your guns and bullets to be too hot for touch.
There’re many factors that you have to take into consideration before buying a gun safe dehumidifier. Besides, you need to gauge the type of safe you have, particularly if there’s no wire pass through in it.
Below are some key things that you need to remember when shopping for the right gun safe dehumidifier for your needs:
As we already mentioned earlier, there are many types of gun safe dehumidifiers. However, the primary ones are just two and they are desiccant dehumidifiers and electrical dehumidifiers. The desiccant models like the Interteck Packaging Silica Gel Bulk Desiccant Beads and the Hydrosorbent Dehumidifiers Desiccant Drying Unit contain silica gel, which they use to absorb humidity from the air within your gun safe.
On the other hand, the electrical models like the PEET SafeKeeping Dryer and Dehumidifier either require batteries or have to be plugged into a power outlet in order to operate.
First of all, the absorption capacity of the unit ought to be one of your primary considerations. Every product comes with different specifications that you need to analyze in advance.
Some models on our list use silica gel beads for absorption, which works by absorbing the humidity in the gun safe. For these units, the quantity of the silica gel beads will determine the absorption capacity of the dehumidifier. This means if the silica gel is large in quantity, then the unit will have a high absorption capacity and vice versa.
Therefore, if you are considering buying a silica gel unit, then you need to know that the larger the unit, the higher its capacity to absorb humidity. It goes without saying that this factor influences the effectiveness of a unit.
The coverage area is also an important factor as gun safes often come in different sizes. You need to check the description of the product to know the amount of space the dehumidifier will be able to handle. With that in mind, you’ll be able to know if the model you’re looking at will be able to cover your gun safe.
To make sure that the safe is covered adequately, some people often purchase two dehumidifiers. While the Interteck Packaging Silica Gel Bulk Desiccant Beads has the smallest coverage area on our list, the New and Improved Eva-dry E-333 has the largest.
If you are buying an electric model, then you need to take the length of its power cord into consideration. Normally, electric models often require you to run their cord through a hole in the safe into an outlet. With a short power cord, there are chances that you will really struggle with this.
So, you have bought a desiccant dehumidifier to keep your firearms safe, which is excellent. But after only a month, you realize that the unit you bought is no longer working. Does this mean you will need to purchase a new one? Well, that’s why you need to buy a product that is rechargeable.
Thankfully, all the desiccant dehumidifiers we have recommended in our list are rechargeable. While the recharging process might require a little effort, you need to ensure your desiccant dehumidifier is properly maintained if you want it to keep preventing humidity from damaging your firearms and even gun safe.
Gun safe dehumidifiers usually come in different sizes and shapes. And based on the size of the units, the amount of space they can cover will vary. So, before making your buying decision, ensure you consider the size of your gun safe and take into account the size of your firearm collection.
Simply put, it makes no sense to purchase a large safe dehumidifier if you have a rather small space. Essentially, this means that your purchase should be dictated by your needs. Otherwise, you will just end up spending a lot more money than necessary.
Of course, there are some extra features you still need to take into consideration before making your final buying decision. First of all, you need to know if the product is backed by a warranty. While a company may claim their product will last for a particular number of years, such a claim is nothing without a warranty to back it up.
Additionally, you also need to consider some other things like the design of the unit, and if it comes with indicators to inform users it’s due for renewal.
Desiccant dehumidifiers usually utilize a special silica gel to absorb the humidity in the air. However, there is only so much they can hold before they will stop working. When they reach their limit, and they stop working, you don’t need to throw the unit away and buy a new one again. You just need to reactivate it instead.
When you get your new desiccant dehumidifier, make sure you read its instructions thoroughly because the reactivation procedure often varies for every product. You, however, basically have to heat up the unit to get rid of the humidity. You will need to heat up the unit or its component in the oven at a high temperature. This process often takes about three to six hours.
While you will have to heat some desiccant dehumidifiers in the oven, others will come with a plug-in system that autonomously heats up the device. When heating the unit in the oven, remember to remove all flammable parts, such as cases or plastic lids.
Besides, the beads in most desiccant dehumidifiers often change to a particular color to let you know when it’s time for reactivation. For instance, the beads in the Interteck Packaging Silica Gel Bulk Desiccant Beads change from blue to pink in such situations.
Heating rods provide the most efficient way to prevent corrosion, which is why our top spot goes to the LOCKDOWN GoldenRod Dehumidifier Rod. Apart from being super-effective, this rod is nearly indestructible, thanks to its Vermiculite insulation. Backed by a lifetime warranty, this is the best gun safe dehumidifier on our list by a wide margin.
Taking the second spot on our list is the budget-friendly New and Improved Eva-dry E-333. Despite being a budget-friendly model, this dehumidifier has the largest coverage area on our list, which is super remarkable.
Then comes the PEET SafeKeeping Dryer and Dehumidifier, which with its unique design, has won over the hearts of many. With its efficient and quiet operation, it’s no wonder that it took the third spot on our list.
