How Does an Electric Dehumidifier Work in a Gun Safe?

Using an electric dehumidifier is one of the most common ways to keep your gun safe from humidity. If you just installed one, you are probably wondering, how does an electric dehumidifier work in a gun safe? Well, in this guide I will help you answer that question so that you can understand its benefits for your gun.

How Does an Electric Dehumidifier Work in a Gun Safe?

An Electric dehumidifier works in a gun safe use by using electric heating elements to control the humidity and prevent condensation inside the safe.

These exposed heating elements evaporate the moisture with zero risks of destroying the contents of the safe. This feature makes it possible to remove the excess humidity that desiccant dehumidifiers cannot.

Most electric dehumidifiers apply two standard principles to operate:

• They create a stable environment inside the safe by reducing the fluctuations in temperature while minimizing the humidity levels inside the safe, preventing condensation.
• They maintain air circulation inside the safe: hot air rises, and cold air descends. This continuous air circulation and heating effect force the humid air out of the storage. As a result, the humidity inside the gun safe is at a minimum to protect your gun.

Using a Surge Protector

Most electric dehumidifiers like DRI-ROD can operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To maximize the life of your dehumidifier, I recommend that you place it on a surge protector.

These tested dehumidifiers have a surface temperature of around 125 degrees F. This temperature is safe and will not cause any damage to the contents of your safe.

Moreover, you should not feel worried about power consumption. An average gun safe dehumidifier uses about 110 vaults. Because of this, you should leave your electric dehumidifiers functioning all the time.

Where Should You Put a Dehumidifier in a Gun Safe?

For maximum performance, I recommend that you fit your electric dehumidifier at the bottom of your gun safe. Alternatively, you can place it at the front side, close to the door, deep inside the gun safe or next to the back wall.

Take Advantage of Drilled Holes

Most gun safes in the market come with pre-drilled holes. These holes allow the users to pass the power cables and pass it to a power source. If your safe comes without these pre-drilled holes, then you can drill it yourself as per your preference.

These holes are helpful when:

• Passing cables
• Securing screws
• Fixing the dehumidifier Y

Put it at the Bottom for Maximum Protection

Overall, I recommend that you put your electric dehumidifier at the bottom of your gun safe. This option is hustle-free and secure. This position gives your gun safe maximum protection because the moisture will be elevated right from the bottom.

If you are not comfortable with drilling a hole, you can go for rechargeable electric dehumidifiers. Nevertheless, these rechargeable dehumidifier options are not ideal for large gun safe because they tend to be smaller and might not be cost-effective in the long run.

How Many Electric Dehumidifiers Should I Use?

Two factors determine the number of dehumidifiers that you should use:

• The size of your gun safe
• The number of weapons in the safe

Most gun owners use one electric dehumidifier. If you have a large safe, however,  you may need more than one electric dehumidifying unit.

Combine Electric and Desiccant Dehumidifiers

If you are using rechargeable electric dehumidifiers, you might need to use more than one in a large gun safe. I recommend that you combine both electric and desiccant dehumidifiers depending on the humidity level of your region.

Use a Hygrometer

As a responsible gun owner, you need to check the humidity inside the gun safe regularly. The best way to do this is by using a hygrometer to gauge the relative humidity inside the safe. The hygrometer will tell you whether one dehumidifier is enough not.

You also need to find the best electric dehumidifier for your gun safe. There are several ways to do this:

• Read expert reviews such as those on this site
• Read customer reviews on Amazon
• Get referrals from friends who have experience with gun safety

Using these, you will be able to know manufacturers who have high-quality electric dehumidifiers. You will understand why electric dehumidifiers are preferred over to desiccant dehumidifiers.

Note: Over time, your dehumidifier rod will go bad – here is how to check it.

Conclusion

The performance of your electric gun safe dehumidifier depends on how well you have installed it, the size of your safe, and the type of the electric dehumidifier you choose. Bigger gun safes are not so compatible with rechargeable electric dehumidifiers.

It is also important to note that the best position to position your dehumidifier is at the bottom of the safe. Finally, check the safe’s user manual for specifications from manufacturers before making any modifications.