Best Dehumidifier For Gun Safes

Jeremy Bowyer
Written By Jeremy Bowyer

Jeremy Bower is a generational survivalist and expert outdoorsman.

Gun storage can be a tedious affair – you have to find a decent safe with enough storage and a reliable lock, which is not an easy task. Unfortunately, that’s not enough these days. Humidity can build up even in the most sophisticated gun safe, and we all know what moisture can do to guns – they are not a great match! But how can you solve that problem?

Easy! Find a decent dehumidifier made specifically for gun storage and safes. It’ll help you keep your guns dry, prevent moisture build-up and avoid any potential rust issue that can lead to costly repairs.

1. SnapSafe 75902 – Best For Small Safes

SnapSafe 75902 Safe Dehumidifier Cylinder

SnapSafe is a company that has a variety of different safe sizes and wire accessories that has expanded its offerings in the security products market segment. They try to show everyone that you don’t need accessories only for your guns but for your safety boxes as well. That’s why in 2015, the brand started making dehumidifiers that prevent rust or mildew in your gun safe.

This product has an indicator system with a built-in signal to inform users when the unit needs to be recharged, but the best part is that you get unlimited recharges for a lifetime of use. When the cap indicator turns pink from moisture, the canister will show you it’s time for it to be recharged. There is only one thing you have to do to charge it, and that’s to put it in the oven for two hours at 325ºF.

The SnapSafe 75902 prevents moisture that can cause rust and mildew while still being small and lightweight. Simple accessoriе to keep your valuables pristine while maximizing available space without needing batteries.

Features:

  • Prevents moisture
  • Indicator system for charging
  • Unlimited recharges
  • No batteries required

Pros

  1. No batteries required
  2. Simple to use
  3. Virtually unlimited use

Cons

  1. It doesn’t create airflow

2. Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Moisture Absorber

Arm & Hammer Bakin Sode Moisture Absorber

ARM & HAMMER is a versatile and affordable, gentle yet powerful company that has been the standard of purity and a trusted household staple in millions of homes since 1846.

This moisture absorber and odor eliminator tub works in damp, musty, and humid areas to remove excess moisture in the air. Arm & Hammer is a non-electric dehumidifier that keeps small areas smelling nice all year round. It can be used for your gun safe but also in closets, bathrooms, laundry rooms, mudrooms, basements, crawl spaces, storage rooms, boats, RVs, and anywhere else where stale and musty odors can cause problems.

Like every other product from this brand, the baking soda can be disposed of after use, and each refillable tub lasts up to 60 days. This item combines two natural ingredients, which are baking soda and calcium chloride crystals that absorb excess moisture. Baking soda neutralizes tough odors and freshens the air while keeping your guns, firearms, and valuables safe and dry.

Features:

  • Non-electric dehumidifier
  • Moisture absorber
  • Odor eliminator refillable tub
  • Environmentally-friendly

Pros

  1. No electricity needed
  2. Eliminates odor as well
  3. Lasts up to 60 days
  4. Widely available
  5. Natural product

Cons

  1. Not reusable
  2. Plastic container

3. HomeLabs Small Space Dehumidifier

hOmeLabs Small Space Dehumidifier

Homelabs is a company with a mission, and that’s to establish user-friendly appliances that are intuitive, approachable, and mindful while eliminating moisture from small, enclosed spaces and refreshing the air around you. The Space dehumidifier machine takes in the humid air, removes its moisture, and releases it back into the room for easy, healthier breathing.

Compact, quiet, and energy-efficient, this product works at its best if cleaned weekly and if you want to prolong flawless operation, remember to empty the collection tank when full, placing it back before reusing your dehumidifier. This is the perfect mini dehumidifier for your guns and firearms. It features a low-noise thermoelectric Peltier module and an energy-efficient 25W ETL-certified adapter to prevent overheating.

The Homelabs product is ideal for use at night with low energy consumption and an auto shut-off function that triggers a LED indicator light when the tank is full, and the water is ready for removal. Best for removing moisture and keeping your home free from irritating allergens like dust mites, mold, and mildew, providing a safe environment for your valuables for up to 150 square feet. Lightweight and portable this dehumidifier is our personal favorite!

Features:

  • Mini-dehumidifier
  • low noise thermoelectric peltier module
  • Energy efficient
  • Auto shut-off system
  • Thermoelectric & portable
  • Protects 150 square feet

4. LOCKDOWN GoldenRod – Best For Larger Vaults

LOCKDOWN GoldenRod Rod Dehumidifier

Protect your firearm investment by eliminating humidity, mildew, and condensation with the Golden Rod Dehumidifier, which covers up to 200 cubic feet. The rod features attachable legs for placement and a 6-foot cord with a quick plug attachment which allows for the cord to run through the back of the safe and then be plugged in. This simple product removes moisture from the air in the safe to prevent rust and corrosion from building up inside.

These dehumidifier rods are made right in the U.S. and are perfect for use in a weapon safe, so they protect your firearms, ammo, and valuables items from mildew and humidity. With its slim body, this dehumidifier can even fit in any safety box since it comes in 4 different sizes to best suit your requirements and needs. Some safes are designed with multiple shelves, trays, etc., which sometimes might mean that one area can be less useful than another, and that’s where this product can be inserted.

Keep in mind that this item slightly increases the air temperature inside the safe, which means the vault has to be big enough so that the dehumidifier can be away from the firearms and ammunition since, when dry, they can explode. This dehumidifier comes with a mounting bracket that’s quick and easy to install with a plug-in attachment while protecting your firearms against many dangerous and harmful elements. The best part about this product is that you get a lifetime warranty to go with it.

Features:

  • Rod dehumidifier
  • Quick plug attachment
  • Mounting bracket
  • Protects 200 cubic feet
  • Lifetime warranty

5. Barska Safe Moisture Absorber

Barska Safe Moisture Absorber

Barska is committed to delivering an exceptional quality product at an affordable price to customers worldwide while designing and building with the latest technology, providing years of durable use. The Safe Moisture Absorber dehumidifier is an excellent accessory for preventing long-term moisture damage to your valuables, making it the perfect accessory for any gun vault or small closed space.

Forget about the messy spills and the annoying refills because this product comes with moisture meter beads that indicate when they have to be recharged by changing colors from orange when dry to green when wet showcasing it has reached its moisture absorption capacity. This electric dehumidifier has a fold-out plug that allows it to be plugged into a standard wall outlet to recharge for 12 hours, and then you can put it back into your vault so it can work its magic in protecting your guns and valuables.

Perfect for gun/rifle safes, this product is child and pet-safe while being completely silent in its operation, which means that if you have your safety box in your bedroom, for example, you can sleep without any disturbances. Your dehumidifier is renewable for up to three years. The Barska Absorber can prevent long-term damage to your valuables which makes it an option to consider.

Features:

  • Rechargeable
  • Moisture meter beads
  • A fold-out plug
  • Child and pet safe
  • Renewable for up to 3 Years

6. Zarpax Reusable Dehumidifier

Zarpax Reusable Dehumidifier

ZARPAX is an InnoGoods International BV brand that, since 2006, has aimed to bring customers the most innovative dehumidifying products, which are sold worldwide in over 20 countries. They strive to offer the best product quality, on-time delivery, and customer value.

The innovative Zarpax LV-A300-US dehumidifier battles this problem fearlessly, attracting excess moisture like a magnet and effectively absorbing it so your valuables aren’t damaged. This product will also eliminate any bad odors that may have accumulated in your gun safe while ensuring that your belongings are rust-free.

It comes with an indicator that turns pink when it needs to be recharged and will turn back to blue when it‘s done being charged. You don’t have to refill it, put it in the microwave for 6 minutes, and moisture will evaporate away and be ready to use repeatedly. Forget about the nasty leaks or stains that might cause damage to your valuables inside the safety box because this product traps moisture and drastically reduces relative humidity.

Zarpax is a company whose products absorb moisture while being reusable with no refills needed with a small and compact size that will easily fit in any weapons safe. Since it’s non-electric, you don’t have to worry about drilling holes for cords. There isn’t even an installation process since all you have to do is put it inside and let this carbon-fiber product do its job.

Features:

  • Eliminates moisture & odors
  • Reusable
  • Charging indicator
  • Carbon-fiber print design

7. Liberty Safe Rod

Liberty Safe Rod Dehumidifier

Liberty Safe and Security Products is the number one seller of residential safes in the U.S. The company offers the broadest line of home, gun, office, and commercial safes. They’ve expanded in creating the perfect safe accessories to protect them from all sorts of damage.

This dehumidifier absorbs moisture within to prevent metal valuables rust while heating to a surface temperature of around 100-120ºF, which creates a natural convection that slowly circulates warm, dry air throughout an enclosure on a 24-hour basis. When the temperature inside increases to several degrees above the ambient outside, the heated air forces bring the moist air outside through the small cracks on safe doors, leaving the dry air inside.

For the dehumidifier to work effectively, it has to be horizontally mounted at the bottom of the safe. Note that lowering the humidity is a slow process, and it might need a week or two. Liberty recommends purchasing their electrical outlet kit to plug it in, which comes standard on all Franklin safes and higher.

Liberty strives to achieve high quality in every product put out because not only do your firearms need care, your weapon storage does too. Even if you don’t live in a high-humidity area, you want to prevent mold, mildew, corrosion, and rust, so your firearms and valuables are protected from damage in the future.

Features:

  • Circulates warm, dry air
  • Dehumidifier rod
  • Mounting hardware

8. Ivation 35 Pint

Ivation 35 Pint Dehumidifier

This Energy Star dehumidifier removes 50 pints of moisture daily in areas up to 3,000 square feet, which is impressive for a product that can fit inside a weapons vault. Fitting in most large safes, this premium dehumidifier comes with an extra-long cord that doesn’t need any extensions.

With the simple LCD, you get easy operating settings and great filter and reservoir alerts, while the built-in meter accurately displays the ongoing humidity level in the room, enabling you to set your ideal standards for automatic moisture control that suit your lifestyle and save energy costs.

You can choose from two different fan speeds, regular and turbo, for optimal comfort. This powerful dehumidifier prevents mold, mildew, dust, allergens, and odors for healthy air with an easy-empty reservoir with a removable 1.3-gallon tank that features a clear level indicator and comfortable handles for convenient removal and carries.

The auto-shutoff water level sensor triggers automatic shutoff when the reservoir fills, but all you have to do when that happens is to wash the reusable eco-friendly filter. With low maintenance and smooth operation, this upscale dehumidifier comes with an eco-efficient auto-defrost sensor that prevents wasted energy and protects evaporator coils. If you’re looking for a high-quality product that can prevent damage inside your large safety box, the Energy Star might suit all your needs.

Features:

  • Eliminates moisture & odors
  • Low maintenance
  • Easy operation
  • Bright LED display indicator
  • Eco-efficiency
  • Auto-defrost & auto-restart

9. Remington 500 Mini-Dehumidifier

Remington 500 Mini Dehumidifier

Remington is America’s oldest gun maker and is claimed to be America’s oldest factory that still makes its original product. The company is the largest U.S.A. producer of rifles and shotguns that has developed more cartridges than any other gun maker or ammunition manufacturer in the world. They care for your firearms and the damage humidity can cost, so they’ve created the Remington mini-dehumidifier.

This product is compact and will fit almost any safe while attracting and holding moisture through water crystal technology to protect your valuables from excessive moisture within a 500 cubic feet enclosure. You don’t need any batteries or electricity, which means that even if your safety box doesn’t have pre-drilled holes for mounting, you won’t need to drill any yourself since there are no cords that need to be plugged into an outlet. Not only is this dehumidifier child and pet safe, but it’s also non-toxic and eco-friendly while working for up to 10 years.

Features

  • Protects 500 cubic feet
  • Water crystal technology
  • No battery or cord needed
  • Non-toxic and eco-friendly
  • Child and pet safe

10. MaxxDry SafeDry Dehumidifier

MaxxDry SafeDry Rechargeable Portable Dehumidfier

MaxxDry is a Seattle-based company that started its journey with boot dryers which later on moved to other anti-moisture products like the SafeDry Portable dehumidifier. The safety removes ambient moisture from gun safes, closets, cabinets, and other small spaces by helping to prevent the growth of molds and fungus that cause deterioration and rot amongst precious valuables and firearms.

With a surface area more extensive than others, this affordable product absorbs more moisture very quickly. Don’t worry about leaks and spills because when the moisture is absorbed, it’s not going anywhere else. It’s entirely safe for use in any environment since the non-toxic moisture-absorbing beads will indicate when they need a recharge. You will know that when their color changes from orange when dry to dark green when wet.

How often you’ll have to do that depends on the humidity level in the area you live in. This dehumidifier can absorb up to 8 ounces of moisture, and when you need to recharge it, all you have to do is plug it into any household outlet for about four hours.

Features:

  • Non-toxic moisture-absorbing beads
  • Moisture indicator
  • 100% Rechargeable
  • Wireless

Things To Consider When Purchasing A Dehumidifier?

Emptying a dehumidifier

In today’s crowded market, finding the correct dehumidifier might seem hard, but you shouldn’t worry because we are here to help you take into consideration everything you need to find yourself the perfect product. The most important features you need to look for are size, coverage, absorption capacity, installation, and price.

The first thing you should do is measure the inside of your gun safe and make sure that the dehumidifier you’ve chosen will fit. After that, you have to check the cubic feet the dehumidifier can cover so that you’ll be certain it will be able to keep the moisture low in the safety box. Different dehumidifiers have different absorption capacities, and that’s why it’s necessary to make sure you’ve picked the one that will properly suit your needs. If a dehumidifier has a larger quantity of silica gel beads, it will contain more water which means the larger the product, the better.

Some dehumidifiers are easier to install than others, and some don’t need installation. If you’ve decided on one that doesn’t need a power source, you can place it inside, but if you’ve picked one that works with electricity, your installation process might not be as easy.

Using electric dehumidifiers means the cable needs to pass through the safe if yours comes with pre-drilled holes for mounting, all you have to do is pass them through one of the holes. There are but vaults that don’t have pre-drilled holes, which means you’ll have to do them on your own. Our advice is to contact your manufacturer and ensure this is even a possibility.

Before purchasing a dehumidifier, it’s a good idea to check how easy it is to use. For example, electric ones are very effective at keeping moisture at low levels, but their rod might get very hot, which can be dangerous if they are close to a firearm or gunpowder. Make sure you have enough space inside your vault if that’s what you choose. Silica gel dehumidifiers are easy to install, but they have higher maintenance compared to electric models. Keep in mind that eventually, the beads will become saturated, and you will have to recharge them.

Moisture on a leaf

Last but not least, let’s talk about price. Most dehumidifiers today come at a reasonable price, but some will make you think twice before buying them. Usually, they have small coverage, and the most expensive ones will provide better coverage for large gun safes. If your safety box is small and compact, getting an expensive dehumidifier might not be worth it, but if you have a large vault, it will be a good idea to invest in one that’s pricier.

Coverage is not the only thing that makes a difference in the value, maintenance is another. If a dehumidifier has lower maintenance necessities, it will be more expensive than the ones with a medium or high maintenance level.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Dehumidifiers Work Inside a Safe?

The answer to this question is simple – Yes! Let’s start from the beginning when you purchase a safety box, you want to make sure that your firearms and valuables are safe and secure in your home or office. But the safe can protect your weapons from everything, even though it can withstand force and high temperatures, it can’t help with humidity and moisture.

That’s where dehumidifiers come in and save you from rust, corrosion, and mildew. Not only do dehumidifiers work, but they completely remove the worry of long-term damage from moisture.

Do Safes For Weapons Need Dehumidifiers?

Dehumidifiers are a critical element for your firearm’s survival, and that’s why they should be used by all gun owners, especially those living in moisture-exposed regions. In time water can cost irreversible damage to your safe and its contents, no matter how minimal you think the exposure might be.

Many people put their safety boxes in dark, damp spaces to keep them as hidden as possible, but that is a great opportunity for mold and mildew to grow. Even if you don’t live in a humid environment, with time, the safe will eventually begin to gather moisture, no matter how careful you are. You need dehumidifiers to extend the life of your safe and its valuables, and if you are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for them, you have to be willing to invest in protecting them from moisture damage as well.

humidity meter

What Can You Put In A Gun Safe To Keep Moisture Out?

The easiest way to keep moisture out of your safe is to open it every once in a while for a couple of minutes, but just because you are airing it out, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to do them perfectly. Of course, there are DIY options, such as silica gel packets, dry rice, baking soda, calcium, damp rid of moisture absorbent, and mothballs. Which might minimize the problem but not fully get rid of it.

What happens if you live in an area with high humidity levels? What happens when you permanently damage valuables worth hundreds of thousands of dollars? Avoid that now by spending just a little on dehumidifiers to protect your most prized possessions.

Where Do You Put A Dehumidifier?

For you to be able to keep your gun safe from moisture, mold, and rust, you have to get a dehumidifier for your safety box but finding the right place to put it is equally as important. Dehumidifier rods, canisters, beads, and so many more, the options today are infinite, and that’s why you need to find the one that will suit your needs. When you’ve decided, you can place the product on the front side, near the door, deep inside the safe, near the back of the wall, etc. Your best option, however, will be to place it at the bottom of the safe for maximum protection from corrosion, mold, and mildew.

Final Words

When you’ve purchased firearms and safe storage for them, you’ve spent a lot of money on them to ensure that they are as protected as they can be, but if you want them to last as much as possible, you’ll need a dependable dehumidifier. There are many reasons, such as water, corrosion, rust, mold, mildew, and other damages. You can prevent it even if you don’t live in a particularly humid area because moisture can get you anywhere you are.

Most models are incredibly easy to use, so they don’t cost any trouble but still extend the life of your vault and valuables immensely. If you have any questions on the subject, we would love to hear them in the comments below.