Acceptable humidity and temperature range?

[C-dub]

Because of another thread I became interested in being aware of and monitoring the humidity inside my safe. I have a temperature and humidity remote monitor, but have no idea what the ideal temp or humidity ranges are. I cannot control the temperature since the Mrs. wouldn't let me put it inside the air conditioned area house. I've had the monitor in place for about a month now and it has been running fairly steady from 80-85 degress and 57-62% humidity. It mostly stays at 57-58 and went up to 61-62 during the monsoon season last month.

The area gets pretty warm during the summer, so I'll have to see how high it actually gets this summer. What have ya'll seen the temp and humidity run in yours? Does mine seem unusual or fairly normal at this time?

[Middle Age Russ]

I wish that I had some insight to offer. My safe is inside the house in my bedroom. I went ahead and got both a golden-rod (seems like a small, low wattage heater to keep the safe interior a tad warmer than outside) and an inexpensive de-humidifier that can be plugged in periodically to renew. Now that you brought it up, it might make sense to get a remote thermo / hygrometer to know what's going on.

[C-dub]

I forgot to mention that I do have one of the large Eva-dry dehumidifiers inside the safe.

[WinoVeritas]

50% RH @ 70F is supposedly the ideal per http://www.nramuseum.org/media/940963/c ... oninfo.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

My safe (in bedroom closet - A/C-Furnace so in temp controlled environment) currently is in the mid 40% RH and fairly constant 80-85 F. I use a PEET M10 electric dehumidifier and also have a 2lb box of desiccant inside that can be recharged in the event of power loss. Dew Point is around 56-60 F. 2.5 years or so - so far papers and guns showing no signs of problems and as long as the dew point not reached, shouldn't be any problems. Come winter the temp drops a bit as does the RH along with corresponding Dew Point.

EDIT: Have a couple of hygrometers - one in safe and one exterior for comparison of Temp & RH. Also have a tester (I use at work) to verify - all are within 1 or 2 points each other.

[Weg]

I have had my gunsafe in my garage for 10 years, no room in the house. It's pretty humid in the summers ( Central Texas). All I have ever done is keep about 20 or so desiccant bags on the floor of the safe. I change them once every 2 years or so. I have never had a rust problem with anything inside my safe, the outside has substantial surface rust though. I really did not expect it to work out, was just too cheap to go the Golden rod route, it has however worked well, that's all I have ever done to keep the humidity down.

[C-dub]

I've heard about and read about the 50%/70 degree thing. I wish I could have gotten it in the AC part of the house. I have not had any problems with corrosion yet that I have seen. I keep the firearms clean and protected pretty well with Froglube. I haven't done much of anything to protect the wood stuff yet and didn't know if I needed to worry about it too much with the humidity level running about 57-62% or not.

I'll try and keep updating everyone how it goes over the next year. I like spreadsheets. Maybe I'll set up one where I can document the temp and humidity at least once a day and track it all. Off to Excel!

[C-dub]

I seriously neglected to keep this thread updated.

Humidity has not been an issue and of course varies with the seasons, but mostly has stayed within about 45-60%. My biggest swings have expectantly been with temperature being in the garage. We did get some new garage doors that are insulated and that has helped regulate the temperature in the garage a little bit more. It was a little cooler in there this past summer and we'll find out what happens this winter. However, I have noticed over the past couple of weeks since he temperatures have started dropping that the temp in the safe has also dropped into the 55-60 degree range matching the outdoor temp mostly. I knew this was going to happen from last year and purchased one of the 24" goldenrods off amazon a couple weeks ago.

I installed that two days ago and have already noticed a temperature increase from 58 to 64 as of a few minutes ago. The humidity is also hovering right around 45-47%. I don't know if it will keep the temp up there, but hope it will since I got the one rated for up to 300 cubic feet and put it in a roughly 36 cubic foot safe, I figured it might keep the temp up a little bit more than usual.

I need to charge the Eva-dry thing.

[JerryK]

Non-condensing is the critical part of the equation. Temperature swings are the root of the problem. If you want to have a rusting/corrosion problem expose your guns to temperature swings, as are experienced in an un-conditions environment. Suppose your placed your gun in the refrigerator then removed it and placed it on the table. We all know what will happen it will begin to condense water vapor from the air. The same thing happens when a large steel mass is placed outside when it is cool, then the next day we have a warm front comes up from the south pushing humidity from the gulf. The safe will begin to sweat. This moisture will be sucked in through the cracks and everything will become wet. The more mass the worse the problem will become, and we all know the safes and guns are nothing more than a huge heat sink which doesn't change temperature fast. The cold to warm is the critical swing, warm to cold is not effected. This is the reason for using heaters to control humidity. The theory is to keep the mass above ambient temperature where it will not become a condensing issue. In the scenario of the warm front blowing in it is difficult to keep the mass above the rising ambient temperature as fast as it is rising.

Warm air will hold more moisture (in grains of moisture) than cold air. Humidity is a 'calculation' of grains of moisture @ a given temperature.

[twomillenium]

Non-condensing is the critical part of the equation. Temperature swings are to root of the problem. If you want to have a rusting/corrosion problem expose your guns to temperature swings, as are experienced in an un-conditions environment. Suppose your placed your gun in the refrigerator then removed it and placed it on the table. We all know what will happen it will begin to condense water vapor from the air. The same thing happens when a large steel mass is placed outside when it is cool, then the next day we have a warm front comes up from the south pushing humidity from the gulf. The safe will begin to sweat. This moisture will be sucked in through the cracks and everything will become wet. The more mass the worse the problem will become, and we all know the safes and guns are nothing more than a huge heat sink which doesn't change temperature fast. The cold to warm is the critical swing, warm to cold is not effected. This is the reason for using heaters to control humidity. The theory is to keep the mass above ambient temperature where it will not become a condensing issue. In the scenario of the warm front blowing in it is difficult to keep the mass above the rising ambient temperature as fast as it is rising.

Warm air will hold less moisture (in grains of moisture) than cold air. Humidity is a 'calculation' of grains of moisture @ a given temperature.

????? Is that why the humidity is higher in warmer temperatures than in cooler?

[Bitter Clinger]

It becomes confusing unless one studies and understands a psychrometric chart. Regardless, the statement I think that was meant to be made was this:

Relative humidity (RH) indicates the amount of water vapor (percent) that’s actually in the air compared to the maximum amount that the air could hold under the same conditions. The warmer the air, the more moisture it can hold.

[JerryK]

I think that was meant to be made was this:

You are correct My fingers were typing faster than my brain

[Bitter Clinger]

I think that was meant to be made was this:

You are correct My fingers were typing faster than my brain

Understandable! Perhaps a discussion of dry bulb vs. wet bulb and dewpoint might help but not sure that there remains any interest. On the other hand, if nothing else in the OP's garage is corroding, then its probably not worth worrying about...

[Abraham]

You guys are as bad as cigar enthusiasts discussing how to maintain a humidor...

Just leave the safe door wide open so the AC in the summer and/or the heat in the winter can make certain the weather in the humidor, uh, I mean safe is stable, right...?

Also, if the door is left unlocked and wide open it's easier to access your guns and/or put up your guns...right...?

Isn't desiccant the stuff you're not supposed to eat? At least, all my little desiccant thingies have "Do Not Eat" printed on them...cuz, ya know, when you see those little packets your hunger to eat them roars into life, right?

[Bitter Clinger]

You guys are as bad as cigar enthusiasts discussing how to maintain a humidor...

Just leave the safe door wide open so the AC in the summer and/or the heat in the winter can make certain the weather in the humidor, uh, I mean safe is stable, right...?

Also, if the door is left unlocked and wide open it's easier to access your guns and/or put up your guns...right...?

Isn't desiccant the stuff you're not supposed to eat? At least, all my little desiccant thingies have "Do Not Eat" printed on them...cuz, ya know, when you see those little packets your hunger to eat them roars into life, right?

So I take this to mean that you do not wish to see an in depth discussion of adsorption isotherms?