How To Keep Moisture Out Of Your Gun Safe

If you own a firearm you probably already know that moisture is the enemy. Moisture can quickly damage even the best firearms, and can eat through the protective layer of gun oil used to protect the metal. 

That means that if you’re keeping your firearms in a gun safe you need some assurance that there isn’t a ton of moisture getting into the safe where it can damage your firearm. Checking your firearms regularly can help, but preventing moisture damage in the first place is the best option when it comes to keeping your firearms in good condition. 

So, if you’re looking to learn how to keep moisture out of a gun safe, you’re in the right place. Most gun safes either don’t have waterproofing, or only have minimal waterproofing, so it’s important to have other systems in place to keep your guns in good condition. 

Here are a few quick tips to help you keep moisture out of your gun safe, whether it has its own waterproofing or not. 

Store In A Dry Temperature-Stable Location

The first trick to keeping moisture out of your gun safe is to make sure it’s stored somewhere that’s unlikely to have a lot of excess moisture in the first place. Depending on your location that might be a bit more difficult, but usually, basements or attics are a relatively safe location. 

If you want to keep a gun safe in a bedroom or an office, consider whether you’re also using a humidifier in that room, or whether the temperature changes a lot in that room. Temperature matters because the more temperature swings the more likely any moisture in the air will condense inside the gun safe. 

Of course, some homes don’t have a dry temperature stable location you can use to store your firearms and gun safe. In that case, you’ll want to use some of the other tips on this list to help minimize the risk of moisture damage to your firearms in storage. 

Move Your Gun Safe In Case Of Flooding

While not all gun safes can be moved, if you have a mobile safe it’s important to try and move it out of the way of possible floods. For safes that should be installed, consider installing on the second floor, or at least not in the basement, to help minimize the risk of floodwaters getting inside the case. 

If your gun case stays in your vehicle or in the trunk, it’s also a good idea to move the case out of your vehicle in a flood watch. That’s because vehicles can be moved by only a few inches of moving water, and there’s no guarantee they won’t be washed into deeper water where the gun case can be submerged. 

Get A Lighted Gun Safe

This might seem like an odd trick, but having a lighted gun case can actually help minimize the damage from any moisture that gets into the case. 

All you need to do is turn on the light in the case to help provide a little extra heat and light to evaporate the moisture, so it leaves. Even LED lights that don’t produce a lot of heat can help. 

Of course, this trick doesn’t keep moisture out of your gun safe, it just makes it easier to get rid of excess moisture before it can cause damage. 

Use Natural Dehumidifiers To Reduce Moisture

Reducing the moisture in your gun case is often best accomplished by using natural dehumidifiers to keep the moisture levels low. 

Silica gels packs are one of the most common options when it comes to keeping moisture out of a gun safe. Silica gel naturally absorbs all nearby moisture, which is why it’s often used to help keep dry foods fresh and healthy. Adding a few packs to your gun safe can protect against moisture since the silica gel can absorb a surprising amount of moisture before becoming saturated. 

Silica gel also dries out slowly over time even once saturated, which means that you don’t have to change out silica gel. It will keep absorbing as long as it stays in your gun case. 

If you don’t have silica gel on hand, don’t worry. Dry rice in a bag or packet is another good option to help reduce the moisture levels in your gun case. Just be aware that dry rice can attract insects over time, so you will need to trade out the dry rice occasionally even if no moisture makes it into your gun safe. 

If you want to read more of our reviews check out our best gun safe dehumidifier article. 

Store With An Electric Dehumidifier

Another important trick to keep moisture out of your gun safe is to store your gun safe in a room with an electric dehumidifier. This option is most effective if you live in a climate that’s naturally humid since you’re helping counteract the natural moisture in the air. 

If you live somewhere with relatively low humidity an electric dehumidifier is probably unnecessary. 

Try to set up your dehumidifier relatively close to the gun safe itself. If you can place the dehumidifier within about 3 ft of the gun safe it will be much more effective at keeping moisture out of the safe itself. 

Electric dehumidifiers are often most effective in combination with silica gel or another physical dehumidifier inside the gun case itself. Combining both options will help keep your guns safe, even in the wettest and most humid climates. 

Place Your Gun Safe In A Room With Air Conditioning

If you live in a hot or humid climate you might have another option depending on the design of your home. Air conditioning units naturally pull moisture from the air as part of the cooling process, which results in much less humid air and much less moisture that can make it into your gun safe. 

If your home is air-conditioned, placing your gun safe near the air conditioner, or near a central air vent, can be a good way to keep moisture out of the safe. 

However, like using an electric dehumidifier, you shouldn’t count on A/C alone to keep your guns moisture-free. Instead, use in combination with silica gel or dry rice to make sure your guns are as safe as possible.