Guns are pretty expensive. That’s why it’s so important to look after them properly. When you aren’t using your gun, you want to put them away in a safe, but safe’s can also damage your gun if they aren’t well ventilated.
A dehumidifier for your gun safe in your garage is a good idea, then, to make sure that mold and mildew don’t damage your gun.
Of course, there are a lot of great dehumidifiers for gun safes in garages out there. The only thing is, how do you choose the best option for you?
We’re here to help. Here are some of the best dehumidifiers for gun safe in the garage on the market. We’ve also written a handy buyer’s guide to help you to narrow down your decision.
OUR TOP PICK
One of the biggest problems with dehumidifiers is that they can eat up a lot of electricity.
Thankfully, if you’re looking to save a little bit of money on your energy bills, the Peet - Dryer and Dehumidifier for Gun Safes is a great option.
The gun safe is a pretty attractive looking option - it’s sleek and won’t look out of place inside of your gun safe.
What’s even better is that it can operate well in gun safes that measure around 80 cubic feet, and all it needs to run is a 110-120 volt power outlet.
It’s made by a well known brand that has plenty of expertise in creating high quality drying equipment, so you can be sure that this particular dehumidifier will get the job done just fine.
Not only that, but the dehumidifier makes no sound whatsoever. This means that if your garage is next to your living space, you won’t have to listen to a dehumidifier whirring all day, which can get pretty irritating after a while.
The dehumidifier is very affordable too, costing relatively little in the long run. Of course, the dehumidifier is somewhat large, so if you have a small gun safe then it may not be the best option for you.
Pros
- Easy installation
- Low cost on energy bills
- Makes no noise
Cons
- It’s a little big so it may not be suitable for a smaller dehumidifier
EDITORS CHOICE
Humidity is a thing of the past with the LockDown GoldenRod Dehumidifier. This highly effective device is perfect for keeping your safe completely dry and protecting your firearms.
It even comes in a bunch of different sizes, so you can be sure that you will choose something that works for you.
Setting up a dehumidifier has never been easier than it is with this option. The dehumidifier comes with a cord and an attachable plug - all you need to do is pull the cord from the backside of the safe, then plug it in.
You can put it pretty much anywhere you want too thanks to the attachable legs. The dehumidifier is highly durable, made out of high quality, reliable materials.
The dehumidifier also comes with mountain brackets that will allow you to connect the bar up to the base pieces of your safe.
The lifetime warranty is another big upside. It should be noted that it can get a little bit hot, however.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Affordable
- Comes in a range of sizes
Cons
- It can get incredibly hot - you will need to be careful if you are picking it up
BEST VALUE
Sometimes setting up a dehumidifier can be a little tricky if it connects to electricity. If setting up an electronic dehumidifier seems like more work than it’s worth, it’s a good idea to invest in a wireless option.
The Eva Dry Wireless Mini Dehumidifier is a great option for this.
To use this dehumidifier, all you need to do is recharge it once for a short amount of time - 8 to 10 hours will do. After you’ve charged the dehumidifier, it can operate for around 20 to 30 days without trouble.
It can absorb up to 6oz. So how does the dehumidifier work? It has little renewable silica gel beads, and these will absorb any moisture from inside of the safe. They will change color too.
To use the dehumidifier, you don’t need any electricity, cables or cords. This means it’s ideal if you don’t have holes drilled into the safe.
The dehumidifier doesn’t overly stand out in terms of appearance, so it should fit in with any gun safe.
It’s also supposed to last for around 10 years, and it even comes with a 5 year warranty for peace of mind. Not to mention it’s silent in operation, so no annoying noises.
The only downside is that it doesn’t hold a great deal of water but this isn’t much of an issue if you have a smaller safe.
Pros
- Long lasting
- No wires required
- No noise
Cons
- Isn’t capable of holding large capacities of water
RUNNER UP
If you’re in the market for a great desiccant dehumidifier for a gun safe, then the SnapSafe Safe Dehumidifier is a great choice for you.
With this product, you no longer need to worry about your guns getting damaged from corrosion and rust as the dehumidifier will get any moisture out of the air for you.
The dehumidifier is fairly small, which makes it a fantastic choice if your gun safe is particularly small. It’s easy to carry as it’s lightweight, and while it’s rechargeable it also doesn’t need batteries to operate.
In addition to this, the dehumidifier comes with an indicator system built in, and this will tell you when the dehumidifier needs charging. The cap will change to a pink color when it’s time to recharge it.
If you are at all worried about the product, the manufacturer offers a lifetime warranty to protect you against material and manufacturing defaults.
You can recharge the dehumidifier an unlimited number of time too, so you can be sure that it will last for a number of years.
Using it is also pretty simple, as all you need to do is put the device inside of your gun safe and it will do the work for you.
Once you’ve charged it, it can last for around 30 days. It should be noted though that some users have reported that the unit can rust.
Pros
- Small
- Long lasting
- Indicator light to tell you when battery is low
Cons
- The unit can sometimes rust
RUNNER UP
If you’re looking for a small dehumidifier to fit in a small gun safe, the Dry Packs Canister Dehumidifier is a solid choice. This dehumidifier is incredibly affordable, so it’s ideal if you’re on a smaller budget.
The dehumidifier is highly portable and it contains 75 gm of silica gel. You don’t even need any cords or electricity to get it to work. The dehumidifier can cover around 60 cubic feet of space.
The beads will also change from orange to green when they have too much moisture in them and they need to be changed out.
Furthermore, you don’t need to worry about the dehumidifier causing any harm to your firearms as the silica gel doesn’t contain chloride.
Naturally, the biggest issue with this particular dehumidifier is that it isn’t capable of holding bigger amounts of water, so you will need to ensure that you keep it well maintained.
Otherwise, it’s a great choice and it even comes with great instructions to help you to use it easier.
Pros
- Recharging indicator
- Highly effective
- Ideal for smaller safes
- Instructions are easy to read
Cons
- Not capable of holding big capacities of water
Best Dehumidifier for Gun Safe in Garage Buying Guide
Why Should You Buy a Dehumidifier for a Gun Safe?
Humidity can spell big problems for firearms. Of course, all you want to do is protect your guns from any moisture, rust or dew, and a dehumidifier can help with this. A good dehumidifier will help to control the humidity level inside of the safe.
You may not be opening the safe very often so this will help to ensure that mold and mildew don’t build up. A dehumidifier will also help to ensure that your guns don’t rust or get damaged by moisture, and will protect especially old firearms that are more susceptible to water damage.
Types of Dehumidifiers
There are a few main types of dehumidifiers for gun safes to look out for. First of all is the electric rod. These dehumidifiers are quite frequently used for getting rid of any mold, moisture or corrosion that’s made its way into the gun safe.
It essentially works by heating up the rod through an electrical current, and the air inside is warmed. This means that the air inside of the dehumidifier is warm so moisture won’t build up from cold air penetrating inside.
This safe is ideal for keeping your guns totally dry, and it also makes very little noise. You don’t even need to charge it on a continuous basis, you just need an electrical outlet nearby.
You could also opt for a silica gel dehumidifier. These are also referred to as desiccant dehumidifiers. They’re a pretty popular option, and they don’t require batteries or electricity to work. It makes no noise because no power is actually needed for them to operate.
There are two key types of silica gel on the market. The first kind is a recharge silica gel and the other is a single use gel. You can usually get the single use ones in environmentally friendly bags. They’re pretty easy to use but they cost a lot of money.
You can reuse the recharge ones over and over again, without even needing a power supply or battery except to charge them. When the beads change color completely, you can charge them using a plugin power outlet for around 8-12 hours and then use it again.
Finally are dryer style dehumidifiers. These are sort of like dryers as well as dehumidifiers, and they are designed to release warm air into the safe, and remove any moist air from the safe. Unfortunately you are going to need a hole in the safe so you can put the wire through it to reach the electrical outlet. It operates on electricity.
Coverage
You should always make sure that you check the coverage of the dehumidifier that you are planning to get. You may find that your safe is too big for your dehumidifier to cover it - some dehumidifiers have a limitation in cubic feet.
Usually though, most dehumidifiers will have a minimum cubic feet coverage of 100 cubic feet and can go up to 500 cubic feet if your safe is bigger. If you have a larger safe just double check that your dehumidifier of choice has the coverage that you need.
Size
If you have a tiny safe, it makes no logical sense to have a dehumidifier that is almost as big as the space it will occupy.
As you may expect, then, it’s important to consider the size of your safe when you are making your purchase.
The ideal dehumidifier will be the one capable of completely getting moisture out of the safe, all while being barely noticeable inside of it.
Performance
Nobody wants to spend a lot of money on something for it to simply fall apart hours after setting it up, and you don’t want something that’s going to need to be charged all the time.
If you would prefer to have a low maintenance dehumidifier, then it’s best to opt for an electric rod. If you would rather something that doesn’t need electricity to operate then you should instead get a desiccant dehumidifier.
Types of Firearms
Before you buy your dehumidifier you should also consider the kinds of guns that you have inside of the gun safe. This is because older guns are more likely to get damaged by things like moisture than other sorts of rifles or handguns.
So if your gun asfe does have a lot of older firearms then you should get a more expensive dehumidifier to keep them safe for longer.
Price
A lot of gun safe dehumidifiers are pretty affordable, but this isn’t necessarily true of all dehumidifiers. Some prices can be staggering, so you really need to consider what you need first of all. There’s no use in spending a fortune on a dehumidifier if it isn’t going to do what you want it to do.
Before buying, consider the long term cost of running the dehumidifier, think about what kinds of guns you have and think about the coverage. These are all factors that should play into your decision.
Installation and Use
Not all dehumidifiers are easy to install. Ideally you don’t want to be spending hours attempting to set up a dehumidifier if you can avoid it though.
Some are much easier to install - for instance, silica gel dehumidifiers require no power, so all you need to do is put them inside of the safe and they’ll work that way.
Alternatively, some electric dehumidifiers require access to a power source, which can sometimes cause some problems. For instance, you may need to put some holes in the safe to run the wires through.
If you need to do this then you will have to check the manufacturer’s guide to see where it’s safe to drill holes. Sometimes it’s easier to avoid this altogether and simply buy a less high maintenance dehumidifier for your safe.
You should also think about how easy it is to use the dehumidifier. Most of them are fairly simple to use, but some can be more awkward than others. Assess this before you buy your dehumidifier.
Noise
Some dehumidifiers can make a lot of noise. Sure, if it’s in your garage then it may not bother you so much, but it’s still pretty annoying if you’re in the garage doing some maintenance on your vehicle, for instance.
Before you buy your dehumidifier, then, you should make sure that it is quiet in operation to spare you and your neighbors no end of annoyance in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best humidity level for a gun safe?
If you can you should try to get a humidity gauge to figure this out - it will tell you the precise humidity level of your gun safe.
If you don’t have a gauge, then you should try to aim for a number that’s below 50%. A number above this can make your guns more likely to rust.
Is it a good idea to keep a gun safe in a basement?
If you don’t have a garage that you can put your gun safe in, it’s absolutely fine to put your gun safe in your garage.
You can even dart a gun safe down if it’s in a basement so if for some reason a thief manages to get into your home, they’ll have a pretty hard time carrying your safe off with them.