Keeping guns in the house safeguards you against intruders, yet they can put your family in jeopardy if not securely stored away in a gun safe. But installing a safe is not enough! You should also keep an eye on the air circulation in the safe as this factor can influence the quality of the firearms within.
In this post, we will find out the answer to “Are Gun Safes Airtight?“. Let’s go.
Is it safe to store guns in a safe?
Are Gun Safes Airtight?
Gun safes are not fully airtight since there are gaps all around them. The valves enable air to circulate through them as it passes from one to one.
The safes are not watertight due to these gaps, which is also why they are not entirely fireproof.
Do Gun Safes Have To Be Airtight?
A safe has to have secure air circulation in and out to maintain a constant temperature and relative humidity within. It doesn’t have to be air hermetic; instead, it must be temperature regulated. Rather than blocking all air outside, the safe ought to be capable of maintaining acceptable conditions within. It’s vital to remember that a good safe should be almost airtight.
Based on the air quality outside, a safe must have adequate ventilation to safeguard your weapons from excessive moisture. Many home safes will allow air to enter via the doors. It is preferable to have some places that the humidity can evacuate, especially when using a dehumidifier to manage the environment inside. In an absolute air hermetic safe, these machines would not operate.
In addition, fireproof safes aren’t completely airtight until the seals are warmed and stretched to shut the airflow in and out. Whenever the door was left open and airtight, humidity may go inside and remain imprisoned. The interior of a gun safe is heavily influenced by moisture.
A Gun Safe
What Makes Gun Safes Not Airtight?
Door Seam
This is the primary location where air may leave and circulate about. There are different degrees of air movement. For instance, Fort Knox is highly airtight, whereas Browning appears to be a little less so.
As you shut the door, you usually sense the change. If it requires a little while, you’ll have to press the door entirely shut. When the door clunks shut, it isn’t completely airtight.
Holes to Bolt Down
Because most safes are anchored to the floor, the holes on base aren’t particularly important areas for air to depart. Yet, they are still the holes, and you can find them in almost any safes.
A Hole On The Top Of The Gun Safe
Do you notice that the safe comes with a top-mounted grip with a small plastic piece within it? It’s not a faulty item; it’s there so that the safe may be carried about the warehouses throughout construction. You will find it a lot simpler to transport it this way than to lift it by hand.
Hole for Dehumidifier
This is nearly as noticeable as the door gap. Dehumidifiers are used to compensate for the lack of air movement in safes. Because there isn’t enough ventilation, any moisture in the atmosphere will gradually rest on everything safe. A dehumidifier will assure the air hot enough to keep the dampness in the air rather than on your weapons.
Hole For Wall Mounting
There aren’t many safes with this feature, and those are usually cabinets. Slots for wall mounting are usually situated on the roof of the safe’s rear and are intended to be bolted into walls.
The safe will not tumble forward as a result of this. Wall fittings are a nice feature to be on a safe. We’re not sure why higher-end models don’t possess them unless it’s because you have to run a dryer out the rear.
Why Can Airtight Gun Safes Be Dangerous?
Limited Airflow
An air-enclosed safe may harm your guns. It’s crucial to remember that airflow in an airtight safe is poor, so it would be best not to keep anything in there for more than a few months.
The air hold prevents external air from entering the safe, which might be an issue for any sealed area, including storage lockers or vaults. The air inside can linger over lengthy periods, leaving a bad odor on objects inside it.
Mold and Mildew Development
Mold spores can form on your firearms if you store them in an airtight container or box for an extended period due to insufficient proper ventilation.
Mold Development Inside Blocked Airflow Area
Excessive Internal Pressure
Another thing to bear in mind is that airtight containers are often built to hold humidity and fungus out. When a relatively hermetic safe gets pressured, it may be harmed by excess stress exerted by unintentionally opening air vent openings on the safe. Unusual pressure caused by changing thermal environment surroundings can also harm gun safe.
The “Palusol Seal,” which stretches when burned and prevents smoke and fire from penetrating the safe, is used in the majority of high-quality safes. It still can be harmed in severe circumstances. Even when a safe is entirely shut without a way to leave, tension from the inside may rack up and trigger an explosion. Falling buildings can destroy a safe and release any locks in the event of a home fire.
What Are The Best Gun Safe Choices?
AMSEC
American Security (AMSEC) is unquestionably one of the best on the gun safe market. TL-rated safes and RSCs are the major kinds of safes offered by the company. RCS stands for Residential Security Container, intended for household usage since the name implies. On the other hand, TL-rated safes are for commercial usage, and they are generally weighty and costly than domestic ones.
Both kinds of safes can withstand the most persistent experienced thief, and of course, they are available in the United States.
A Safe Of AMSEC
BROWNING PROSTEEL
Browning ProSteel is known for its high-quality weapons and gun safes. ProSteel has been producing safes for almost 40 years. Browning safes are recognized for the durability of their American-manufactured versions and their unique lock organization system.
Pistol storage is available at the door of several safe businesses. Browning’s configuration, on the other hand, allows you to keep long weapons in the door. Browning’s safes in the United States are likewise fire resistant. They have fire-boards placed in an overlapping pattern. This design eliminates voids inside the fire-board, which can cause hotspots within the safe.
FORT KNOX
Fort Knox has been in operation for more than three decades. It’s another firm that constructs high-quality safes. They utilize internal and exterior welds, for instance, to reinforce what is frequently a weak area on safe structures.
Fire defense is also a priority in Fort Knox. The safes provide two distinct doors sealing that operate together to safeguard your belongings from smoke and fumes. They employ accurate fire-board perforations for improved coverage.
Fort Knox Is Well Known For Safe Designs
Expandable steel liners are their signature feature – you may pay a little extra to install more levels of steel on the safe. Both fire and theft protection is improved as a result of this. Fort Knox also offers the best lifetime guarantees on the market, including the entire safe from the inside out.
The Final Verdict
Hopefully, this article has given you the answer to the question “Are Gun Safes Airtight?”
In short, the safe is not fully airtight since it is impossible to block airflow in and out. However, you can control the air condition inside to maintain the quality of the firearms. One of the best ways to take control of the internal environment of the safe is to use a dehumidifier, and do not forget to do regular check-ups of the safe.
