Gun safe in unheated room or garage?

[Sled]

I'm moving soon to a place that doesn't have many options for storage. The 42" wide fat boy will need a home and so far the only places I can fit it in will be an unheated storage room or the garage which is moderately insulated but will have high humidity with parked vehicles dripping snow off in the winter. I will have power in both locations to run a golden rod if need be. The storage room will be tight but more secure than the garage. I can hang a curtain to block the view of the safe in the garage so people don't see it with the garage door open. The other option might be to sell it and run a couple cabinets or smaller safes but I really like the one I have now. Any thoughts?

 

[Pony Soldier]

I can't speak for humidity as we don't have much. A lightbulb in the safe might be an option.

I don't have a safe. I just built a hidden cabinet behind one of the closets on an interior wall. It seems to work well.

 

[Rotnguns]

Have you an idea of the temperature range in the unheated room? Condensation is the prime concern.

 

[Beendare]

I put mine in the garage with a couple of anchor bolts and one of the same Home Cheapo cabinets over it I slightly modified to fit.

I have the silica pouches in mine…but we dont get the climate swings or humidity

 

[weekender7]

You want temperature stability. Sounds like you will need some type of temp control in the safe. Could be as simple as a light on a thermostat control.

 

[jimh406]

I'd move it to the storage room. Long term, it's a better solution for the rest of your gun gear as well.

 

[White Falcon]

I have had mine in a storage shd for 14 yrs, no issues here in TX. I do have a safe heater, Goldenrod, in side.

 

[The Guide]

Humidity causes rust not temperature. Put it in the area with less humidity and more security.

Jay

 

[justinspicher]

I have mine out in the garage, minimal insulation and we have a wide spread of temps from summer through winter. No humidity. So far I haven't had an issue in the past 6 years. (Knock on wood)

 

[Bama67]

My safe has been in uninsulated areas with high humidity for years.
I run a 12" or so Goldenrod and have had zero issues.
It will be fine.

 

[Iowafarmer]

I’ve got mine in the shop temp ranges 30-60 in winter equipment in a out every day I use silica pouches also no problem bolted it to slab with 5/8 redheads also through the wall and weld the nuts on

 

[Desk Jockey]

Built a ply wood cabinet around mind and caulked and weather stripped it. Golden rods in the safe and damp rid packs. Change them once a month. Had some minor surface rust on the sights and sling swivels of two older guns but no issues otherwise.

 

[awbowhunter]

I would not worry about temp unless it is extreme. Run a safe heater like a Goldenrod. That will keep humidity out of safe. I would run as big of a goldenrod as would fit in safe.

 

[SloppyJ]

I have mine in my garage here in the south. I had issues with that until I got one of those golden rod things. Since then, all is well.

 

[Weldor]

How much to put a mini-split in the garage? The new heat pumps work very well in cold temps.

 

[OKHunter84]

I've kept mine in the garage for years in Oklahoma. I put a safe heater rod, bags of dessicant and another dehumidifier that you have to plug in to recharge occasionally. I check all my guns, even the ones I don't shoot occasionally and clean them all yearly. Haven't seen any rust in anything except one traditions muzzy I had. I ended up selling it cause of that issue, my CVA and TC rifles didn't have the issue so I thought it was something with that muzzy.

 

[Charlie-NY]

If it gets really cold, a tiny heater on a quality thermostat seems like a good solution. This would keep the guns as warm as you like, and it would keep humidity away.

 

[Sled]

Ok, looks like a golden rod is in my future. They say a 12" is enough for my safe but I'll likely toss in a 24" to be safe. Hopefully it's not too much for the space. I can likely keep the unheated storage area warmer by blocking off the exterior vent and maybe insulating the exterior walls.

Thank you for all the stories and suggestions.

 

[Yoder]

I have a small safe that holds about 10 rifles. I kept it in my basement, which is damp, and I leave the heat on at 55. I had a golden rod in the safe. All of my guns rusted. I keep it upstairs now in my living room. Wife wasn't happy but that's too bad.

 

[Jt13]

I just did a science experiment with a safe in my lightly insulated and unheated garage in PA. One 12" goldenrod was almost enough. After 9 months of being closed there was some very light surface rust on things like screw heads. I cleaned everything up, added a second goldenrod, and now it's good to go.