Any risks of humidity in a safe?
comma
Posts: 1,528 ✭✭✭
Quick random question. I have a typical sentry safe that I keep all of my slabbed coins in.
I didn't realize until recently that there can be humidity problems inside sealed fireproof safes.
What should the humidity % be in a safe?
Does this apply to coins as well? I try to open the safe for a day every few weeks and I do have silica packs as well.
Has this ever been an issue for anyone or am I just being paranoid?
Thanks!
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I had a basic fire proof safe years ago and ran into an issue with the documents I had stored in there. In the time frame of a couple of weeks, the paper work started to mold. It all depends on the materials the safe is made of and the environment it is kept in. There are humidity monitoring stations for your safe you can purchase as well.
My Jefferson Registry:
https://pcgs.com/setregistry/alltimeset/191115
How would coins fit into the category? Are they typically effected by humidity the same way?
Do slabs help or hurt humidity issues?
Humidity is no good but humidity with temperature swings = condensation which is much, much worse. A small heater in the safe is often advocated to help with this, but I don’t know how much it really helps.
From a practical point of view, what else are you really going to do about it? A whole house dehumidifier and/or air conditioner may help. Living in the Southwest helps.
Using a SDB isn’t always better as they can have their own issues with humidity.
Thanks! Let me ask it this way, how do you guys store your coins? If in a safe, how crazy are you getting with temperature/humidity control?
My safe is in a very dry area and I don't open in often, but I used a large silica gel pack in it. Never had an issue. If you open it often, you likely need to recharge the silica gel frequently. In SDB I keep stuff in slab boxes and then wrap those in plastic. I should probably check that stuff more often.
I use 3 different size safes, one of them is a sentry.
during the last 5 or so years I have noticed that tmany slabbed coins (PCGS and CCCS) are processing into different states of toning. Some look actually beautiful with great colors. Coins in flips (ICCS) are hardly affected.
I do live very near to the ocean and one of the safes is only about 100' from shore in a work shop.
perhaps the cause is most likely the combination of salty air, oxigen, the plasic used and-or other environmental issues prevailing that close to water? Graded Banknotes seem to be ok.
The humidity in your safe will the same as your household air, usually less than 50%. If you have a properly functioning heating and cooling system, you should be fine. Locating the safe in a garage or unconditioned basement might present a problem due to temperature/humidity swings. A silica gel pack is always added insurance.
I think a good safe seals pretty well, so wouldn't that mean the humidity inside would be different than in my house?
I try to keep my indoor humidity around 45%
When you open the door to the safe, household air floods into it. After closing the safe, the dessicant may reduce that airs moisture content. Find something else to worry about.......... like "what will I be able to sell these coins for in three years" LOL
I have a electronic dehumidifier in my gun safe and throw my coins in there as well to keep the shotguns company
i had a small safe in a closet in the garage, kept modern items in ogp, slabbed coins, silver rounds in plastic tubes, used a silicon pack, opened it once a month or so, no problems, had 2 leave the safe when we sold the house. this is in the sf bay area thanks rln
This is what I use, just follow the directions for recharging it. Using this will help eliminate excess humidity. I am not affiliated with the seller.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Dry-Pack-Dehumidifier-Box-450-Gram-Silica-Gel-Desiccant/170404176541?hash=item27ace1629d:g:ceQAAMXQO21Ryx4e
I have a safe with a lot of room, I have cameras, guns, guard dogs and live in Nevada where we don't know what humidity is. So, just send to me for safekeeping!
bob
Safes are definitely not air-tight and there is a constant change of air within the safe. When the barometric pressure rises, some air enters the safe and when the barometric pressure drops, some air leaves the safe. Also, cheaper fire-proof safes have a porous concrete like material in the walls of the safe that is designed to hold water. The reason for the water is so there will be steam generated within the safe walls that insulate the interior of the safe keeping the temperature below the charring point of paper but not necessarily below the melting point of plastic as in slabs, flips, or coin tubes. The moisture within the walls of the safe will contribute humidity to the interior of the safe which is why a new safe should be frequently opened and left open for awhile to let it air out well. If you are going to store your coins in a fire-proof safe, I would suggest putting them in quality sealable zip-lock type bags or in Tupperware type containers with silica gel packs with each bag or container.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
electronic dehumidifier and silica/Desiccant Packets are good items to have in a safe or SDB.
Thanks for the link. I generally use small dry packs that I occasionally change out. In general I don't have a problem with humidity, but I would like to stay proactive and may give these a try.
Thanks, Donato
Donato's Complete US Type Set ---- Donato's Dansco 7070 Modified Type Set ---- Donato's Basic U.S. Coin Design Set
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The chemical desiccants are probably a good idea. Just FYI, the majority of the in-safe electronic dehumidifiers are just electric heaters with the aim being to prevent condensation. True dehumidifiers produce liquid water & that requires a drain line.
Also, polyethylene bags (and many other plastics) are gas-permeable (including water vapor) to varying degrees. That’s one reason fish from the pet store can survive perfectly well for days in a “sealed” bag.
Many fire proof safes contain a material that is impregnated with moisture. Putting desiccant in there only draws the moisture from the fireproofing material toward the dessicant and drys out the fireproofing. Dessicant is not going to help unless the area it is protecting is air-tight. It will just draw moisture from outside the safe.
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You have guard dogs in your safe, Bob?
Cool.
Pete
Can you imagine the look on the face of a safe cracker when he opens the safe and a dog with a gun and a camera jumps out at him?
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
You bet, little guys that don't eat much. Generally they can get by with the green stuff that grows on the copper.....Cameras keep an eye on them so they don't get into trouble. Couple of smart arses, eh? #PerryHall and #BuffaloIronTail.
bob
I have around 8 safes of all types and one is around eight
feet tall. I tried using guard dogs in them, but had to replace
them every week, or so & it was very expensive.
The op has gotten plenty of good advice, except "the dog with
a gun" .
Use one of the large packs that you can restore by heating in
the oven now and then, they work a long time.
R.I.P. Bear
Fireproof safes are notorious for holding moisture. I have a large safe, not fireproof, and have a lot of dessicant material inside. I have no moisture problems and have had that safe for years in Florida, Washington State and other locations. For a fireproof safe, you should likely have the Goldenrod dehumidifier...dessicants will need frequent recharging. Cheers, RickO
Is opening the safe every two weeks or so a good way to help with that? I had my coins in one for a while and that's what I did. I keep a few blank pieces of paper in there to keep an eye on it and none of them had mold or showed any other real signs of humidity.
Also, the safe is probably around 15-20 years old. Would that mean the walls have less moisture?
To be on the safe side no pun, I would use my kitchen food bagger that takes all the oxygen from the bag. They will store better and minimize the risk of corrosion. You could also view them unimpeeded anytime.
Bob CEO Fieldtechs
Hard to imagine how a dog chomping on a cigar can juggle a gun and camera with a hot dog under one arm. I mean, what else would he be doing in there to keep occupied? But anything's possible!
The more qualities observed in a coin, the more desirable that coin becomes!
My Jefferson Nickel Collection
Mold? Yikes! If you see mold then it is WAY too late. But I like the idea of having paper or some other object to monitor (feel of the paper, and wrinking, etc.) . Could always put one of those temperature/humidity gauges in there once in a while to test.
Lots of good advise above on dessicants, etc., but just be sure you are not pulling moisture into the safe.
BTW, if you use one of those fireproof safes (Sentry, etc.), understand that in a fore the moisture expands and that is what seals and protects the safe. The contents might get very moist in that scenario, so protect wrap them in plastic.
I have three safes, all fireproof and thought the coins inside were safe. Yah, safe from fire maybe...I found mold growing on the outside of a couple boxes....grrrrrrrrrr. The coins inside were fine , but the boxes were compromised. I think ricko is right to have a regular safe-not fireproofed. Thank you ms70 and PerryHall.....good info and I recommend not using a fireproof safe....don't do it, unless you like mold. Storage for coins ? Maybe you could use a nice wooden cabinet, but some woods gas off causing toning. Perhaps a sturdy metal cabinet, but if painted, some paints gas off as well. At any rate, avoid that fireproof safe.