Storage of your Milsurp Collection in a basement area

Bojangles

Bojangles

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Peterborough, Ontario
Hi Guys,

Most of us cringe at the idea of storing our milsurp collection in a basement room. However for some of us it is not an option. Our better-half will just not let us have the entire house.

So most of us turn to dehumidifiers to help us keep the moisture level at an acceptable level. However there can be problems if the dehumidifier is not connected to a drain line.

As a dehumidifier extracts moisture from the air, water is deposited in a "bucket" type reservoir. As this bucket fills, a float switch will stop the dehumidifier and prevent overflow.

So here we have a problem if you don't empty the bucket immediately. The open bucket of water evaporates back into the room and increases the humidity level. If you don't check and drain the bucket often, the humidity level will stay high and the dehumidifier has stopped..

My solution was simple. I replaced the "Bucket" in my dehumidifier with a $35 condensate pump (Used with Air Conditioners on furnaces).

Pump1.JPG


I connected a plastic hose from the dehumidifier into the condensate pump. I also disabled the operation of the float switch so the dehumidifier would be able to run without it. A second plastic line was routed in the ceiling to the laundry tubs in a different are of the basement.

Pump2.JPG


Pump3.JPG


The advantages:

- I don't have to remember to check the dehumidifier.
- If I go away for a week, I know the dehumidifier will keep working and not shut off because it is full.
- The condensate pump has a covered reservoir which reduced water being returned as humidity in the room.

Working great for several years now!

Cheers,

B
 
Good thinking and execution right there! Lucky for me it isn't humid where I live. I just put one small packet of silica gel in each cabinet and a can of moisture remover In the closet the cabinets are hidden in.
 
Nice set up. I've been lucky as well. All my guns are in the basement and I have nothing in the safes for humidity. Just a light coat of oil every 4 to 6 months and so far no rust in 20 years.
 
When living in the Ottawa area I used to keep a dehumidifier going in the basement with an extended drain hose leading to the floor drain. When I lived in steamy Florida I used to keep my guns in a ventilated case in the garage. I went over them every couple of weeks and never found a problem. When you move from a humid climate to a dry one you need to check the guard screws for tightness. It's surprising the difference that a bit of humidity makes in the fit of a wooden stock.
 
Not all basements are wet or damp. Even if the ambient air is damp. It all depends on the basement. Mind you, not having to dump a reservoir on a dehumidifier is never going to be a bad thing.
 
We are pretty lucky here. Dad had a Parker-Hale No4 that I know have. He never shot it. I cleaned it and oiled it for the first time ever two years ago and everything was brand new still. It gets it once a year now as they all do.
 
I keep my rifles in the basement. When I first moved here I had a few issues with humidity.

But since I'm a HVAC installer I modified my ventilation to circulate the air in the room with greater efficiency. I also insulated the walls, and sealed it up nicely with poly and tuck tape.

I oil my shooters regularly but the occaisional used ones are a once a year affair. No rust here, knock on wood!!
 
That makes me kick myself a little. A few years back I bought a new dehumidifier and then added a Princess Auto 12V bilge pump to the tank. Next were 2 microswitches, a relay, and a 12V power supply. When the upper switch trips due to a full tank, the relay is energized and applies 12V to the pump. The lower switch deenergizes the relay when the water in the tank hits the low level limit. Your solution, while maybe a couple of dollars more than mine, is much simpler. Nice work. The only thing about mine is that I left the "tank full" float switch intact. That way if my pump dies, the dehumidifier will turn itself off and not flood the floor.
 
myenfield said:
That makes me kick myself a little. A few years back I bought a new dehumidifier and then added a Princess Auto 12V bilge pump to the tank. Next were 2 microswitches, a relay, and a 12V power supply. When the upper switch trips due to a full tank, the relay is energized and applies 12V to the pump. The lower switch deenergizes the relay when the water in the tank hits the low level limit. Your solution, while maybe a couple of dollars more than mine, is much simpler. Nice work. The only thing about mine is that I left the "tank full" float switch intact. That way if my pump dies, the dehumidifier will turn itself off and not flood the floor.
Click to expand...

You can get a version of the condensate pumps that have an extra "tank full" switch that is intended to turn off the air conditioner if the pump should fail (HIGH-HIGH Level). I suppose that extra switch could be used for an alarm of "pump failure". I do not think the extra "tank full" switch can handle 120 volts. Most AC control stuff is only rated at 24V.

Cheers,

B
 
zuke said:
If a drain hole is available
Click to expand...

That right there is the kicker. Both gun rooms I have built were no where near the drain in the floor. Hence the need to pump it out, in my case, up the wall, across the ceiling, and back down to wherever the drain is.
 
I store my guns in my basement. It is concrete, built in 1949. We hacked a doorway into the cistern which is approx. 7' x 26' x 9'h. We put a false wood floor in, lined and insulated the three outer walls. I plugged in a dehumidifier which ran for a few days, then settled down. It doesn't run at all now. I do have a sump hole in the middle of the room and it fills in the Spring for a while then dries up.
 
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