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 Replies: 18 / Views: 4,727 |
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
I realize that there are a number of threads on this topic, and I've read through some of them. I don't want to bump any old topics, though.
I recently moved my collection from a relatively dry area in the northeast to a very humid area in the southeast. Everything is stored in an older-style military trunk that is not entirely airtight. I filled the trunk with silica packs, and they all changed colors in a single day. Some silica packs in sealed Ziploc bags began changing colors after about a week.
I ordered a large silica can designed for use inside of a gun safe that I will put in the trunk, but I'm not sure if it will be enough. Should I invest in a dehumidifier for the room where I store the collection? Does anybody have suggestions for a type of dehumidifier, and what humidity percentage to keep the room at?
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
I think that you would be better off with a more air-tight container, or maybe several smaller ones. It would be easy to forget to turn on the dehumidifier or something like that.
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Moderator
 United States
187862 Posts |
Is this room climate controlled or is it is an unfinished space (basement, garage, attic, etc.)?
If the latter, you will want to reconsider. Southern humidity is no friend of our collections.
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New Member
 United States
14 Posts |
The room is climate controlled. It's my guest bedroom. Ideally, I'd put it in that room's closet, but there are no outlets in the closet to plug in a dehumidifier. I agree that I'd ideally put it in a more air-tight container so that the silica can suck out all of the humidity and everything remains good until I next open up the collection, but I don't have anything that can accomplish that right now.
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
One suggestion I can offer is to store everything in multiple layers.
Put each album and folder into their own large Ziploc type storage bag with a desiccant pack.
Separate the albums into multiple sets and put them appropriate size sealed plastic containers with a few more desiccant packs.
Finally, put the containers into your trunk with the large desiccant can.
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
Do you think it's worthwhile to invest in a dehumidifier for the room on top of all of that?
Edited by guppie58
10/09/2017 6:01 pm
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Pillar of the Community
5464 Posts |
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
There are plenty of air tight plastic bins that are available from most craft stores at minimal prices, less than $10 each.
I store paint in them and they keep the paint wet with nothing included to remove humidity.
Of course I'm at the other end of the planet in Minnesota.
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Moderator
United States
187862 Posts |
Quote:
Do you think it's worthwhile to invest in a dehumidifier for the room on top of all of that? Sure. It is just one more layer of protection. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
I'm in very humid area. However, due to health conditions, I keep all my doors and windows closed all year long. Storm doors and windows too. My house is Air Conditioned and I keep a dehumidifier on all the time in the basement. The humidity in my house never goes over 25% due to this. Feels great and I never worry about coins and they never show signs of any problems. Just can't beat a large dehumidifier.
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Pillar of the Community
 Canada
1775 Posts |
 I can't believe all the water I dump out everyday from my dehumidifier. "We are poor little lambs...who have lost our way...Baa...Baa...Baa"
In memory of those members who left us too soon...
In memory of Tootallious March 31, 1964 - April 15, 2020
In memory of crazyb0 July 27 2020. RIP.
In memory of T-BOP Oct. 12, 1949 - Jan. 19, 2024
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
A dehumidifier is a good idea in a house, whether you have coins or not.
Of course here in the North, we need a Humidifier in the cold months!
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Pillar of the Community
7234 Posts |
I have a 70 pint dehumidifier in the basement that I usually have to empty every 2 days, sometimes every day when it's hot and raining, not so much in the winter time though. I was surprised
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Depending on how your place is layed out, you may want to consider running a hose to a drain. That is what I do. I keep my dehumidifier near the drain and run a hose to that drain. I've never had to empty the thing since all excess water just runs out to the drain.
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New Member
United States
14 Posts |
I live in the South near the Atlantic Coast, and high humidity all year around is unavoidable. Before I had central air conditioning installed, my dehumidifier was removing several gallons of water from the air each day. During the winter, my furnace did a good job of keeping the humidity below 65%, but for rest of the year, the dehumidifier was used about 8 hours a day, along with several window ac units that were used when it was hot. My preferred storage method for coins is to keep them in a pelican brand equipment storage box with a desiccant pack or two. The pelican boxes are expensive, but worth it in my opinion, and you can find ones that will fit in your trunk. You should look into getting a dehumidifier if the humidity in the room consistently exceeds 50 or 60 percent. A word of caution about dehumidifiers; be sure to clean the air filter regularly, as a clogged air filter can cause excessive heat build up, even leading to a fire hazard. Don't buy a used dehumidifier, as some of the old ones have had recalls for causing fires. I still use my dehumidifier in the fall and spring when the central air is not being used, but I like to limit its run time to three or four hours at a time. I have a fridigaire brand 50 pint model. Its kind of loud, but works great.
Silver Ham
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12057 Posts |
The water condensed out of the air by the dehumidifier can also be stored and used for irrigation or other outdoor uses during dry spells. Here in Texas, the summers usually range from 60-70% humidity during the "rainy warm season" of May-June and early July. My home is very well air conditioned, but even then, I try to keep my coins in watertight/airtight containers. Can't do much about the Danscos, but my slab boxes are gasketed. I have been collecting a long time (2+ decades) and have yet to have any coins damaged by excessive humidity as long as they were in the A/C inside and not left exposed to the air.
Member ANA - EAC - TNA - SSDC - CCT #890 "Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done." -- Louis D. Brandeis |
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Replies: 18 / Views: 4,727 |
Posted 10/09/2017 4:16 pm
