Storing NES/SNES games in humid basement. Safe?
I'm sure this topic has been discussed before but a search did not turn up anything specifcally related to my question. I'm "new here" so my apologies if the thread is a bit redundant.
We bought a new house this past year and I decided I wanted to get back into playing and displaying my retro game collection that has been stored away for years. My old consoles and game carts were packed in boxes since the early 90's and now that I've settled into a permanent residence I want to safely display them on a custom shelf in my finished basement that we use as a game room.
The question I have however, is regarding the basement being a little on the humid side in the summer months and I am concerned about possible corrosion of the games' pin connectors if left down there out in the open for extended periods of time. I do already hang a couple DampRid bags which suck up some of the moisture. Would this be good enough? What are some warning signs I should be aware of that its too damp for NES/SNES game carts? Are they pretty durable overall and I'm just worrying too much? I suppose I could run a dehumidifier to be safe, but I'm just unsure if its really even necessary. Over the past year we've been here I've had a plasma TV with a PS3, DVD player, 5.1 hometheater speaker system, as well as my high end gaming PC all down there with no apparent problem, and the basement is heated/cooled with forced air duct work which I'm sure helps.
TL;DR, I'd appreciate anyone who can comment about their experience storing their games out on shelves in a not so dry basement over extended periods of time.
We bought a new house this past year and I decided I wanted to get back into playing and displaying my retro game collection that has been stored away for years. My old consoles and game carts were packed in boxes since the early 90's and now that I've settled into a permanent residence I want to safely display them on a custom shelf in my finished basement that we use as a game room.
The question I have however, is regarding the basement being a little on the humid side in the summer months and I am concerned about possible corrosion of the games' pin connectors if left down there out in the open for extended periods of time. I do already hang a couple DampRid bags which suck up some of the moisture. Would this be good enough? What are some warning signs I should be aware of that its too damp for NES/SNES game carts? Are they pretty durable overall and I'm just worrying too much? I suppose I could run a dehumidifier to be safe, but I'm just unsure if its really even necessary. Over the past year we've been here I've had a plasma TV with a PS3, DVD player, 5.1 hometheater speaker system, as well as my high end gaming PC all down there with no apparent problem, and the basement is heated/cooled with forced air duct work which I'm sure helps.
TL;DR, I'd appreciate anyone who can comment about their experience storing their games out on shelves in a not so dry basement over extended periods of time.
Comments
Definitely want to run a dehumidifier. High humidity can kill boxes and manuals, or anything paper made by giving it that wet feeling. It probably takes a really long time for that to happen, but i am overly cautious with my stuff so i say better be safe than sorry.
I should have mentioned I don't plan to have CIB games, or manuals stored down there. I am strictly speaking of the loose game carts, and whether or not I should be concerned with basement moisture affecting them.
Thanks everyone for the replies so far.
Starting to think its not as bad as I was thinking.
Definitely want to run a dehumidifier. High humidity can kill boxes and manuals, or anything paper made by giving it that wet feeling. It probably takes a really long time for that to happen, but i am overly cautious with my stuff so i say better be safe than sorry.
I should have mentioned I don't plan to have CIB games, or manuals stored down there. I am strictly speaking of the loose game carts, and whether or not I should be concerned with basement moisture affecting them.
Thanks everyone for the replies so far.
Don't forget that the labels on your games are paper (even though nearly all are well laminated), so they will be adversely affected by errant moisture too, even if it doesn't get so bad as to corrode your contacts, mold up your boards, etc.
Don't forget that the labels on your games are paper (even though nearly all are well laminated), so they will be adversely affected by errant moisture too, even if it doesn't get so bad as to corrode your contacts, mold up your boards, etc.
Good point thanks. Can't forget about those beautiful labels.
What about those plastic game cases like this one? Do they close well enough to protect from moisture?
Don't forget that the labels on your games are paper (even though nearly all are well laminated), so they will be adversely affected by errant moisture too, even if it doesn't get so bad as to corrode your contacts, mold up your boards, etc.
Good point thanks. Can't forget about those beautiful labels.
What about those plastic game cases like this one? Do they close well enough to protect from moisture?
I doubt it.
Good point thanks. Can't forget about those beautiful labels.
What about those plastic game cases like this one? Do they close well enough to protect from moisture?
I would say no, as they don't really close all the way around. You might initially think they would be ok, as you could potentially spill liquid directly on one and it would mostly run off without affecting anything inside. However, where you're dealing with moisture, those would probably be worse than leaving the games out on their own, as moisture would be able to condense inside the case and sit there, trapped, without evaporating. If you want the games to be out where they can be displayed or be immediately accessed, you're probably going to have to go with either a dehumidifer that you're careful to monitor and keep running or something that's basically water tight and always kept closed (else you end up with the same possibility of issues with condensation as the cases you referenced).
If the photo of the case is of one you've got on hand, you could unscientifically test how much humidity you've got down there by leaving the case downstairs in the general area that you'd want to keep your games. Go through when you can and check on it over the course of a few days (preferably at different times of day) and see what happens. If you see or can detect moisture on the inside/outside of the case at any point, you will most definitely need to take steps to get/keep the moisture out of there in order to preserve your games.
I would say no, as they don't really close all the way around. You might initially think they would be ok, as you could potentially spill liquid directly on one and it would mostly run off without affecting anything inside. However, where you're dealing with moisture, those would probably be worse than leaving the games out on their own, as moisture would be able to condense inside the case and sit there, trapped, without evaporating. If you want the games to be out where they can be displayed or be immediately accessed, you're probably going to have to go with either a dehumidifer that you're careful to monitor and keep running or something that's basically water tight and always kept closed (else you end up with the same possibility of issues with condensation as the cases you referenced).
Makes sense I guess, and no that's not my case. Just a stock photo I grabbed off Google.
So I guess this would go for the sort of tote/tub storage bin idea you mentioned as well? Those hardly ever close completely air tight. I would not use those anyways, since I wanted to go for displaying them on a shelf.
I think I'm going to try a humidity gauge down there first to see how bad it gets. What's the general consensus from people for it being too high, above 60%?
In single ply cardboard boxes thrown in with VHS and cassette tapes in either an attic, basement, garage, or shed.
Your stuff should be fine as long as we're talking simple stuff. I wouldn't leave something expensive to fend for itself but certainly a smaller value item.
Lots of people forget how these things were stored before they were in collectors hands.
In single ply cardboard boxes thrown in with VHS and cassette tapes in either an attic, basement, garage, or shed.
Your stuff should be fine as long as we're talking simple stuff. I wouldn't leave something expensive to fend for itself but certainly a smaller value item.
Honestly the monetary value of my games means very little to me. It's all sentimental value, from the most common game up to my Mega Mans. But actually I think I'd be more upset to lose something of sentimental value, so yeah it's still important to make sure they are stored safely.
Also realized I have kept books down there as well over the past year and a half and they don't show any signs of being affected by the humidity.