Safe Maintenance – Keeping Your Safe in Working Condition

Dixie Safe & Lock Service Inc. • October 9, 2019

Opening Safe — Houston, TX — Dixie Safe & Lock Service Inc.

A safe isn’t very useful for storing guns, important documents or other valuables if you can’t gain access to its contents. Accessibility should be considered one of a safe’s primary features.

If you can’t get your safe open, chances are you’ll be calling out a locksmith to crack into it, which can be a time consuming and expensive procedure. Once the safe is open it then needs to be replaced or repaired, which can be an expensive job if you have a mid- to high-end safe.

Replacing a dial lock can cost you upwards of $400. If you have a large safe with a complex locking mechanism, that price can quickly double or even triple.

That whole ordeal can be avoided with proper care and maintenance. A high-quality dial lock safe can serve your needs and even the needs of your descendants for a hundred plus years if it’s properly maintained.

In most circumstances, it’s a much better investment to pay for routine maintenance and ensure the longevity of your safe rather than let it fall into disrepair and be forced to replace it.

How Frequently Does a Safe Need Maintenance?

If your safe gets heavy use – such as being opened daily – scheduling safe maintenance once every two years is probably a good idea. If you rarely access your safe you may be able to go five or more years between each maintenance check.

How Can You Tell It’s Time for Safe Maintenance or Your Combination Lock Is Failing?

As the person who primarily operates your safe, you likely know how your combination lock feels when it’s functioning properly. If it begins to feel or sound different, it’s a good idea to schedule maintenance. Here are some signs to watch out for:

The dial is loose or wobbly
You start hearing unusual clicking sounds
The dial gives you resistance or even pushes back when turning
The combination drops a digit or changes without being reset
Your combination isn’t aligning well with the numbers on the dial

What Does Safe Maintenance Entail?

During standard regularly scheduled safe lock maintenance, your safe technician or locksmith should disassemble the wheel pack, clean the parts inside and the wheel, replace any particularly worn components, properly lubricate the lock and reassemble it.

What You Should Avoid Doing to Your Safe

There are some definite don’ts if you’re thinking about attempting safe maintenance on your own:

Don’t spray anything into a combination lock – too often people who are feeling resistance or tight turning try to spray WD-40 or another lubricant into the lock. This often exacerbates problems.
Don’t relock a safe that’s become too difficult to operate! You want to maintain access to your important materials or firearms, so the last thing you want to do is relock a safe you’re not sure you’ll be able to open again.

How Do Environmental Factors Effect Safes?

It’s important to note that the vast majority of gun safes and large safes are not waterproof. You may be able to find safes that advertise as waterproof, but you should always research the accuracy of those claims. This is especially important in Houston, where flooding is certainly not unheard of.

One of the features in fireproof safes is a special liner around the door known as a Palusol Seal. This seal does expand to roughly six times its normal size when exposed to temperatures nearing 300-degrees Fahrenheit. Flood waters, however, won’t trigger the fireproof safe seal.

If you want to waterproof items in your safe, such as documents or ammunition, you may want to try Tupperware containers or double zip lock bags designed for boiling vegetables.

Excessive humidity can potentially damage the firearms you store in your safe. For most safes, the temperature and humidity outside the safe is going to be the same or similar to the temperature and humidity inside the safe.

We suggest keeping your safe somewhere with a controlled environment, like in your home or business. If you’re worried about flooding, purchasing a safe that can be installed on a second floor where water is less likely to reach may be ideal.

When purchasing a gun safe, it’s important to talk to experts about preventing rust or corrosion damage to your firearms. Not all gun safes are made equal, and some gun safe are constructed using fireproofing materials that may contribute to or accelerate firearm rusting or corrosion.

When you’re talking to a safe salesman, locksmith or safe professional, make sure to ask about the risks for rust and corrosion and learn about the solutions and products that can help maintain a controlled environment for your firearms.

Get Safe Information and Advice from the Experts at Dixie Safe & Lock Service Inc.

In addition to helping unlock vehicles and homes when people get locked out and installing commercial and residential security systems, we also sell safes and install them to ensure optimal stability and performance. Our safe experts have answers to any questions you may have about safe maintenance and safe placement. If you think your safe needs maintenance or you’re looking for high-quality safes for sale, give us a call at (713) 643-5767.