What Kind of Safe Should I Buy?

 

Safe with dollars on wooden shelf

 

Are you looking for a safe? First of all, congratulations! A safe is a great investment for your valuables! It will put your mind at ease while you’re away from your home. It is much easier and more accessible than using a safety deposit box at a bank, because your documents and valuables are available to you in a moment’s notice.

 

If you’re looking for a safe for the first time, you may have started out thinking it didn’t matter what kind you choose. But, after a while of searching, you may have realized that there are a variety of different kinds of safes, made for different needs. So what kind of safe should you get?

 

We are here to help you! The Safe Depot stocks some of the best of the best in secure safes and locks. We have a wide variety of options for all of your security needs, and we would love to help you decide on a safe that will protect your most valuable possessions from theft, fire, or misuse. We pride ourselves on providing you with a great value to make peace of mind more attainable for everyone.

 

The type of safe that’s right for you will depend on what you’re storing, the amount of protection you want, and your budget. We’re providing you with information on some of the most important considerations that our customers make, and our own recommendations. For more information and more personalized help, visit us at our Jacksonville, Florida location.

 

How Large Should My Safe Be?

 

Take a look at what you’re hoping to store- and purchase a bigger safe than what you think you need. It’s always better to go bigger in this department, because you don’t want to buy a nice safe only to have to replace it later because things didn’t quite fit in the first place and now you have a few extra items to store in there. A safe is not something you should have to replace frequently, so make sure you anticipate your needs.

 

On the other hand, be sure that you don’t purchase a safe that is too large for the place in which you will store it. Measure the area that you want to use for your safe and bring the measurements with you when you go to look at options.

 

Should My Safe Be Fire-Resistant?

 

House fires are one of the greatest risks to your personal property, and as such should be a consideration when choosing to protect them. If you are storing items that would be damaged in a fire or under intense heat, consider getting a safe that is fire-resistant.  

 

An independent lab called Underwriters Laboratories (UL) rates our safes on their fire resistance, and will tell you what temperature the contents of the safe will be under during the fire and for how long they will remain protected. For paper documents, 350 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended. Media such as CDs and disc drives should be kept below 125 degrees, and there are often special safes made for these specific forms of media. We recommend at least a 1 hour rating on safes to adequately protect your belongings during a house fire.

 

It’s good to note that not all fire-resistant safes are burglary-resistant. At The Safe Depot, we offer a line of both fire and burglary resistant safes manufactured by Amsec. Click here to see our selection available online.

 

Under What Circumstances Should I Use Discreet Safes?

Metal safe. 3d illustration isolated on white background

 

Wall safes are discreet safes that mount or are installed into your wall. The hidden nature of these safes helps to make your valuables more difficult to locate during a burglary. Hidden safes have a similar function, as they are typically disguised to look like a typical household item such as a soup can or coffee cup.

 

These safe options work well to keep things out of sight and under lock and key, but are generally not as difficult to break into as standard safes. It is not recommended that you keep high priced items in these safes since experienced burglars are likely to be looking for them.

 

Instead, use a wall safe for items that you want to keep hidden from children, such as dangerous household chemicals. Use hidden safes for taking valuable items like your keys and wallet with you to the beach or when you are out and about. These types of safes can be very useful for keeping things out of reach or out of sight from day to day.

 

How Burglar-Resistant Should My Safe Be?

 

Most personal safes are not tested and rated for burglary the same way that commercial safes are. How then, can you be sure that you’re getting a safe that will keep your possessions from being stolen in the case of a break in?

 

Most quality safes provide considerable protection against burglary. Burglars are typically coming through your home wanting to be in and out as quickly as possible, so it is more likely that they will take a safe with them rather than try to pry it open in your home. With this in mind, in terms of durability, you will want a safe with a lock that is not easily broken or damaged, and doors and walls that are thick enough to not easily be beaten in or pried.

 

With regards to preventing your safe from being stolen, you will want to look for is a safe that’s size and density of metal will make it heavy enough to not be an ideal target for a thief. Many safes come with a kit to anchor them to a wall or concrete floor, which will further prevent a thief from lifting it. Storing the safe in a bedroom or otherwise away from the exit and entryways is another good way to prevent the safe from being stolen.

 

Ready to buy a safe? Come in to The Safe Depot at our Jacksonville, Florida location or speak with us over the phone at (904) 387-0042 with any questions you have about choosing the right safe. Or, shop online. We have a variety of safe options to specially fit your needs, all at a great value.

Articles with this disclaimer may not represent the beliefs or core values of The Safe Depot. The above is simply a summary taken from the industry’s general community to help readers stay up-to-date on what people are talking about.