How to secure your safe
A feeling of security is fundamental to all of us. And this applies equally to the possessions we hold dear. Putting your valuables in a secure place is a responsible action that can prevent you from suffering painful losses.
To accomplish this, many people choose to get a safe. However, to ensure the highest possible level of security, it’s essential to install the safe in accordance with certain basic rules.
Mobile or built-in?
For obvious reasons, experts in the field will often recommend securing your safe. You should be aware that there are different ways to install a safe: you can affix it to a piece of furniture (as they do in hotels), to the wall or even to the floor.
How to secure your safe
Safes are affixed with bolts. After marking the mounting points on your wall or the surface of the piece of furniture, you’ll pre-drill the holes where you’ll insert the bolts. You must perform this step with care to ensure that the safe will be attached as securely as possible.
Next, you’ll position the safe on the bolts, place washers on them and then screw on the nuts, making sure to tighten them securely so that the installation is as firm as possible. If you will be building your safe in to a wall, the wall in question should ideally be at least 15 cm thicker than the width of the safe.
Where to place your safe
A determining factor when choosing a safe is where you’re planning to put it. There are several criteria to consider when deciding on the ideal placement of your safe:
- Its dimensions
- Its weight
- How you intend to use it
- The quality of support (your walls or floor)
Places to avoid:
- Behind the television, a painting or a mirror (too cliché!)
- Behind a partition made of fragile materials (e.g. gypsum tiles)
- Humid rooms, which could lead to rust and hasten the deterioration of the electronic components
- A heated floor
Less accessibility means more security
Your safe’s ease of access must correspond to how you intend to use it. If you plan to use it frequently, you should favor a place with easier access.
On the other hand, if you will use it to store extremely valuable objects, for example, or if you will only open it occasionally, in order to discourage thieves, you should choose a more secluded spot that’s difficult to access.
Choosing a high-quality support
It’s also very important to make sure that your walls or floor are sufficiently thick, sturdy and free of moisture (concrete, brick, etc.) to withstand any attempts to remove the safe forcefully by pulling or yanking. In this regard, sealing the safe to the floor tends to be very effective at preventing such attempts.
However, you must be extra careful to avoid water pipes, gas pipes and electrical lines. You don’t ever want to slice into an electric wire or pierce a water or gas pipe inside the wall. That’s why it’s recommendable to entrust the job to an experienced installer, who will know how to affix your safe securely.
Do you need help with your safe?
Do you have a safe that needs to be built in to a wall? Or are you seeking expert advice regarding the purchase of a new safe? You can count on the experience and know-how of the team at Serruriers Amherst to help you protect your valuables!