How to Buy a Safe for Your Home

The first step is to determine who or where you will buy your safe from. There are many places to buy a safe today, you can buy from a "big box store", an office supply store, a furniture store, a hardware store, online, or even from a professional safe retailer or locksmith.

With any other than the safe retailer or locksmith you run the very real chance of not being able to get qualified advice as to what you need, not being able to arrange service or repair should the need arise. When you buy from a professional safe retailer or professional locksmith who also sells safes, you are likely to be dealing with someone who knows which safe will best fill your unique needs, these people make their living by selling safes, they know how a particular type or model will perform, they know the features and benefits, and what they are meant to protect. Being the experts they are, they also offer service, repair and delivery services.

Would you really trust the protection of your priceless valuables to the advise you will receive from a minimum wage stockperson at a "big box store"?

What do you want to protect and what do want to protect it against? Cash, jewelry, guns, important papers, or computer media could all require a completely different kind of safe.

Modern safes are manufactured specifically to protect against specific threats, a safe meant to guard against burglary, may not protect papers from fire. A fire safe, because of how it works, may actually destroy computer media or video tapes.

Burglary and jewelry safes are tested and labeled by a testing group according to how long it would take an expert thief, with all of the proper tools to break into the safe. The more time it would take, the more you have to pay for that safe. Contact your professional safe retailer for a complete discussion on burglary ratings.

Modern fire safes manufactured in the United States are tested and rated to keep the interior temperature below 350 degrees Fahrenheit for a specific amount of time, usually expressed in hours. The char point of paper is 405 degrees Fahrenheit, so therefore would be protected from burning. This is accomplished by the fill material in the safe releasing trapped moisture in the form of steam to keep the temperature within the proper range and seal entry points against heat and flame. This release of steam could destroy video tapes, photographs, and computer media.

Modern media safes are constructed using a dry fill that does not release moisture. These safes are usually much more expensive.

With the opening of world trade, and markets in the last few years, there are many safes being sold that are built in other countries, and some of them are labeled by groups other than ULâ. Some of these safes are very well constructed, some are very poorly constructed. The problem is that the testing standards are not the same, the construction requirements are not the same. It takes real diligence to be sure you are getting the protection you think you are getting. This is another reason you need to seek out a professional safe retailer.

Next you should decide what size safe you need, be very honest with yourself when estimating what will be kept in your safe, it may only be a little more expensive to buy a larger safe than you need today. Having to buy a new larger safe could be much more expensive.

If you buy a properly rated safe, built to protect what you are putting in it, could result in homeowners insurance savings, check with your insurance agent. Be sure that you follow whatever requirements they may have, failure to do so could result in no coverage.

Have your needs defined, and your questions ready, then visit a professional safe retailer or professional locksmith.

Jim Newell

Please visit http://www.secureyourstuff.com/safes.htm for links to manufacturers sites and crime prevention sites, many of which have additional security tips. This information could save your property or even your life!

Jim Newell a Security Professional and Consultant for over 35 years, operates a web site who's mission is to bring you information about security systems , security devices and security hardware. To help you to make informed and educated decisions about securing your personal property, your home and your business property. Visit http://www.secureYourStuff.com for more info. Sign up for our newsletter!

---

Fire Safety Tips

Did you know that fire is the third leading cause... Read More

How To Turn Thirty Dollar Web Camera Into Home Surveillance System

Web cameras are really inexpensive these days. With no technical... Read More

How to Buy a Safe for Your Home

The first step is to determine who or where you... Read More

Alarm System: Window Screens

Alarm System Window Screens- Window screens are the ultimate perimeter... Read More

Alarm System: Smoke and Heat Detectors

Smoke & Heat Detectors- Smoke detectors are available that will... Read More

Garage Door Openers--Buy the Best Gagage Door Opener only

Buying the right garage door opener has not never been... Read More

Turn Your Home Into A Fortress

The best way to turn your home into a fortress... Read More

Someone Spying?

Someone Spying? So are the Teddy Bear and the Potted... Read More

Is Big Brother Watching You? Or Are You Watching Big Brother?

Isn't technology a wonderful thing? I thought this as I... Read More

Alarm System: Wireless Remotes

WIRELESS ALARM SYSTEM REMOTESThese remotes are also known as "key... Read More

Home Security: Your Yard is the First Line of Defense

You may not believe it but most burglars do not... Read More

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Millions of people everyday rely on fire extinguishers to put... Read More

The Real Desire for the UK House Buyer

Location location location, central heating, air conditioning, double glazing, good... Read More

Hurricane Preparedness

If you are about to get hit by a Hurricane... Read More

Home Security System, You Are A winner

Have you ever been to a local trade show or... Read More

Emergency - Gas Fire!

Woooooooo??Woooo???The siren sounded. All of us looked at each other... Read More

Arson Watch Program Agency Interaction

This years fire season has already started and so far... Read More

Katrina: Lessons Learned on the Nature of Man

For many years, novels and films have given us apocalyptic... Read More

Life Insurance - Wise Investment to Protect Your Home or Excessive Caution?

Life insurance is typically taken out to offer valuable financial... Read More

The Case for Personal, Estate, Corporate and Child Abduction Security in today?s World

When one considers the historical nature of security applications and... Read More

Alarm System Keypads

The keypad is the device you and your loved ones... Read More

Security Cameras For Your Peace of Mind

The reasons for installing cctv cameras are the same whether... Read More

Eavesdropping and Counter-Measures: Technology and Techniques

You need to know how to protect yourself, since your... Read More

Emergency Telephone Numbers

Emergency is a situation that poses an instant threat to... Read More

Emergency Disaster Planning: Building a Bug-Out Kit

Report after report comes in about how many people couldn't... Read More

Kevlar Sheets for Your Home Walls

Home security is more important today than ever. You may... Read More

Neighborhood Mobile Watch Patrol

Have you found yourself disgusted with the crime lately. You... Read More

Estate and Mega-Yacht Security Systems and Safe Rooms

Why do I need a "safe room? I really don't... Read More

Six Common Criminal Types And How To Avoid Them

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"... Read More

Tips for Keeping Your Home Invasion Free

Home invasion formerly known as burglary is the type of... Read More

Infrared Goggle Pop Down in Hallways for Structure Fires

Most people who are killed in structure fires die from... Read More

Surveillance Camera Positioning

It is a known fact that advertising is made to... Read More

Infoscams

In this article I am going to talk about those... Read More