Safes are like our very own mini-banks, just with far more accessibility than traditional banks. We keep our important and valuable documents and possessions in our safes and we tend to not look for these things until we need to use them.
So, you can imagine how much of a nightmare it’ll be if you are unable to access these documents at such a time. Because you are locked out of your safe. Dreadful.
Thankfully, most of these problems can be diagnosed and easily fixed even by non-experts. This is good because you get to save money on safe opening services.
Electronic/digital safes and non-electronic/combination safes have different mechanisms hence, they develop different problems as well. We’ll treat them in order.
Electronic/Digital Safes
When electronic safes have problems, they’re usually simple and logical things you can solve with some technical know-how and five minutes out of your day. Some problems you might face with opening your safe might be because:
1. The batteries are dead
Electricity is the backbone and heart of all electronic devices. Before you yell for the locksmith, check your batteries. Sometimes the problem can be that simple.
2. Safe is in time-delay/lockout mode
This is a feature most electronic password-protected devices have. It prevents someone without the password from getting an infinite number of chances at your safe. If you tried to input your pin a few times in vain and the safe entered this mode, wait a few minutes before trying again. Be sure to input the precise code.
3. Your code has been deleted
You have accurately put in the code a few times and it’s still not opening? Do you not have the master code? Do you share the safe with someone else? Ask them to put in their code or, even better, the master code so you can get what you want from the safe. If putting in the master code still doesn’t work, there is likely a more sinister problem at hand. Better call a competent locksmith to crack it for you.
You will have to provide proof of ownership before work can begin.
4. Boltwork is jammed
Dirt seems capable of getting into the worst places possible. If your safe will not open despite you putting in the correct code, lock it back up. Listen closely while putting in the code again. If you hear the motor working madly to retract the bolts and open the safe but it doesn’t open up, it’s safe to say you’ve got some dirt in a very bad place.
Give the safe a few good, solid hits to try and free up the bolt (be careful not to hit the keypad or screen — you don’t want to damage those). Try again with the code when you’re done. If that works, lubricate the bolt work to prevent such a thing from happening again. If it doesn’t work, follow up with a professional safe opening service provider in your local area.
If none of these work, the safe probably has damaged wiring inside (nothing lasts forever). In such a case, you should call a professional to fix it up for you. We offer such services at honest, upfront rates and you’re sure to get your money’s worth. We’ve got a large, very satisfied customer base for our 30+ years of effort.
Non-electronic/Combination Safes
They’ve been around for over a hundred years, tried and tested by time. With adequate care, they can serve for a long time. But they aren’t eternal. They develop problems.
These problems are apparent when you’re trying to access your safe and might turn out to be:
1. Misaligned tumblers or wheels
This is when wear and tear cause looseness in the internal gear system, leading to ‘drifting’. If your combination was ’30-32-34′, you might now have to put in ’31-33-35′ or ’32-34-36′ for it to catch. If that doesn’t work, try it the other way (that is ‘29-31-33’ or ‘28-30-32’).
If that works for you, don’t lock your safe just yet. Call a competent locksmith to fix it up for you so you don’t have to review your math every time you have to use the contents of your safe.
2. Bolt not retracting
Sometimes, the safe might accept your combination but the handle can’t retract the bolt to open the safe. There are two possible reasons for that:
The handle screw is loose
A symptom of this is the handle spinning freely even before you put in the combination to unlock the safe. This is a thankfully easy fix with the right tool. All you need is a wrench or screwdriver of the right size to tighten it in the right position. The screw will be on the side, between two handles.
The bolt is jammed
Sometimes, pressure on the safe door can hinder the bolt from withdrawing. Make sure nothing is creating undue pressure against the door from the outside or the inside. If there is pressure from the inside (maybe because the safe is full), push against the door a bit to counteract it before making use of the handle. Otherwise, give the door a few solid thumps to loosen up the bolt.
Be careful not to hit too close to your dial. You might knock something important loose and render the safe unusable until a professional can look into it.
What If None of the Above Safe Opening Solutions Work?
Everything may work well—the dial is firm and accurate, the handle is steady, and has no problems—but the bolts still don’t retract. There is nothing for it in that situation but to call a locksmith because you’ve got a broken link in the safe’s bolt work.
If you feel you require professional safe opening services, you will find no better option than Alcatraz Locksmith. There is no safe that can claim to stay locked after we’ve touched it! We also offer car key replacement services. If it has a lock, we can work it, whether it requires servicing, replacement, or a new key.
If you wish to replace your safe, we’ve got the experience (over 30 years of it) to recommend a good digital or combination safe for your needs. We guarantee your satisfaction with our suggestions and work.
We are based in the city of Phoenix, AZ and you can reach us anytime at (602) 677-5045 for more information or to acquire our services.