There’s a little-known tongue twister in the locksmithing community that goes something like this: “How much safe would a safe mover safely move if the safe mover’s safe could safely move?” OK, it’s not a well-known saying at all—we made it up, actually—but questions about moving safes safely are common.
Your safe, after all, keeps your belongings protected. But what about the well-being of the safe itself? Home and gun safes can easily get up to 1,000 pounds or more (and are often bolted down), so it’s important to take certain precautions to protect your safe, your belongings and yourself. Let’s look at six ways to safely move your safe:
1. Remove All Items
The only thing more difficult than moving a large safe? Moving a large safe that’s full of valuables and other potentially heavy items. Empty out the contents of your safe—from jewelry and guns to documents, money, artwork and more— and find another way of securely transporting them. You want as little weight as possible, especially if you’re not hiring professionals to do the job.
2. Protect the Environment
You can avoid damage to your floors and walls (at both your original and new destinations) by properly protecting them ahead of time. In addition to wrapping the safe itself in furniture blankets, cover any corners, walls or other furniture in the safe’s path. You can also place old rugs or cardboard on the floor in the safe’s path in case the safe happens to fall.
3. Use the Right Equipment
Speaking of falling, you should secure the safe to a heavy-duty dolly when moving it. Don’t try to move a bulky, heavy safe without a strong dolly! Reinforce your use of a dolly by strapping the safe down with ropes or other gear once it’s on the dolly. Both a dolly and some sort of straps are crucial for this move, as is a vehicle that can transport the safe safely (i.e. not your college roommate’s two-door hatchback).
4. Go Slow and Steady
Take your time with this move. Safety should be your biggest priority. That means coming up with a sound exit strategy (for the original destination) and entry strategy (for the new destination). Measure all entryways and openings in the safe’s path and clear any obstacles. Navigate corners and stairs with caution and take it slow!
5. Bolt It Down
You can’t ignore unbolting the safe when you move it from its original destination, but don’t forget about bolting it down at its new destination, either. Bolting down a safe has several benefits, such as:
- Preventing theft of the whole safe.
- Preventing injury when accessing the safe.
- Providing enhanced security for your valuables.
6. Call the Professionals
For ultimate peace of mind, simply use a professional safe delivery team. Companies like A-1 Locksmith Security & Safes deliver and install hundreds of safes each month and know what it takes to move a safe safely. They don’t just drop them in your garage, either. They install safes inside, bolted down, using only professional, safe delivery teams. (They’ll even give you in-home training on how to use your safe properly before they leave.) Large safes are tough to manage, so there’s no shame in calling a professional to do the job.
If you need professional safe delivery or safe installation services, give the A-1 Locksmith team a call today at 972-284-7500.
