Storing your valuable items like jewelry, firearms, important documents, and more doesn’t have to be overly complicated. You need an electronic vault and you can keep all your valuable items in check without storing them in another location. But, home safes are not fool-proof. A few safe vault door issues might pop up from time to time so you need to know how to deal with them.
Knowing the problem and how you can fix it on your own can help you save time and money. Here are some of the common issues that you might experience while using a safe.
Issues on Safe Vault Door
1. Running on Empty Battery
Vaults will not run out of battery easily. But, it doesn’t mean that you don’t need to change it. When you open it more often, the battery would run out faster than you can imagine. Every time you use the electronic lock or keypad, the safe uses more power than normal.
If you plan to open your vault to access the items inside, there is a big chance that your battery will only last for a few months. Once it runs out and you fail to change it, you will be locked out of your safe.
The best thing to do is to refer to your manual and check how long the battery lasts. But, the best course of action is to replace it within six to nine months to guarantee continuous operation.
2. Lock-out Mode
It’s not unheard of for safe owners to forget their passwords or codes. Actually, it happens more frequently than you can imagine. Most safes use four to six combinations so it’s very easy to forget, especially if you don’t open it regularly.
Although writing it down or saving it on your phone can solve this issue, it’s a security risk. You may misplace the paper where the code is written or it might get deleted on your phone.
Most electronic storage comes with a lock-out mode. You cannot unlock the vault if you failed to input the right combination multiple times. You would have to wait 15 to 20 minutes when you’re locked out of your safe.
3. The Handle is Jammed
This problem is very common if you have a cheap safe. Jammed handles can be very frustrating, especially if you don’t know what to do. It has something to do with the handle being pushed on one side.
Dealing with a jammed handle is very problematic because no matter how many times you unlock the vault, it will stay close. You can hold the handle down and hit it with your hands.
4. Safe Relock
Safe relock is a security feature of a safe wherein it locks automatically if you failed to open the door right away. This is very important as it would make sure that your vault will not stay open.
However, there are instances where the safe relocks feature kicks in earlier than expected. This kind of thing happens rarely, but if it does, you can re-enter your code or put your fingertip on the scanner to open it.
5. Fingerprint Scanner Error
More advanced safes come with a fingerprint scanner. Instead of memorizing a password or keeping the key to the vault, you only need your fingerprints to open it.
It’s more convenient and offers less hassle since you can access your safe in a few seconds. However, like other digital security features, this is not completely fool-proof. There are instances where an error might occur while scanning your fingers.
The best thing to do is to keep trying or you can use the alternative unlocking procedures available. You can use a code or you can use a key to open the safe just in case.
6. Damaged Wiring
Wiring can get damaged and it would prevent you from opening the vault. If you’re using a keypad, remove it and check the wires if they are cut, kinked, or loose.
Maintenance Tips for your Safe
Having a good quality safe for your house or business is a big investment. When properly maintained, your safe can last for decades and some even last for a lifetime. It doesn’t matter if your goal is to keep your money, firearms, or other important documents safe. Failing to maintain yourself regularly can cause more problems to you when you need it.
To take care of your safe vault door, here are a few things that you should know.
- Keep your safe locks lubricated, especially the moving parts. Although it’s not too hard to fix a jammed handle, you can completely prevent this from happening with proper lock lubrication. You don’t need to do it every month. One to two times per year can already help prevent sticking and jamming.
- An annual inspection is needed to make sure that all of the parts of the safe are functioning properly. You need to check the springs and locks. The safe door should be smoothly functioning as well. Hire a technician to help you with your concern since they know exactly what to do to keep your vault in tip-top condition.
- Always clean the outside part of your safe. If you’ve been keeping it for a long time, there is a chance that the vault has already accumulated a lot of dust and dirt. You need to keep it clean, especially the fingerprint scanner to make sure that there won’t be an error while accessing your valuable items.
Final Thoughts
Electronic safes are the best option if you want to keep valuable items secure. But, always keep in mind that a few mishaps can happen while using them. There is no perfect vault so you should expect that a few problems might pop up from time to time.
By understanding the common problems of a safe vault door, you can easily find the solution. You can even prevent these problems from happening through proper care and maintenance. It’s not too late to invest in a digital vault to help protect your valuable items. Get your own electronic vault and enjoy its amazing benefits.