Jammed Safe - What to do About it!

The whole point of having your safe is to keep your valued items; safe! But, what happens when your safe is jammed and even you can’t access it? This can result in everything from mild annoyance to downright panic! Here at Fast & Secure Locksmith we caution all callers to remain calm – nothing can be gained by losing your nerve. Follow our tips listed here on how to handle the situation when your valued safe just won’t open.

Safes are everywhere

You see a lot of safes in the movies and on television. They might be in crime shows or movies about banking and high finance. Safes are often portrayed as built into walls or hidden under floors. Many of these shows make it look easy to access someone else’s safe. The thief or government agent simply wears black gloves, listens carefully and then turns the dial and boom – the safe is open! In real life, it is much different. Safes can be opened in many ways that range from drilling or cutting open the safe and leaving damage or by “cracking” the safe professionally and getting it open without compromising the structure or appearance.

Here in Bolingbrook, IL safes can be found in banks, attorney’s offices, jewelry stores, fine dining, book dealers, fast food, car dealers, and thousands of other commercial and institutional locations. Safes can even be found in private homes and home offices. You don’t have to be a business mogul in order to have a safe to keep your cash and valuables in. Anyone that values privacy and secure protection for your cash, jewelry and other valuables can own and use a solid, well-built safe.

Keep your cool!

It doesn’t matter how urgent the need to access your safe is; don’t panic and try and force your way into it! You will only make matters worse. If you damage your safe there’s no guarantee that you will be able to access it and then you will have repair charges in addition to a service call fee to get it open. Simply remain calm and follow our tips listed below.

Did you forget your combination?

If you did indeed forget the combination to your safe, you will need to call for professional help. Don’t waste time trying to be James Bond and figure out a way to open it on your own. There are several locksmiths in Bolingbrook, IL that can help. If you are using the original combination that you got when you first bought it, contact the manufacturer and they might be able to help you recover it for you. They will need your serial number so be sure to have it on hand when you call.

What if you used the right combination?

This sometimes happens – don’t panic; we have a little known trick that might help. At times the safe’s lever gets stuck. Here’s what you can do. Go ahead and spin the combination dial. Do the first number, then the second. Instead of arriving at the correct third number, stop on number 8. Now using a rubber headed hammer, pound the safe’s door a few times. Don’t hit the dial itself; just the door. Now continue on and enter the third number and then see if this does the trick. If not, repeat the process a couple more times.

Does your safe’s combination dial have a hard time rotating beyond certain numbers?

If so, this may be due to a re-locker mechanism that is built into your safe. Sometimes, the re-locker is activated by accident and you can often bypass this by spinning the dial as if you were entering the first number and at the same time applying force toward the combination with your spinning hand. Now, stop and use that rubber headed hammer again and give the safe door a couple of good whacks. Try opening your safe now.

Still not working?

Some things you can do on your own like changing a door knob, or replacing a peephole. Other things sometimes require help from a pro. If your jammed safe is still not opening, it may be time to call a local locksmith for help. Many shops here in Bolingbrook, IL offer safe opening, repair and maintenance. Ours does, but you are always free to call and use the shop of your choice. Note all the symptoms that your safe is displaying; also the make, model and serial number. It will help to give your lock professional as much detail as possible.

Your safe could be jammed or maybe it is damaged. Other reasons for safes to not open are forgotten combinations, break-in damage and a sticking lever. Some safes are bought used at auction or through estate sales and often, the combination has been lost or forgotten.

How about a safe store?

You can get repair and maintenance service by calling a safe store but be careful; you will most likely over pay! This is because the store owner is a retailer and will simply outsource your repair job to another local locksmith shop. By the time you get the bill, it is marked up so that the shop owner is paid as well as his lock professional.

Is yours a digital safe?

Electronic safes have a security precaution built-in to them. If someone enters a wrong combination too many times, the automatic shut-down is triggered and this will prevent the safe from opening. This is much like entering the wrong bank account password online – you get locked out. This access freeze can last anywhere from a few hours to a day. If this is the case, you don’t need repair service; just a “cooling off” period and then you can try again. If you haven’t tried too many times to access your electronic safe then other causes of jamming can include power fluctuations, short in the electronic circuitry and a low battery.

Let us help you with your locksmith emergencies! Call us now!

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Bolingbrook Locksmith

24 Hour Locksmith Services
Dispatch Address: 515 Winston Drive, Bolingbrook, IL 60440
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Email: help@locksmithbolingbrook.net
Phone: (331) 256-8912