Home Fire Safes
Most homeowners consider purchasing home fire safes to protect their valuables, important documents, and treasured keepsakes in the event the unthinkable happens. While insurance may cover part or all of a financial loss, it will not compensate you for the time you’ll have to spend replacing documents like birth certificates, all types of licenses, court papers of various kinds, and financial data. And nothing can make up for the loss of items with significant sentimental value. With this in mind, home safety experts recommend that every home be equipped with one or more home fire safes, and that you purchase the absolute finest quality unit your budget will allow. It is a commonly voiced by those who have lost valuables to a home fire that they wish they had purchased a better safe. With more than 250,000 damage-causing fires reported every year, the chances of one affecting you might be higher than you think.
When shopping among the many quality home fire safes on the market, take into account the following factors, and the chances are you will end up with a safe that fits your needs and your budget. First of all, experts advise the purchase of a fire proof safe, not just one with a fire resistant rating. Fire proof home fire safes are made to withstand fire for a much longer period of time, employing insulating material that will keep the temperature within the safe cooler for a longer period of time. It is suggested that you purchase a model with a UL rating or 1 or 2, meaning it has been proven to keep documents from being damaged in heats ranging from 1200F to 1700F – the temperatures reached in a common house fire – for 1 hour or 2 hours. Home fire safes with a 3 rating, for 3 hour protection, are also available. They will be several times more costly than a 1-rated unit, but if you are in the habit of keeping large amount of cash and other valuables at home, you should certainly consider one.
Secondly, gather the contents you plan to put in the safe. Stack them neatly, and measure the dimensions. When shopping for home fire safes select one with more than adequate internal space to house your items. Choose one with at least 1.5 to 2 times the space you need, since year by year you’ll likely add contents.
Thirdly, if you live in a high crime area, you might consider one of the wall home fire safes that mount onto house studs and can be covered by a picture (not advised – the thieves have seen that one in the movies), a heavy book case, or in an obscure place they wouldn’t think to look.
Finally, don’t delay! Those 250,000+ damaging fires account for approximately $10 billion in property loss each year. It simply isn’t worth the risk to leave your valuables unprotected. Peruse the top brands of home fire safes and get your items protected as soon as possible.