While there’s a lot of buzz around fireproof safes sometimes it’s important to make sure your valuables are also safe from water damage. If you live in a place frequented by floods or hurricanes it might a good idea to be prepared so that your valuables will remain unharmed in a watertight safe in the event of disaster. While there are some quick fixes available with the use of plastic bags for documents it’s also easy enough to find a safe that can accommodate your water resistance needs. Here we’ll look at what it takes for a safe to be waterproof, what might need additional water protection, and some additional steps you can take to protect your valuables from water damage.
One of the main reasons why it may be prudent to invest in a waterproof safe really depends on where you keep your safe. One often overlooked fact for owners of office safes is fire sprinkler systems that have the potential to ruin your documents no matter how tough and fireproof your safe is. Additionally, as noted, if you live in areas frequented by flood or heavy storms it’s also a good idea. If you plan to keep your safe on a boat it should be imperative to make sure that your safe is waterproof.
In general, there are a limited number of items that you may want to keep in your safe that require waterproof facilities. Documents, electronics, and sensitive materials are the main reasons to invest in a waterproof safe. Cash, precious metals, jewelry and the typical mainstays of a home safe will survive with only minor and not irreversible damage. Of course it’s never a bad idea to be over prepared and even though your valuables might survive a soaking it doesn’t mean you have to put them through the trauma. When it comes to waterproof safes there’s a big distinction to be had between water proof and water resistant. True ‘waterproof’ safes typically (but not always) have a different aesthetic and take on the form of a molded chest. Other more traditional looking safes can also be fully waterproof while maintaining the standard appearance but this is less common and usually more pricey. In general waterproofing is achieved with an airtight seal around the door. One of the disadvantages of this is that usually you have to give up the floor anchor to achieve this. Additionally, and much more common, are the water resistant safes. These typically use a seal on the door but do not have the same degree of safety from water. These would suffice for fire sprinklers, rain, or light water hazards but should be no substitute if you’re looking for true waterproofing.
