SentrySafe and small home safes
SentrySafe Won't Open
A dead keypad, a forgotten combination or a lock that stopped working. SentrySafe fire safes and small keypad safes are in a lot of Philadelphia homes, usually holding the papers people need most. Here's what to check, what never to do, and how Mike gets them open.
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- ALOA member
- Owner-operated: you talk to Mike
- Mobile: Mike comes to you
Short answer: on a SentrySafe with a keypad, check the battery first. If that isn't it, stop. Don't spray anything into the lock, don't play with the wires and never cut the hinges. Text Mike photos of the safe at (661) 927-7473 or email info@aspiresafeandlock.com, and he'll open it and repair it so it goes back into service.
Before you call
On a small keypad safe, look at the battery's brand and expiration date first. That's where most "it won't open" calls start. If the battery is good and the keypad still does nothing, leave it alone: no prying at the door, no pulling the keypad apart, no cutting the hinges. The rest of Mike's list is on what to check when a safe won't open.
Fire safes hold the important stuff
Many SentrySafe models are built mainly to protect papers from fire. That's exactly why people need them open: passports, deeds, titles, wills, insurance papers and birth certificates. A safe like that is worth opening properly, and a safe that's opened and repaired keeps doing its job afterward.
A keypad that's getting flaky
A SentrySafe keypad that works some days and not others is telling you something. Small keypad safes often sit in closets for years without anyone checking the date sticker on the lock, and Mike's rule is that an electronic lock past about ten years is due to be replaced before it fails. Doing it on your schedule beats an emergency opening. See the ten-year rule.
How Mike handles a SentrySafe lockout
Small safes are part of the job, not beneath it. Mike works on keypad wall safes and home safes like these, alongside bank vaults. Send clear photos of the safe door and keypad to (661) 927-7473 or email info@aspiresafeandlock.com, and say what happened and what you've tried.
For larger gun safes, see gun safe service or, for Liberty owners, Liberty safe lockouts.
Questions people ask
My SentrySafe keypad is dead. What should I check?
The battery. Most failures to open are battery related. Check the brand and the expiration date. Mike recommends Duracell Procell or Energizer Industrial, dated at least five years out. If the battery and wires are good and it still won't respond, the keypad or lock may have failed.
Can you open a SentrySafe without ruining it?
Mike's goal on every safe is the least destructive opening possible, in a reasonable amount of time, followed by a proper repair so the safe goes back into service.
I lost the combination to my SentrySafe. Can you help?
Yes. Mike opens the safe, repairs it and sets a new combination. See lost safe combination.
Should I cut the hinges off my SentrySafe?
No. Cutting the hinges will not open the door, because the bolts on the other side still hold it shut, and it makes the opening more dangerous.
Tell Mike what's going on
Locked out right now? Call. It's the fastest way. For a safe that isn't an emergency, or for business and bank work, send the details below or text a photo of the safe and its lock to (661) 927-7473 or email it to info@aspiresafeandlock.com.
Business hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (closed weekends and holidays). Emergency service is available 24 hours.