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The Kitchen Table

safe tips

16 years ago

from everydaycheapskate.com

Dear Mary,

In a recent column, you mentioned readers should invest in a fire and heatproof safe for their important papers in case of fire. As a former firefighter and fire safe owner, I wanted your readers to know that your safe should be kept on the lowest level of your house for two reasons. First, heat rises, so the safe should be in the coolest part of the fire. Second if the safe is on a higher floor which collapses, damage could be done to the contents in the fall.

Also, make sure your safe is equipped to keep interior temperatures that will protect the contents you choose to put inside. The unit I own will keep temperatures below 350 F, which will protect paper documents but not home inventory VCR tapes. Check to see that the safe you purchase will fit your needs. Chad L., email

Dear Chad,

Thanks for the specific information on home safes. Readers can find safes at home improvement centers as well as office supply stores. By the way, one reader wrote to say that her financial situation does not allow her to purchase a safe at this time, so she keeps her important papers in a zip-type freezer bag and then stores this in the freezer. She was told that the inside of a freezer nearly always survives a house fire.

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Comments (11)

sue_va
16 years ago
Interesting. I always kept my important papers in the freezer before I made my move here, 4 years ago. I have a smaller fridge, thereby smaller freezer section and I haven't done that. This reminds me though that I should make room and put them in the freezer here.

Good reminder. Thanks.

Sue
msmarion
16 years ago
Just don't put your jewlery or money in the fridge...the crooks look there first.
When we built our previous home we had a safe installed in the bottom of one of the kitchen cabinets. We never thought about fire though.
Thanks for the tips.
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ntt_hou
16 years ago
Moni, can you read mind or something? Your posting is like you have read my mind. How did you know that I have planned buying a safe? These tips came just at the right time. Thank You!!!

I've heard from a friend keeping money in the freezer but had never thought of important papers! I will do that tomorrow while taking time to look for a safe.

Great ideas!
shequit
16 years ago
Moni - thank you so much. I bought a fire-proof a few years ago to store my photos (other stuff goes to the safe deposit at the bank). I have it on the second floor but will surely move it to my basement on a shelf before I head south. We had a flood disaster a few years ago and as difficult as the re-hab has been, I decided that the photos were the one thing I could not replace.
OklaMoni
Original Author
16 years ago
Well, shequit don't put it too low. Not sure about basements, if they tend to flood, not a good idea, me thinks. :)

About the fireproof safe, I have one. Bought my daughter and son in law one for their wedding present. Even got two fire proof file cabinets, but those are upstairs. never thought about the falling down in case of a house fire.

But we do have our fire proof safe downstairs. They are hard to disguise, if you don't have a closet you can "hide" them in.

Another thing to think about is: where to put the combination (slip of paper with the numbers) of the safe. I used to keep mine upstairs. Argh, bad idea again because of a fire. But since the wedding, my daughter has it in her safe. :)

Moni
ntt_hou
16 years ago
Shequit, if you haven't done so, scan your photos and put them on a CD. Give one to a few of your family or relatives. If you happen to lose yours, other in the family would have a copy of it and vice versa.

Also, if you have negatives of photos, you can bring it to a 1-hour photo place and they can convert the photos to JPG files and put them into a photo CD for you.
shequit
16 years ago
Moni - we are not in a place where there would be a flood other than a few inches so I am thinking on a shelf. No? I could also put the safe box into a fridge that is in the basement. Is that better? My jewelry will be stored at the bank in a drawer I lease but it is not large enough for the photos.

ntt_hou - I really like your idea lots and have thought of it but it is hard to motivate to do it with all else going on here. My New Year's resolution is to accomplish that chore. Then I can go away without anxiety about ever losing the "story of my life".
ntt_hou
16 years ago
Yes, I agree with you Shequit. I have the same problem myself.

If there's a fire, there will be water. Some safes are fire proof but not waterproof. If yours is not, put things in freezer ziplock bags will give them protecttion from water. This was a tip from a fireman.
shequit
16 years ago
ntt_hou - never thought of the ziplocks - thanks.
OklaMoni
Original Author
16 years ago
I guess, the water solution has been figured out. :)

Isn't the KT GREAT?

Moni
okwriter
16 years ago
It's also important to realize that many/most safes are not fireproof. They are fire resistant. 9/11 showed us that given enough heat, anything can melt. I still think safes are a good idea but not something we can know for sure will survive a fire.

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