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With the popularity of Sentry Safes and the over 200 models on the market, it is no surprise that the most common troubleshooting question we receive is: “My Sentry Safe safe won’t open. What do I do?” Usually, the caller is in a hurry and doesn't have the time to call a locksmith or wants to avoid the trip charge if there were some easy and simple things to try first.
Here are the most common reasons a Sentry Safe won't open. Try these before calling Sentry Safe Customer Service or a safe locksmith.
The battery is dead.
The bolts of the safe are jammed or misaligned
The safe is in lockout mode or the time delay is active
Sentry safe handle stuck
The deactivated code
The wiring is disconnected or damaged
These methods should work for just about any Sentry Safe model, including the ones with keys, and combination locks; or the electronic and biometric safes. We recommend doing these before you call your locksmith or safe technician (typical trip charge $100) or the safe manufacturer.
Dead Batteries
If you are lucky the simplest reason why your safe won't open is dead safe batteries. Sounds silly, but you will be surprised how many times this is the case. Pop the battery or batteries out of the battery holder, check the terminals, and if you can't check the battery charge, just replace the battery with a brand-name battery pack like Duracell or Energizer. We recommend staying away from off brand batteries because studies show they lose power much faster than the branded types.
Jammed Bolt Work
The bolt work of a safe can get jammed even for a quality safe. Sometimes a jarring, or dropping or a hard knock on a safe can jam the bolts. Most customers forget that safes are precision equipment, not just expensive metal boxes. One way to tell if the bolts are jammed is if you hear the motor whirring or trying to retract the bolts but the safe won't open. Keep trying to open the safe and listen carefully to the sounds from the front of the safe.
An unconventional but simple solution worth trying is what we call the "mule kick" option. Face away from the safe, and kick the door of the safe hard. Do this a few times. This will often loosen and stuck bolt work. Make sure that you do not kick the electronic keypad or the safe handle.
Tug the handle of the safe in the opposite direction from how you turn it to open it. Enter the combo code if you have an electronic safe, otherwise, try turning the key. This will release some of the pressure on the bolt work and can help the handle come loose.
Safe Lockout Mode or Time Delay
Deactivated Code
It is possible that for some reason, even if you enter the correct combination, your safe won't open. In this case, it could be that your code is deactivated. Before you phone the safe company, have someone else try their code to see if theirs works. (This assumes that someone else has a code and access to your safe.)
Disconnected and/or Damaged Wiring
All electronic devices have circuit boards and electrical wires. While troubleshooting an electronic or combination lock is best left to the experts, you can do easy checks to see if the wiring is disconnected and/or damaged. Remove the entire keypad and inspect the wires to see if are loose, kinked, abraded, or cut.
If the wiring looks good, carefully disconnect the wire from the keypad, open the battery cover, and remove the battery or batteries. Wait at least 20 seconds, reinstall the batteries or replace them, reconnect the wiring and see if you can operate the lock.
If wiring is damaged or cut, you are out of luck and will need to call a certified locksmith. We recommend you photograph the keypad, and look for identifying names and model numbers on the keypad before you call the locksmith. This ensures that the locksmith brings the right keypad when they come.
Sentry safe handle stuck?
Here are two things to try for a Sentry Safe with a handle stuck, as suggested by customers who found themselves with this problem:
Repeated trying. One customer found that persistent (bit not increasingly forceful) trying loosened the handle and it opened after over 10 tries.
Don't force the safe handle to the open position because it can strip the plastic (yes plastic!) gears. Lay the safe on its side if possible, with the hinge side on the floor. Bang the side of the safe with a hammer (preferably wrapped in a towel to reduce any scratches). The banging and gravity may cause the bolts to unlock.
If this does not work, you'll need to call a locksmith to open the safe. (Type "locksmith near me" in Google search.) At least you'll be sure that you tried the easy methods before paying for professional help.
FAQs
How long do batteries typically last?
A brand-name 9V battery or common AA or AAA alkaline battery can last up to 2 years, depending upon usage. If it has been longer than that since you replaced your battery, then your battery is likely dead. (independentsafes.co.uk)
How do I break into a Sentry Safe?
There are simple ways to (legally) break into a safe. Try these methods.
