How to Remove Safes

Moving a small safe is one thing, but a large safe is quite a challenge.

Moving a safe from one location to another is a tricky, dangerous and time-consuming process. Safes are, by nature, difficult to remove from a location and often require the attention of trained professional safe movers. If you need to remove a safe to place it in storage or another room, it may be best to defer to the professionals. If you want to move the safe yourself, remember that safety should be your primary concern.

Things You'll Need

• Appliance dolly
• Masonite

Instructions

1. Find out how much your safe weighs by checking with the manufacturer and make sure the appliance dolly is rated to carry the weight. Any safe larger than 700 pounds should likely be moved by professionals.

2. Plot a course through your home indicating where and how you will remove the safe. Be sure to measure all doorways, staircases, hallways and other narrow spaces to ensure the safe has room to pass through.

3. Place Masonite along the path to provide a protective surface on which to roll the dolly. Masonite will also make it easier to roll the safe along carpeted areas. Place the Masonite in a descending fashion to avoid catching a lip or edge.

4. Remove the safe door, if possible. Many safes feature removable doors to make the moving process a bit easier.

5. Strap the safe to the appliance dolly and, with the help of several friends, remove it from the house. It is recommended you have at least four strong people to help move the safe.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to move your safe up or down a flight of stairs, place two people on the dolly, two people under the safe and two people at the top of the stairs with a strong rope attached to the dolly. Take one stair at a time and be very, very careful. Slow and steady will safely win this race.

References

• EMoving Storage: How to Move a Safe or Gun Safe