Are safes waterproof? They’re rather water-resistant
If you want to protect valuable items, you can place them in a safe. But are safes waterproof or just water-resistant? Let’s find out.
Most safes are not waterproof, they’re only water-resistant. This means they can stay submerged only for a limited period of time in a certain depth of water. If your safe remains submerged long enough, it will let water in. Heavy-duty safes can protect your valuables against water damage for up to 72 hours.
Waterproof safes typically include a closed-cell foam gasket. When you close the lid, the seal forms a barrier between the water outside and your valuables inside.
ETL water protection ratings for safes
The ETL water protection ratings specify how long a safe can stay submerged in a given depth of water. Don’t purchase safes that don’t have an official ETL verification. The water protection rating specified by the manufacturer may not always hold true.
Always check the water protection rating of a safe before buying it. Of course, if you live in an area prone to flooding, a water-resistant safe is better than no safe.
The best waterproof safes can protect your valuables from water intrusion for up to 72 hours. This should hopefully give you enough time to find the safe and fish it out of the water. These safe models are typically more expensive than their counterparts that can keep contents dry up for up to 8 or 24 hours.
Better safe than sorry
According to FEMA, floods are the number one natural disaster in the United States. Every state is at risk from this hazard. As a result, many home insurance claims revolve around water damage. It’s safe to take all the precaution measures that you possibly can before disaster strikes.
While no safe can protect your valuables against water damage indefinitely, they’re an option worth taking into account.
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