Firearm safety equipment is no exception. 

Yet, many don’t know that this is an option—and often a very convenient one. Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of buying firearm safety equipment online from stores like A-1Locksmith.shop. 

Benefit #1: Convenience

The convenience of online shopping is undeniable. With just a few clicks, customers can browse through an extensive array of firearm safety equipment from online retailers like A-1Locksith.shop. From gun safes to safe dehumidifiers, and other accessories, our online platform provides a comprehensive catalog of safe products, allowing customers to compare options, and make informed decisions from the comfort of their homes.

Benefit #2: Extensive Product Range

A-1 Locksmith understands the diverse needs of firearm owners. Our online store showcases a wide range of safes, and safety equipment catering to various preferences, and requirements. Whether it’s a biometric safe for quick access or a safe light kit for better visibility, our selection is curated to meet different safety needs.

Benefit #3: Thorough Information

Online platforms like A-1Locksmith.shop aren’t just about purchasing, however. They’re hubs of information, with each product description going into detail about features, specifications, and other information. Our website offers valuable insights into the design usage of each safety product as well. FAQs, and financing information further aid visitors in understanding the functionalities, and importance of different safety equipment and services we offer.

Benefit #4: Seamless Ordering and Delivery

Once you choose the right safe or accessory, the online ordering process with A-1 Locksmith is seamless. Secure payment gateways, and efficient logistics ensure prompt delivery right to your doorstep, and we include free installation with our safes. This hassle-free process saves time, and effort, allowing firearm owners like yourself to focus on what truly matters: maintaining a safe, and responsible environment.

Benefit #5: Tailored Customer Support

A-1 Locksmith’s commitment extends beyond the sale. Our online platform offers avenues for customers to seek personalized assistance, and we have the backing of multiple physical locations in Dallas-Fort Worth as well. Whether you have questions about firearm safety equipment guidance or need help selecting the right safe for your needs, A-1 Locksmith’s customer support team is readily available to address concerns, and provide assistance.

Start shopping our selection of firearm safety equipment online at A-1Locksmith.shop today!

One of the most prevalent queries that echoes among gun owners, and enthusiasts is whether gun safes are eligible for tax exemptions in the Lone Star State.

Let’s take a closer look at the laws around these types of purchases, and where to find the best tax-free gun safety options in the Lone Star State as we answer the question, “are gun safes tax free in Texas.”

What the Law Says

First, let’s take a look at what the state government has to say about it. According to the website for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, “the sale, storage, use, and other consumption of firearm safety equipment is tax free. This includes, but is not limited to, a gun lock box, gun safe, barrel lock, trigger lock, firearm safety training manual or electronic publication, or other item designed to ensure safe handling or storage of a firearm.” So the short answer is yes, gun safes are tax free in Texas.

Why Get a Gun Safe?

Of course, you don’t just buy something because it’s tax free. It must have benefits to justify the cost. With firearm safes, however, the investment is worth it for several reasons:

• Protection: It keeps firearms away from children who can access it.
• Storage: you need somewhere safe to store firearms, and protect them from damage.
• Insurance: many companies provide a discount on your policy if you use a safe.
• Access: in the event of a home invasion, you know where your firearms are.
• Valuables: in addition to firearms, you can store cash and other precious items.

These are just a few reasons to get a gun safe, but there are countless others, from protecting against fires, and explosions to safeguarding your rights.

The Best Place to Buy a Gun Safe

A-1 Locksmith isn’t just one of the best locksmith companies in North Texas; we have a wide selection of gun safes as well. Security, and safes are our specialty, in fact, and we carry brands like Browning, Liberty, Champion and American Security. Our knowledgeable safe experts can work with you to show you the best gun safe options you have, their features, and how to use them. If you’re looking for a gun safe in Dallas-Fort Worth, look no further than A-1 Locksmith.

Browse our safes for sale online today, or stop by one of our North Texas locations! Your Texas state representatives are sending a signal with tax-free gun safes, and that signal is a security enhancement we’d recommend as well. 

If you think outside the box, however, you can store a safe in an unexpected place.

While gun safes are large, and many home safes as well, you can at least slow down would-be thieves with these four unexpected places to put a home safe.

1. In the Kitchen

For a place thieves likely won’t look, try the kitchen. Some people use old refrigerators, shelves or cabinets to hide valuables, but it’s not ideal to store valuables in these areas without any extra protection. Consider installing an actual safe in the kitchen instead. You can store it in the back of the pantry, behind a hidden door or under a cabinet. You probably can’t get away with a large safe in this area, but it’s a great unexpected spot for a small or medium safe.

2. In the Stairs

You know that old saying of finding, something “under your nose?” That’s what a safe in the stairs is like. You can hide valuables in a safe literally underneath where potential criminals are walking. Under the stairs is a great place for larger safes, but it’s a little more expected than other locations on this list. Actually inside the stair steps themselves is a more unexpected spot, though it’s ideal for the smallest of safes. For larger safes, you could 

3. In a Vent

Wall safes are getting more advanced, and versatile these days, as you can buy models that are well cloaked. You can also fit a safe behind a fake vent and it can be any size, since vents vary in sizing as well. Just don’t store valuables or a safe directly in a real air vent, as there’s a chance you could lose them or they could become damaged by cold or hot air. It’s also fairly simple to remove a vent screen with a simple screwdriver.

4. In the Floor

Have you ever seen a movie where the actors find cash hidden in the floorboards? It’s more common than you might think. But, like the other suggestions on this list, we don’t recommend leaving valuables out in the open or stored in an area that isn’t a safe. For several other reasons, your items won’t be protected in case of a fire or explosion. But if you install a safe underground, your belongings will be both hidden and protected.

Now that you’ve reviewed these four unexpected places you can put a home safe, where would you place your safe? This list is far from exhaustive, and one for which we’re certain safe owners can have some fun with. 

If you’re interested in a home safe purchase or installation, trust the team at A-1 Locksmith. Stop by one of our Dallas-Fort Worth locations or give us a call at 972-284-7500 to consult with a security expert today!

Security is no exception.

For example, there’s a right way, and a wrong way to move a bulky item like a home safe. If you’re considering a DIY safe move, here are some techniques to avoid at all cost.

1. Underestimating the Weight

Safes are heavy, and can weigh several hundred pounds or more. People often underestimate the weight of the safe, and end up straining their backs (or injuring themselves in another way) during the move. Be sure to consult with a safe professional to determine how much help you’ll need. Moving a safe is a two-person job, at the very least. But the more people you have to move it, the less you’ll risk injury or damaging the safe.

2. Choosing the Wrong Equipment

Another common mistake is not choosing proper equipment. Consider a heavy-duty dolly, straps or a hoist. If you don’t have any of these tools, it might be best to consider hiring a professional to move, and install your safe, as they will usually have the necessary equipment to do their job. Not using the right equipment can make the move much more difficult (and also risk injury or damage to your home, business or the safe itself).

3. Not Planning the Route

“Measure twice, cut once” is a common saying. It’s important to prepare for a big safe move, which includes measuring the safe itself and the route where you’ll transport it. Make sure there is enough clearance where you’re putting it and remove any obstacles along the way. Pay special attention to stairs, narrow hallways, and doorways, as these are parts of the route that typically cause issues. The more you plan, the less you risk having to move the safe multiple times or failing to even reach your desired location for the safe.

4. Not Securing the Safe Properly

It’s important to secure the safe properly, both during the move, and after it’s placed in your desired location. For the relocation, you want to ensure it doesn’t fall off the equipment you’re using. For the placement, you want to ensure it’s mounted properly so it doesn’t tip over (especially if it’s in an area that children access). A professional locksmith or safe technician can give you additional guidance on how to best secure the safe you’re moving.

While knowing these four mistakes to avoid while moving a safe yourself is important, this list is not limited to these, and there’s also the value you’d receive by working with a company that already has all the equipment, knowledge, and staff to handle your safe move. Maybe you have a low-bed trailer ideal for moving the safe, and you’re prepared to bolt your safe down. Now couple in your own labor and likely the labor of a friend, and you can easily see where the value proposition is of working with a safe-moving company even if you’re able to avoid these common mistakes when moving a safe yourself.

For the best locksmithing and safe services in Dallas-Fort Worth, trust A-1 Locksmith. Stop by any of our DFW locations today.

We all have questions. Sometimes, these are related to home safes, and security. Other times, they’re related to what type of sandwich we want for dinner. 

When it comes to safes, and security, we’re here to provide answers. (Though we also may have a sandwich recommendation or two, if you’re really interested.)

Let’s answer a few common safe questions.

1. Should I Keep a Safe in the Car?

Many people debate whether they should keep a safe in the car, especially when it comes to gun safes, and storing firearms legally. While you should confirm it’s legal to transport a firearm (and that you have proper licenses, and permissions), you are free to keep a safe in your car to protect valuables. 

Security companies will usually recommend you don’t leave valuables in the car, as they could tempt thieves, but if it’s hidden, disguised or otherwise not visible from the outside, it could be a smart way to provide another layer of protection for items you don’t want to carry with you.

2. Can Safes Be Anchored Down?

Whether for your car, home or business, you may want your safe attached to (or anchored on) something. The good news is that safes can be anchored down and many models have the mounts, and hardware needed to do so. At A-1 Locksmith, we even provide bolt-down services for many of the safes we sell, deliver and install. 

3. Are Safe Ratings Important?

Yes! Especially if you have any concerns about criminal activity or fire hazards. The main types of ratings are fire ratings, and burglary ratings. Both vary in the amount of protection they provide, so be sure to consult with a professional locksmith or safe expert to determine how high of a safety rating you need.

4. What is the Difference Between a Gun Safe, and Home Safe?

Gun safes are designed specifically for firearms, and ammunition, and tend to provide superior protection against blasts, and misfires. Home safes can potentially provide the same protection, but you should look at ratings, features, and double-check with a professional to make sure a safe will fit your needs. As a rule of thumb, you can store other valuables, and items in a gun safe, but think twice before storing firearms, and ammunition in a standard home safe.

5. Which Type of Safe Should I Choose?

There are a wide variety of factors to consider when making your first safe purchase. For starters, how big does it need to be? What ratings do you need for protection? Where will it be placed? What is your budget? What will you be storing in the safe? The list goes on. Again, we recommend consulting with a professional safe, and security company to determine which safe will best meet your needs.

To stay updated about the latest safe, and security tips, news, and advice, subscribe to our newsletter or chat with us on our homepage today.

If you do identify an issue, you’ll know how to approach next steps, and if a DIY repair is feasible. But you might need to call a pro anyway. Before you do, here are four common trouble areas to check:

1. Coding Issue

If your safe is in a commercial environment, there’s a chance the owner has codes he or she can give to certain people to access the safe. When this happens, the code can be accidentally deactivated or changed. A good way to know whether there is a coding issue is to have someone with another code (preferably the business owner) try to access the safe. If they can, there’s likely an issue with your code. If they can’t, there might be a bigger problem.

2. Battery Life

Another simple issue—akin to turning a computer on and off again to reset it—is when the safe battery dies. Many safes these days use batteries to operate the keypad, unlock the safe, and other functions. Replacing the batteries is an obvious way to test whether this is the problem, but other signs that can tip you off include a display that isn’t working, or a display that still lights up while the safe won’t open. If you replace the batteries, and there’s still a problem, it might be time to call a professional.

3. Security Features

Many safes these days have advanced security features that let you do everything from access the safe with a fingerprint to lock down in case of too many failed access attempts. The latter can happen if you use the wrong code a few times, in which case you simply need to wait a while before trying to access it again (give it at least 30 minutes to be sure). It’s also possible you may be entering the wrong code, so ensure that is correct as well before calling a professional.

4. Electronics / Wiring

Finally, there could be wiring issues messing with the safe’s electronics. The wires in your safe are like wires in other electronics in that they can wear down or become damaged/dead over time. If you do diagnose this is your issue, it’s almost always a necessity to call a professional locksmith to open it again, and give you access to your safe. A locksmith can also help you diagnose the issue to begin with if you’re wanting to streamline to a solution.

Whether you need a safe repair or are interested in a new safe purchase, A-1 Locksmith is ready to serve. Give us a call or start shopping online today.

Take security upgrades, for example. 

If your home has a security system, do you really need a safe? What about the opposite scenario? Isn’t only one of these options good enough? Let’s take a look at which security option is better for you, or if investing in both is the best decision.

Advantages of a Safe

Home safes are ideal for keeping valuable belongings secured. At the top of the list are firearms, ammunition, jewelry, cash and important documents. While a security system will alert you to suspicious activity, it won’t do much for physically protecting your most important belongings. Here are some of the other security advantages a safe provides:

• Portability: A safe can be delivered, and installed in the location of your choice
• Flexibility: bolt down the safe to the floor or wall, or leave it freestanding. 
• Variety: There are a wide variety of safe sizes, and features available today.
• Superiority: When it comes to protecting belongings in a fire, flood or burglary attempt, nothing provides safety, and security like a safe (especially with the right safe rating). 

Advantages of a Security System

Security systems don’t physically protect belongings, but they do give you awareness, and an extra layer of support in the form of a monitoring company. Using your preferred settings, and features, you can set up your home security in a way that gives you superior peace of mind—both at home, and on the road. Here are some of the other security advantages a security system provides:

• Visibility: you can install cameras, and point them anywhere you’d like.
• Safety: A team of professionals will be ready to alert the authorities should something suspicious happen and trigger an alarm on your property.
• Affordability: Many security systems are more affordable than large or advanced home safes, and there are different levels of systems for different budgets.

Benefits of Both

Of course, as a professional security company, we’ll recommend that you invest in both a safe, and a security system, if your budget allows. This isn’t just bias; you’ll be able to keep your most precious, and valuable items locked away in a well-rated safe while keeping the rest of your home monitored, and ready to alert you (or the team monitoring your system). A consultation with a professional locksmith is all you need to determine what your situation requires, and they’ll be happy to recommend certain models, brands or systems.

If you’re in need of a new safe or security system, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today, or visit any of our DFW-area locations. 

Let’s walk through the steps typically associated with a keypad battery change to help you decide whether it’s worth a DIY attempt or if it’s time to call a professional locksmith. 

(Note: these instructions are based on the SECURAM ProLogic series of keypads.)

Step #1: Find the Battery Compartment

Top-lit, back-lit and LCD screen keypads are usually pretty easy to find where to change the battery. It’s often found at about the 5 O’clock position, though you can work your way around the keypad to find it if it’s not there. 

Step #2: Remove the Compartment

There should be a lever that you can pull to slide out the battery compartment. It comes out pretty easily, and often features a D-cell battery.

Step #3: Replace the Battery

This is pretty straightforward, with no special batteries required or anything. Just buy a pack of D Cells, and use one of them for the keypad. Discard the old battery.

Step #4: Replace the Compartment

Slide the compartment back into the slot the same way it came out. (Again, this should be around the 5 o’clock position.) Make sure the battery, and compartment are both in the right way, or either could get stuck. Once it’s in, you’re done with your keypad battery change!

Step #5: Verify the Battery Level

If your keypad features an LCD screen, you’ll be able to check the battery level with a quick glance at the top-right corner. It displays your battery life similar to the way your phone does.

Finding the Best Safe Accessories

If you’re looking to upgrade your home safe, getting a keypad upgrade from A-1 Locksmith is a great place to start. We have top-lit, back-lit and LCD screen keypads, as well as other safe accessories like outlet kits, anchors, storage options, dehumidifiers, and more. Check out our accessories page to see all the items we have in stock. Stop by any of our DFW-area locations today, and one of our professional technicians will help you find what you need to maximize the security of your safe. 

If you have other safe or security questions, contact the team at A-1 Locksmith today!

We’ll be discussing the latter today. Do you need to store firearms in gun safes, or are home safes an appropriate option as well? We’ll help you decide.

Gun Safe, and Home Safe Differences

First off, how are these safes even different? They look the same on the outside to the average person and the features, and capabilities of each are similar. (You could argue that the main difference between gun safes, and home safes lies in the items you’re storing inside them.) That being said, there are some key differences when it comes to protecting firearms. For example, here are the advantages you’ll find in most gun safes:

1. Humidity, and water damage protection
2. Industry-required door seals
3. Gun-friendly storage racks, and shelves

Then again, many home safes feature flexible storage options, and sealed openings as well. You can also add a dehumidifier to your safe, making it a better option for firearms, and accessories.

Which Is Better?

Gun safes, and home safes both can offer thick walls of protection, advanced fire safety ratings, and other features that help protect against theft or damage. Your choice really depends on how you plan to use it. Will you be storing other valuables in addition to firearms? How big are your firearms? Do you need to access the gun quickly or do you have a long-term storage plan? 

Whatever you decide, you’ll need to make sure the safe can eliminate moisture, and humidity, as this leads to rust, one of the biggest culprits for firearm damage. Keep firearms secured tightly in the safe, and get the safe serviced annually. (Home safes typically aren’t serviced as often as gun safes, but you can definitely request bi-annual or annual tune-ups.)

How A Professional Locksmith Can Help

At the end of the day, if you’re unsure about whether a gun safe or home safe is right for you, why not turn to the experts? The professional team members at A-1 Locksmith have the expertise, and professionalism you need to make the right decision. Also, you can see safe options in person for yourself and ask the locksmith questions about them. The more informed you are about your options, the better choice you’ll make.

If you’re in the market for a home safe or gun safe, stop by any of our A-1 Locksmith locations today, or visit our online shop.

If you’re not sure what exactly you should put in a home safe, here are a few ideas:

1. Jewelry

From necklaces, and rings to diamonds, and bracelets, most people have some sort of a jewelry collection in the house. These are ideal items for the safe because of their value, but also because they can get damaged if they’re out in the open—or mistakenly dropped in something like a sink or toilet. Putting jewelry in a safe also keeps them secure, organized, and in one spot that you always remember. Don’t keep jewelry cleaning fluids or chemicals in the safe, however!

2. Cash

The worst thing about cash? Criminals want it. The second-worst thing about cash? It’s flammable. You can protect your supply of physical cash from both of these threats by putting it in a home safe—particularly one that has a good fire rating or safety rating. No safe is completely invincible, however, so it’s advised to keep most of your money with a financial institution, if possible.

3. Important Documents

Passports, birth certificates, and social security cards are all examples of important documents that you don’t want to lose (whether for financial or convenience reasons). Keep all these secured in a safe, and try to organize them based on type. 

4. Firearms

Guns are ideal for storage in safes for safety purposes in addition to securing these valuable items. Keep firearms away from children and criminals by securing them in a home safe. There are a wide variety of safe sizes, and types, so you can find one that fits your firearm collection. For protection of firearms, and many of the items mentioned on this list, you might want to invest in a dehumidifier.

5. Electronic Devices

Expensive laptops, photo-sharing devices, and storage devices are all ideal electronic devices to store in a safe. It keeps them away from potential damage (whether due to another person in the house or water or another reason) and out of sight from thieves. Many people say family photos, and other digital files are what’s most important to them in life, so it makes sense why many choose to store electronic devices in home safes.

If you’re interested in a home safe repair, purchase or installation, contact A-1 Locksmith today, or visit any of our Dallas-Fort Worth-area locations.