A safe should be serviced to prevent lockouts because there is no good time for a lockout. Also, it can be expensive to get a safe to open again if it does fail.
How often should a safe be serviced?
A safe should be serviced at least once a year. Fasteners that hold the bolt work together can become loose resulting in a lockout. The safe tech will look for this and any other issues that may result in a safe failure.
What does servicing a safe involve?
If the safe has a mechanical dial, the safe tech will disassemble the lock and check for wear. It will be cleaned, lubricated and the combination will be checked for accuracy. All safes will have the bolt work and other mechanical parts hecked for wear, breakage, and any other issues. The mechanical parts will be cleaned and lubricated. Worn parts can often be replaced.
Preventing an expensive lockout may be avoided by having your safe or vault serviced regularly.