When it comes to protecting your home and your loved ones, securing your doors and windows should be at the top of your list. Not only do doors and windows serve as access points to your home, but they are also prime targets for burglars. A determined intruder can break into your home in seconds if these entry points are not properly secured. However, with a few simple tricks and preventative measures, you can significantly enhance the security of your doors and windows, ensuring your home remains a safe sanctuary.
In this blog post, we will share some simple yet effective tricks to secure your doors and windows, helping you keep your home safe from crime. From enhancing locks to reinforcing frames, these security upgrades are budget-friendly and easy to implement. So let’s dive into the details and learn how to make your home more secure.
- Upgrade Your Door Locks: The First Line of Defense
- Strengthen Your Window Security: Don’t Forget the Easy Access Points
- Use Motion Sensor Lighting: Illuminate the Perimeter
- Install a Peephole or Video Doorbell
- Use Security Film for Windows
- Secure Sliding Glass Doors
- Keep Your Home Secure with a Security System
- Conclusion: Keep Your Home Safe from Crime
Upgrade Your Door Locks: The First Line of Defense
One of the simplest ways to secure your home and keep your home safe from crime is by upgrading your door locks. Older locks can be easily picked or bypassed, and many standard locks provide little resistance to determined intruders. To enhance your door security, consider the following:
Install Deadbolts
Deadbolts are an essential part of securing any entry door. Unlike standard door knobs, deadbolts require a key to open from the outside and a turn of the thumb latch or key from the inside. These locks are much harder to bypass, making them an effective deterrent against burglars.
Tip: Always choose a deadbolt that extends at least one inch into the doorframe for maximum security.
Consider Smart Locks
Smart locks offer a more advanced option for securing your doors. These keyless locks allow you to lock and unlock your doors remotely, and many models even allow you to grant temporary access to visitors. With features like two-factor authentication and automatic locking, smart locks provide a higher level of security than traditional locks.
Watch this video for more information on smart door locks:
Reinforce Your Door Frame
Even the strongest lock won’t be effective if the door frame can be easily kicked in. Reinforce your door frame with a metal strike plate to ensure that the lock remains intact in case of an attempted break-in.
Installing a jamb shield provides more fortification than a strike plate because it acts as one big strike plate along the deadbolt edge of the door. Take a look at this video on the jamb shield:
Taking it one step further, install a hinge shield to prevent the door from being kicked in from the pivoting side of the door. Watch this video on hinge shields:
Lastly, if a burglar is able to unlock and open the door by accessing the inside of the lock through a nearby window, it would be wise to have another form of protection to hold the door shut. Take a look at this video on door barricades:
Strengthen Your Window Security: Don’t Forget the Easy Access Points
Windows are another common entry point for burglars, especially in homes with ground-floor windows that are easily accessible. To ensure that your windows are properly secured, consider the following tricks:
Install Window Locks
Many windows come with built-in locks, but they are often weak and can be bypassed with relative ease. Installing sturdy window locks or adding secondary locks (like pin locks or sliding bolts) can make it much more difficult for criminals to break in through a window.
Tip: For added security, install a sliding bolt lock on the upper sash of double-hung windows, preventing the window from being opened from the outside.
Use Window Security Bars or Grilles
Window security bars or grilles offer a physical barrier that prevents windows from being opened, making it extremely difficult for burglars to gain access. While some homeowners may find them aesthetically unappealing, security bars can be a highly effective deterrent when used in combination with other security measures.
Invest in Laminated or Tempered Glass
Laminated and tempered glass are tougher and more difficult to break than regular glass. Laminated glass consists of a layer of plastic sandwiched between two panes of glass, which makes it more resistant to shattering. Tempered glass, on the other hand, is heat-treated to be stronger and, when it does break, it shatters into small, less dangerous pieces. Installing these types of windows can add an extra layer of security to your home.
Use Motion Sensor Lighting: Illuminate the Perimeter
A well-lit exterior can be a powerful deterrent to burglars, as it increases the risk of being seen or caught during a break-in. Motion sensor lighting can help illuminate dark areas around your doors and windows, discouraging criminals from targeting your home. When choosing motion sensor lights, keep the following tips in mind:
Place Lights Near Doors and Windows
Install motion sensor lights near entry points, such as your front and back doors, as well as any ground-floor windows. These lights will automatically turn on when motion is detected, making it difficult for intruders to approach undetected.
Use Solar-Powered Lights
Solar-powered lights are a great energy-efficient option for illuminating your home’s exterior. Since they do not require wiring, solar lights can be easily installed in various locations around your property. Be sure to place them in areas that receive plenty of sunlight during the day for optimal performance.
Opt for Dusk-to-Dawn Sensors
Dusk-to-dawn sensors automatically turn on your lights at sunset and off at sunrise. This ensures that your lights are always on during the night, even if you forget to manually activate them.
Install a Peephole or Video Doorbell
Being able to see who is at your door before you open it is essential for maintaining home security. Installing a peephole or a video doorbell allows you to verify the identity of visitors and avoid opening the door to strangers or potential criminals.
Peepholes
Peepholes are inexpensive and easy to install, and they provide a wide-angle view of the area outside your door. If you live in a neighborhood with frequent door-to-door salespeople or suspicious individuals, a peephole can be a simple but effective security feature.
Unfortunately, peepholes can allow people from outside the door to see into your home if you do not install a peephole cover on the inside. There is a device called a peephole reverser that allows you to see inside a room through a door’s peephole from the outside. It works by reversing the effects of the peephole’s convex lenses.
Another limitation is that when you look out the peephole, the person on the outside of the door can see the peephole go dark. This indicates that someone is on the inside of the door, which may be beneficial as demonstrating that someone is home could avoid an intrusion.
Video Doorbells
Video doorbells take the concept of a peephole to the next level by offering live video feeds of the area outside your door. With features like motion detection, two-way audio, and cloud storage for recorded footage, video doorbells allow you to keep an eye on your front door from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet. To compare various video doorbells, visit CNET’s list of best video doorbell cameras.
Tip: Many video doorbells also offer integration with smart home systems, allowing you to control other aspects of your home’s security remotely.
Use Security Film for Windows
Security film is a transparent, adhesive film that can be applied directly to your windows to make them more resistant to breakage. It works by holding the glass together if it is struck, preventing the glass from shattering into pieces. This makes it harder for burglars to break in through your windows, even if they attempt to smash the glass.
Security film is relatively inexpensive and easy to install, making it an affordable way to improve your home’s security. It is particularly useful for homes with large windows or glass doors that are more vulnerable to forced entry.
Wondering about the strength of security film for windows? Check out this video to see how well security film holds up and an overview on how to install it yourself:
Secure Sliding Glass Doors
Sliding glass doors are a popular entry point for burglars because they are often easier to break into than traditional hinged doors. To keep your sliding doors secure, try the following tips:
Install a Security Bar
A security bar or metal rod placed in the track of the sliding door can prevent it from being opened. These bars are available in various sizes and materials, and they are a simple yet effective way to reinforce sliding doors.
Use a Locking Device
Many sliding glass doors come with built-in locks, but these locks are often weak and can be easily bypassed. Consider installing a secondary locking device, such as a sliding bolt or pin lock, to add an extra layer of security.
Reinforce the Glass
Just as with windows, reinforcing the glass in sliding doors with laminated or tempered glass can make it harder for intruders to break through.
Keep Your Home Secure with a Security System
While the above tricks will certainly help secure your doors and windows, a home security system offers an additional layer of protection. Security systems are designed to monitor your home 24/7 and can alert you (and authorities) to any suspicious activity. Many modern security systems also offer smart features, such as remote monitoring and integration with other home automation devices.
Tip: Some security systems also include window and door sensors that will trigger an alarm if a door or window is opened while the system is armed.
You should get into the habit of turning on your alarm system while you’re at home because burglars are becoming bolder and sometimes breaking into homes while occupied by the residents. This will alert you of an intrusion and potentially scare away the burglar(s.) If there is an intrusion while you are inside your residence, remain calm and contact your local police emergency line and/or activate the panic alarm through your home security system.
Read our article titled Top 10 Tips to Deter Home Intruders for more information on home security systems, including their vulnerabilities.
Conclusion: Keep Your Home Safe from Crime
Securing your doors and windows is one of the most important steps you can take to keep your home safe from crime. By investing in quality locks, adding motion sensor lighting, reinforcing your windows, and using advanced security features like video doorbells and security systems, you can significantly reduce the risk of a break-in.
Remember that burglars often look for easy targets. By taking the time to implement these simple tricks to secure your doors and windows, you can make your home a less attractive target and enjoy peace of mind knowing that your family and belongings are protected. Stay vigilant, and take proactive steps to keep your home safe from crime today!
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