How to Improve Home Safety According to recent statistics, nearly half of all home invasions occurred because a garage door was left unsecured. These included garage doors and garage windows that were not properly locked. These also included unlocked car doors with garage door remotes left inside of them. Outdated or broken security features such as faulty keypads or passcode that were not updated were also culprits that increase the risk of home invasion. Garage doors have become main entry points for residences and are even used by many families far more than front doors. While many break-ins have occurred because garage doors were not properly secured there are ways to keep garage doors properly safeguarded. The following are a few garage door precautions that can be taken to keep a home safe and break-in free. DIY Garage Doors Are a Risk Garage doors that have been installed by a novice are a huge safety risk. First, there is the risk of injury (remember, garage doors are very heavy and can weigh well over 100lbs). There is also the risk of not putting the door together properly. Garage doors are comprised of a number of components including brackets, pulleys and springs that all work in sequence, allowing the door to be raised and lowered at will. While it is not impossible for a person who has not been trained in proper installation techniques to get the door up and running, DIY projects pose an added safety risk and increase the chances of burglary. For example, if all of the components have not been installed properly or are faulty the homeowner may not be experienced enough to notice there is an issue. An advantage of having a garage door professionally installed is that the service person
will be fully aware of safety features and can prevent a potential break-in by being aware of what to look for within the technical mechanisms of the garage door. If you want to make sure your garage door is installed by a pro contact a garage door installation expert in Montgomery County. A Montgomery County garage door installation and repair expert will be able to check the security of your garage door and fix any issues that they discover. Garage Door Locks There are various ways to lock a garage door including keyless entry, remote controls, and car sensors. Remember to keep the garage door closed and locked if it is not in use. This includes remembering to close it and properly secure it when there is no one at home. Unlocked doors are an open invitation to criminals who are seeking easy access to a home. Also, remember to keep car doors locked at all times, as brazen criminals have broken into vehicles to quickly gain access to homes. This includes vacationing homeowners as well as homeowners who have left unlocked vehicle parked in public places. In the later instance, the thief simply accessed the homeowner’s car, went into the glove compartment, fetched the home address information and then drove to the residence, pulling right into the garage. An alternative to using the car’s sensor or leaving a remote control in a vehicle is a keychain remote that hangs from the keys at all times. Another added safety feature is to put a deadbolt lock on the inside of the door leading from the garage to the home. This can prevent a thief who has gotten into the garage from actually accessing the interior of the home.
Broken Windows Broken garage door windows provide another entry point for thieves. Since there are many window design features of garage doors, including doors that are made almost entirely of windows, there are increased chances of access points by thieves. One broken window could be all it takes for a thief to trip a garage system and gain access to the home. If there are any windows currently broken, replace them. Do not let this item go unnoticed on the bottom of a to-do list. Another alternative is to choose patterned or otherwise colored windows. Colored windows can be incorporated into a garage door system so that no one can look into the garage to size up belongings or determine if someone is not home. Another preventative measure is to simply install a door that does not have windows at all. Again, proceed with caution and do not take garage door safety for granted. This is the safest route to keep families and belongings safe and sound. Also, maintain garage doors by seeking professional garage door repair as soon as any issues arise. Regular maintenance may prevent faults in garage doors, making them less susceptible to the wiles of a curious burglar.