How easy would it be for someone to break into your home through a door? Does your door security put you at risk of not even knowing someone has broken in until they are standing in front of you? Sixty percent of residential burglaries occur while the residents are at home. Are you at risk of home invasion due to inadequate door security?
Door security has four components:
- The right door for your needs
- The right locks
- Putting the locks in the right places
- Installing the right alarms.
The first step: door security begins with the right door. You might want to invest in a security door. These are generally made of steel. If you have a patio or balcony, you might want a sliding glass door or a patio door or French doors. This could weaken the security of your home unless you live above the second floor of your apartment or condo building.
Second, door security depends on good locks. The better the lock the safer will be your home. Whether you choose a door knob or a door lever, this is your first step in door security. The greatest security comes from a door knob not operated with a key. You can choose combination code locks typed into a keypad and or locks that are operated by scanning a fingerprint. These are much more difficult to open.
If you have doors with large amounts of glass, you might need a three-point lock. These locks penetrate the door frame at the top and bottom of the door, not just at the side. They are generally indicated for French doors, back and basement doors with a top half that is mostly glass, and any other type of door that is largely glass. A deadbolt that locks with a key on both sides is the second type of lock you will probably want on every door. Patio doors and sliding glass doors also frequently need another line of defense. You can purchase a small lock that attaches to the base of both panels of the door to prevent opening. There are also rods that either attach to the door or lay in the slide track to prevent opening. These types of locks should together cover this aspect of door security.
Third, the locks need to be installed in the right place for optimal door security. Installing a deadbolt just above the door knob/lever makes sense on a solid door. It is not however, the best place for a deadbolt on a door with large windows. It would be too easy for someone to break out a window and easily access both locks. The better choice in these cases is either a three-point lock or to install the deadbolt closer to the floor - low enough that it cannot be reached through the window.
Fourth, good door security requires the right alarm. Most alarm systems place magnetized sensors in the door and the door frame. These activate the alarm if the door is opened. But what if an intruder breaks out the windows and climbs in through the opening? Doors with a large window can be used without leaving you vulnerable. This is accomplished with a glass-break sensor. The instant the glass is broken, the sensor responds to the sound by activating the alarm. The glass-break sensor might be your first warning that someone is trying to enter your home. Activation of the alarm might be enough to scare off an intruder.
If you are thinking about home security, there are several aspects of security and security systems to consider. The first step is door security. By attending to these four aspects of door security, you can know your family is safe.
Todd Cavanaugh is a ten-year home security business owner. Protech Security Systems installs pre-wired and wireless monitored security systems, 24-hour surveillance cameras, access control systems and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Visit his business web site for his recommendations on door security.
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