Doors and Locks Tips

Any homeowner should be considered about doors and locks. Before windows, doors are usually the entry points of intruders. Once they can get inside your home, it could be all hell breaks loose for you. Moreover, trespassers are getting wiser by the day. They have learned numerous techniques on how to open locks.

The first thing you need to keep in mind is to make the necessary repairs. Make sure that your doors do not get easily toppled by hard objects or when kicked. The hinges should not be falling apart, and there should be no crack, which is a sign that your door is weakening.

You may want to avoid using sliding glass doors, unless you are very sure of the security within your neighbourhood. Not only do glass doors give your intruders a better view of the insides of your home, but they are also extremely weak. Unless you are willing to invest in a very strong glass, which is very expensive, the glass can easily be broken. Another method to secure a sliding door is to make use of track grips, which you can tighten by keys or thumbscrews.

Install a surveillance system right at your own door, particularly if you do not have a fence or gate or when you are working somewhere else far from the door. The moment someone knocks at your step, you can simply focus the camera into the individual and make identification.

The use of an alarm has always been helpful. There are alarm clocks that emit very high-pitched sounds the farther a person is away from the home. Hence, the intruder will never know that others have already been alerted by his presence. Yes, do make use of codes that are very hard to decode.

Homes can make use of the double-cylinder deadbolt because it is more secure than all the other locks available today. It works because there is no thumb turn. However, it may pose a threat to safety especially when you are in a fire.  

A simple peephole can already do wonders. Just make sure that the hole is enough for you to see clearly who is at the door. It should also be positioned at a height that is comfortable for you.

Do you have pets? It is time to make themselves useful by keeping them near your door, especially the dogs. They are usually the ones that immediately feel agitated or alert when someone they do not know comes around. Some of them even display an aggressive behavior, which will hopefully ward off any intruder. It is okay to create smaller doors for your pets, but ensure that the size is sufficient for the animals, not for humans to crawl in.

Before you go to bed or go out, check the doors and locks. Can they be opened from outside? It is during these times that your home becomes more vulnerable to trespassers.