Peachtree City is a safe and beautiful area of Georgia. However, crimes can and do still occur every week. While your home might have properly functioning locks and deadbolts, one area you might not have considered a security risk is your garage door. If your garage is attached to your home, and your garage door does not have a lock, it could be leaving your home at risk. Criminals frequently use unsecured garage doors as access points to break into homes without much resistance. You may think that your garage door is secure because of the way it operates, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
To close this security gap, a garage door lock should be installed. Various types of garage door locks are available, each with their own pros and cons. Depending on your preferences and your available budget, you can outfit your home’s garage door with either physical hardware or an electronic lock. By knowing the options available to you, and discussing the installation with a locksmith, you’ll be able to choose the right garage door lock.
The right garage door lock for your residential garage should combine convenient use with high-performing security.
Slide Latches: A slide latch mounts to the inside of the garage door without getting in the way of operation and then connects to a handle portion on the door frame. These latches are built to last for many years. The lock portion slides into the latch when the door is not in operation. It’s a simple but effective form of garage door lock that doesn’t cost much to install.
T-Handled Locks: T-handled garage door locks are a common and inexpensive form of lock hardware. It consists of several metal pieces, including two bolts that are installed on the garage door track. A t-shaped handle is installed on the outside of the garage door that fits into these bolts. T-handled locks require a key to open them. T-handled locks have been used for many years by homeowners looking to keep their garage doors secure.
Electronic Locks: Thanks to the high demand for technological lock protections, many forms of electronic locks are available on the market today. Some of these systems allow you to monitor any access to your garage door even when you’re not on the premises.
Smart Locks: An advanced form of electronic garage door lock, smart locks are part of the growing trend of “smart home” technology. A smart garage door lock uses an app on your Smartphone to lock and unlock the door. It usually integrates with the overall garage door opener mechanism. Smart garage door locks can be installed on most types of standard garage doors.
Many other garage door security methods can help protect both your garage and your home from unwanted entry and theft. By incorporating these things into your daily routine, you give your home a boost of protection. Whether you store sports equipment, expensive tools, or your vehicle in your garage, or whether you just want to be able to protect another entrance to your home, these garage door security measures can help.
Protect Any Windows: If your garage door has windows, even if they seem small, they could prove an effective access point for a determined criminal if they’re broken in. They can also allow criminals to peer inside your garage and see if there’s anything interesting in there to steal. Experts recommend that you either place coverings on your window or even spray paint them to stop this from happening. You can also consider installing locks on your garage door windows, or even bars if you store expensive items in your garage.
Keep Your Door Shut: Make sure to keep your door shut whenever you’re not inside the garage or in the vicinity of the door outside, such as when you’re doing yard work. Never leave the door open when you leave the house, as this is a prime opportunity for unwanted visitors and even animals to get inside your garage. While this might seem like obvious advice, many people forget to close their garage door and take for granted that everything will still be safe inside when they get back.
Install a Garage Door Timer: A garage door timer is an effective piece of technology that allows you to program the times when your garage door closes. Usually these will be set up to close your garage door a few minutes after you’ve opened it. These can be installed on nearly all garage door types, although smart technology is slowly replacing this technology.
Install Security Cameras: Security camera technology has greatly increased in recent years, while the prices have gone down. They also make extremely effective deterrents for crime, because most criminals want to operate in secret and don’t exactly like their activities to be caught on camera. Even just one camera that’s placed correctly can capture any unusual activity.
Improve Your Lighting: One final tip that can increase the security of not just your garage but your home is to improve your exterior lighting. Lights on motion-activated sensors can be an effective way to prevent unlawful entry by scaring away criminals. These lights are recommended over keeping your lights on all night because it will keep your electrical bills lower. Use bright lights and make sure to replace any burnt out bulbs as soon as they go out. By keeping the lighting outside of your home bright, you’ll discourage any criminals from choosing it as a target.
A locksmith, such as Peachtree 24 Hour Locksmith, can assist you installing, repairing, and maintaining all different forms of garage door locks. Locksmiths usually serve both residential and commercial customers with their garage doors. An experienced locksmith will be able to help you choose from a variety of models of garage door locks at different price points. Finding the right garage door lock, in terms of price, convenience, and security, is crucial.