How to secure a sliding glass door

You cherish your sliding glass door for the effortless access it offers to your backyard and the abundance of daylight it brings in. These entryways are desirable features for any Waco residence, but also pose security concerns. Learn why they’re targeted by intruders and what you can do to stop intrusions.

Why sliding glass doors are frequent targets in Waco

As attractive as sliding glass doors are to homeowners, they’re also enticing to burglars. There are a couple of simple explanations. To begin with, they are commonly designed more for function than security. Many don’t have deadbolts, and their locking systems are often simple to bypass. Intruders also have a a greater likelihood of approaching undetected as the doors are found at the rear of your residence. 

How do trespassers circumvent sliding doors?

When you have nice temperatures and lovely days, your sliding door may be the most-used doorway in your home. You could get in a routine of leaving it unlatched so your children can easily go back and forth to the backyard. Even if you fasten the door, determined prowlers can circumvent it. Here’s how:

• Manipulate the lock. Many sliding glass doors have non-keyed locks that burglars can unlock with a common tool.
• Smash the glass. Prowlers are more prone to break glass when they’re out of sight. Many sliding doors have thin glass that’s not difficult to break.
• Remove the door from its track. Burglars may try to pry the door off of its track and move it away from the frame with a crowbar or another tool so they can slip through.

Despite the fact that it’s simple to bypass sliding glass doors, it’s also not hard to improve your security. Discover how you can do so.

Better defend your Waco home’s sliding glass door

If you’re eager to improve the security of one of your Waco property’s most vulnerable entrances, here’s how to do so.

• Incorporate security cameras. When would-be invaders see video cameras, they’ll most likely try to find a less protected target. They never want to risk being caught on camera. You can even find video cameras that actively scare off prowlers with audible and visual warnings.
• Connect door sensors. Connect glass break and contact sensors within your whole-home security system. The alarm will sound if a burglar attempts to intrude or shatter the window. Smart home systems will even inform you with communications to your home security smartphone app.
• Install a more secure lock. Complement your basic flip lock with a deadbolt manufactured for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are popular solutions and easy to operate. You could also incorporate a sturdy, key-turned deadbolt.
• Install a security bar. A security bar or brace is a traditional method that adds one more layer to your protection. These are often solid wood or metal reinforcements fitted along the door’s bottom track. Make sure it’s measured properly for a secure fit.

Unlock the door to improved security with a Vivint smart home in Waco

Better safeguard your sliding glass door and all your home’s entrances with a fully connected smart home in Waco from Vivint. We provide all the tools you need, from door and window sensors to video cameras. If a device triggers, you and your 24-7 monitoring experts will be informed immediately. Call (254) 970-3775 today to learn more and schedule your professional installation.