Keeping Your Garage Door Secure

If you’re a homeowner who has a garage full of valuables, such as lawn and gardening tools, home appliances, cars and other family valuables, how are you keeping it secure? Even though you might keep other valuables like jewelry and collectable items inside your home, in a safe, this isn’t something that you would typically store in your garage. However, you may actually have just as much valuables in your garage as you do in your safe and not even realize it. Whether or not you have valuables in your home or inside your garage, you should be aware of just how cleaver criminals are today. They know how easy it is to gain access, not only into your garage but also into your home via your garage. A thief is aware of security systems and how they operate and what areas of your home they affect. They even know that most garage doors are not protected with your security system. Most systems are only programmed to alert the homeowners or proper authority if windows or doors of the home have been compromised. It might not be as easy to keep your garage door secure but it is certainly possible.

Durable Garage Doors

If you’re thinking seriously about intrusion into your home via your garage, then perhaps you should consider the type of door you have. A much more practical and durable option would be a steel door or a roll up door. These add for added protection against intrusions.

Locks

You might think that your garage door opener is your lock but in actuality, it isn’t. A lock would secure the structure of the door. A basic door lock will not do this. Burglars are able to effectively break through any type of traditional lock. To protect your garage door, you will need to invest in a durable, heavy-duty deadbolt lock. This type of lock will often deter a criminal. This type of lock will take far too long for them to break through, if they are able to do so at all. Deadbolt locks are known for their level of durability and can be a great addition to your existing door lock.

Additional locks that are good to install on garage doors include the following:

• Padlocks

Secure your doors with a padlock after placing a bar across the exterior door. The padlock should be made of a thick metal and sturdy.

• Bolt

Bolts are also referred to as deadbolts but in this case, we are suggesting that you install a bolt through the tracks of your garage. You’ll have to remember to remove the bolt when coming and going.

• Anchors

Use concrete anchors to prevent the door from being opened from outside.

Garage Door Windows

While our locksmiths at Everett Lock and Key in Everett, Washington would strongly discourage installing a garage door with windows, there are some steps you can take to keep burglars from peering inside. Many thieves want to case out their victim’s home prior to taking the chance of being caught. This means that if you have windows, they can look right inside to see what you have that might be of value to them. Rather than allowing them to do this, we suggest that you tint the window or put something over them from the inside. Even if they make the assumption that you have valuable stored inside your garage, they will be less likely prone to break in without knowing for sure.  They will simply bypass your home and go to a home where they know they have a good chance of getting something of value. We think tinting your windows is an investment that is well worth the effort.

Added Security Features

We already discussed having a security system and how effective it can be to keep burglars out of your home if they try to access it through a door or window. However, there are ways to secure your garage door, if it is not included in your security system.

• Window Grills
• Iron gate
• CCTV
• Rolling codes prevent burglars from stealing your code when you are accessing your garage remotely
• Side door security is also important. If there is a side door that leads into your garage, make sure you add it to your security system. If you cannot add it to an existing security system, make sure it is at least secured with a durable lock.

Bottom Line Security

It really isn’t as difficult as many may think it is to secure your garage door. If you have windows on your garage, make sure no one can see inside. If there is a side door, secure it. If you can add a lock and bar to your garage, do it. Your automatic door opener has tons of features, which make it possible for you to secure your door. You should definitely take the time to consult the manual or consult with a local locksmith who is familiar with the many ways thieves gain access into your home through your garage. They may be able to offer you more suggestions about keeping your garage door secure than we have already highlighted.

If you have loved ones and other valuables that you wish to protect, you can never have too much security for your home. Do yourself a favor by checking your homes level of security, annually. You shouldn’t allow a year to go by without allowing a professional locksmith access the level of security you have in and around your home. They will be able to tell you for certain exactly where there are security breeches and just what it will take to better secure the area. Set aside a budget every year to improve your homes level of security. Securing your garage should be at the top of your ‘to do’ list if it isn’t already. Be proactive and avoid an unpleasant situation from occurring that can ultimately be avoided. Sleep peacefully and maintain your peace-of-mind.

It is very simple to keep your garage secure. Make sure all doors and windows are secure and locked. You can make your automatic door opener more secure by changing the combination to of the electronic lock. Read your owner’s manual or contact the place where it was bought or built to find out how. Add a deadbolt to the door that leads out of the garage as well as to the door between your home and the garage. If you have a window, plant some sort of pointy bush beneath it, so it is difficult and painful to reach the window. Always keep the garage door closed if you are not around to keep an eye on it, even if you are only running out for a short time.

Once you know how to keep your garage secure, you are taking a big step towards keeping your home secure.

Aricle source here: Keeping Your Garage Door Secure

Keyless entry for home; pros and cons

Keyless entry is becoming more and more popular in residential settings. It’s used extensively now in commercial applications all over the world. Here in Everett, WA we are seeing extensive additions for both home and business keyless entry systems and the reasons for that is because they work!

Just like the name implies; keyless entry systems use no keys in order to operate them. The traditional key with a rounded head, and a “blade” with grooves cut into it is replaced with a keypad that accepts a coded sequence of numbers. This can be 4 digits on up and after the correct numbers in the right sequence are punched into the keypad the lock opens.

Entry cards are also used in keyless entry systems. Instead of having to remember a key code the user simply swipes a plastic card with a magnetic strip on the back into the lock. Again, if the card matches, the lock opens.

Residential keyless entry

All these code sequences and plastic cards sound great at a bank or at jewelry store, but at home, too? Yes, there are many great reasons to have keyless entry at home. First of all there is the total lack of keys. If you go out for a jog or to walk the dog and have to carry a key ring, this makes sense. Instead of possibly losing your keys when they fall out of your pocket or having them scratch your smart phone while they are IN your pocket why not simply add your 4 digit code into the door lock and have it open easily once you get back?

Another advantage is the ease in which you can “change the locks” on your door. The old way involving rekeying the locks can get expensive if done over and over. It’s still more affordable than full lock replacement. Using keyless entry however, you simply have the locksmith alter the lock so that a different key code is required. No key cutting involved. This is perfect for landlords or being able to show a house without being there. Previously, a lock box was used to provide a key to prospective tenants or buyers. Realtors also use lock boxes to access keys to homes, condos and apartments for rent or for sale. Even loan officers, repairmen, contractors and cleaning crews can all be given the number sequence now instead of having to use the lock box. Just don’t forget to change the key code later – you just might have some “walk-in” visitors that you weren’t expecting!

Some disadvantages of home keyless entry

No matter how good something is, there will always be disadvantages to it and keyless entry systems are no different. To begin with, key codes can be forgotten. Imagine coming home with a car full of groceries and NOT being able to get them inside your home, much less your refrigerator! You might go out to get the curbside mail and lock the front door as you have small children inside. Why not; you’ll only be gone for a minute or two, and it’s only 20 feet from the house; what harm can it do? Plenty, if you forget the key code!

So what do you do when you want to remember something important? That’s right; you write it down. In this case however, a note or even a scrap of paper with your front door number sequence on it can be downright dangerous if it fell into the wrong hands!

Going keyless? Do it right!

Are you intrigued with the idea of using keyless entry at your Everett, WA home? It might be the right thing for you! Everett Lock and Key invites you to finish reading this post, and then call our shop, or that of your favorite residential locksmith service. We’ll answer your questions, give you some free price quotes and help you decide if using keyless entry is right for you and your loved ones or close associates. Remember to always use a licensed, bonded and insured residential locksmith service; after all; we are talking about your front door security here!

Ready to go high-tech?

You don’t have to be James Bond to achieve greater control over your door locks at home using smart technology. You also don’t have to spend a lot of money either. You can now integrate your smart phone with your home’s keyless entry system for the ultimate in convenience and controlled access. For example, it is now possible to keep your home’s deadbolt in place and have it work together with your keyless entry system and your smart phone so that you can lock and unlock doors remotely, be notified when someone is at your door, and even see and record activity at your door from any location around the world. Systems like these allow use of keys as well as keyless entry as they can be custom made for each customer/user.

Call security!

You may be wondering what happens if someone just stands outside your door and enters code after code in the hopes of eventually getting it right? Not to worry; the manufacturers have thought of that and have measures in place to keep that from happening. If the wrong sequence is entered too many times, your keyless entry device can be programmed to call police, security, the front gate or whoever you designate.

Can keyless entry systems be hacked? Yes! Not easily but it is possible. It’s one of those cases where it has to be worth the hacker’s while to gain access to your home. If you have high end possessions like jewelry, art, cash or antiques, it is best to discuss this with your favorite residential locksmith pros so that the proper security measures can be taken.

Power outages can be another problem. As usual timing is everything and if your keyless entry system does not have a battery back up your door may be “frozen” in the locked or unlocked position until the power returns.

Aricle source here: Keyless entry for home; pros and cons