We sometimes forget about the garage security when we are thinking about reinforcing our home security. In fact, garage is one of the most vulnerable areas of your home. If a burglar gets inside your garage that is attached to your house, it is easier to get inside the rest of the house. Besides being used as a parking space for your vehicles, garage is commonly used as a store house for keeping many valuable and useful tools and hardware. These items are good incentive for burglars to keep an eye on your garage and spot the right opportunity to strike. Before it comes to this, why not take a few simple steps to make sure your garage is secure all the time? It will also go a long way in keeping your house and the life of your loved one safe too.
Top 10 Tips For Garage Security
- Don’t leave the garage door opener remote in your vehicle. It will be easy for a seasoned burglar to steal the remote from your car and he will be just a step away from getting access to your home.
- It is best to invest in a keychain remote which is readily available in most home improvement stores.
- Secure your garage door emergency release feature. It is very easily identified as it is a red cord with red handle. This feature is made mandatory by the law as it helps to quickly disengage the garage door operator. You should never modify it including the additional zip-tie feature for security reasons. The red handle is required by UL 325 and federal law. Its purpose is for emergency scenarios like when a child is trapped under a closing garage door.
- Keep your garage door closed and locked all the time. Make sure that your garage door is as secure as your external doors of your home. Install a robust, high quality lock along with a deadbolt to enhance the security. Installing padlocks with programmed entry code is another great idea to keep your garage safe from making a forced entry.
- Make sure you have invested in a reliable, sturdy garage door. A door made from solid wood or reinforced steel would be the best choice to get the optimum security for your garage.
- Install a burglar alarm system. It alerts you with a loud, blaring siren if your home is burglarized. Not only these security systems act as a deterrent to the criminals, but also make you eligible for a homeowner’s insurance discount.
- Cover your garage door windows, especially if you happen to store really valuable items in your garage. Burglars can very easily peep into your garage to see if your place is a good option to break-in. It’s best to replace your garage door with the ones that don’t have any windows. If that is not possible, you can also frost your garage windows.
- Be up to date with the maintenance of your garage door. Keep an eye on the general condition and parts of the garage door such as springs, pulleys, rollers, tracks and locks. If you hear any unexpected sound, feel a jerky movement in the garage door or see any signs of wear and tear with any part, call a professional garage door repair services immediately. Never attempt to install, repair or replace any part on your own. It can be very dangerous.
- Keep the area around your garage well-lit. If you have installed a bright light, it acts a powerful deterrent and keep the criminals at bay.
- Upgrade to motion detector sensors. If possible, replace the light fixtures around your garage with motion detector lights. These are basically infrared waves that can detect the temperature and moving objects. When a movement is detected, a light turns on and throws a burglar in a state of panic.