Statistics indicate that burglars frequently choose garage doors as a primary entry point, exploiting the vulnerability that arises from their direct connection to the interior of the house. Strengthening this weak access point is crucial, considering that the cost of securing your garage proves to be significantly more economical than the potential damage resulting from a break-in. This article delves into the top 10 tips aimed at safeguarding your garage door, discouraging potential thieves, and providing invaluable peace of mind.
Top 10 Ways to Make Your Garage Door More Secure
Securing your garage door can be straightforward with these practical measures:
1. Always secure your garage door
Leaving your garage door open serves as an open invitation to burglars. Moreover, it exposes the contents of your garage, including vehicles and belongings, to anyone passing by. It’s essential to keep your garage door locked at all times, even when working in the front yard or residing in a safe neighborhood.
2. Utilize a smart garage door opener
Consider installing a smart garage door opener that incorporates advanced technology for remote monitoring and operation. With a smartphone app, you can check the status of your garage door, whether it’s open or closed. In case of a break-in attempt, your phone will receive an alert, triggering automatic actions such as locking the garage door and windows. The smart opener also provides convenience, allowing you to remotely control the garage door, a handy feature for instances when you forget to close it before leaving home.
3. Conceal your garage windows
Burglars often peer into garages through doors and windows to assess the contents, including vehicles, and determine if anyone is home. To address this, consider fully covering the windows or installing garage-specific shades or drapes. If you prefer natural light in your garage, translucent materials or frosted glass windows can be added to allow light while maintaining privacy.
4. Upgrade the garage door
Consider upgrading to a more robust garage door, preferably a solid one, although this may entail a significant expense ranging from $700 to $2,000, depending on materials. Additionally, installing an electric garage door with an automatic opener can cost up to $4,000. Reinforce the weakest part, the strike plate, with a thick, reinforced one to reduce the likelihood of a break-in.
5. Secure the door between your garage and house
Homes with attached garages often have a door connecting the garage to the house, providing convenient access. However, it’s crucial to lock this door, as leaving it unlocked poses a significant security risk. A burglar could gain direct entry into your home from the garage. Keep the connecting door closed at all times and enhance security by adding a steel security gate with a deadbolt.
6. Install Surveillance Cameras
Garages housing valuables like power tools, exercise equipment, and cars, or providing access to the house, are prime targets for burglars. Boost your home’s overall security by installing surveillance cameras. They act as a deterrent, discouraging potential burglars, and serve as crucial evidence for insurance claims and criminal investigations related to break-ins.
7. Secure Valuables
When opening your garage door, conceal or cover valuables with cloth, keeping your safe out of plain sight.
8. Install Floodlights
Automatic floodlights serve as an additional deterrent. Motion-activated floodlights turn on upon detecting irregular movements, potentially scaring off burglars or attracting attention from nearby individuals. Floodlights create an atmosphere of complete surveillance in the garage, acting as a powerful deterrent.
9. Lock the Tracks
Prevent burglars from forcing the garage door open by locking the tracks from the inside. All garage doors run on tracks, and you can use an existing latch or install one to secure the tracks. Alternatively, place a padlock above the rollers to impede the garage door’s opening. Locking the tracks makes the burglar’s task more time-consuming and challenging, providing you with an opportunity to respond and contact the police.
10. Think Like a Burglar
Adopt a burglar’s perspective to identify potential entry points. Assess your garage and home’s exterior for security gaps. This exercise, especially effective at night, helps you evaluate the effectiveness of your home’s exterior lighting and discover any vulnerabilities in your security measures.
How to Secure Garage Door From Inside/Outside
Protect your garage door comprehensively by securing it from both the inside and outside.
Secure Garage Door from Inside
An inexpensive and swift method to enhance door security from the inside is by using a cable tie. Focus on securing the emergency release lever for optimal results. All you need for this process is a cable tie and scissors. Follow these steps:
- Unplug your garage opener.
- Locate the emergency release lever.
- Insert the cable tie through the hole where the release rope is coiled.
- Loop the cable tie again on the hole at the bottom of the trolley carriage.
- Lock the cable tie.
Secure Garage Door from Outside
Augment your garage door’s security from the outside with additional equipment such as:
- Install an outside keyed handle and inside release handle on the garage door.
- Attach spring latches to the ends of the lock section and connect them to the release handle.
- Install garage door lock strikers and apply lubrication.
How to Keep Garage Doors Safe During Hurricane
When faced with extreme weather conditions, addressing the challenge may seem daunting. Here are practical steps to enhance your garage door’s resilience:
Put up Garage Door Brackets:
Installing reinforced brackets on the interior is a swift and effective method to strengthen your garage door. Utilizing these temporary brackets as a preemptive measure before an anticipated hurricane offers an affordable solution.
Install Hurricane Panels:
Hurricane panels serve as a protective barrier, preventing windows from breaking due to flying objects during a hurricane. Typically made of rigid materials, these panels safeguard the exterior of your garage door. The addition of hurricane panels can significantly reinforce your door in extreme weather conditions.
Purchase a Storm-Resistant Door:
Invest in a garage door explicitly designed and tested to withstand hurricane conditions. These doors are constructed to resist high winds and impacts from debris, providing a robust defense against extreme weather.
Bonus Tips: How to Lock Garage Door Manually Without Power
In the event of a garage door opener failure or a power outage, it may be necessary to manually lock your door before seeking professional assistance for opener replacement.
This is a relatively straightforward process, but it’s crucial to carefully follow the instructions to avoid damaging the door. Begin by locating the red cord hanging from the motor unit, usually connected to an emergency release handle. Pull the cable down until fully extended, and then pull the release handle away from the motor unit. This action disengages the trolley, enabling manual operation of the door.
Lift the door until it is fully open, then pull the emergency release handle towards you to secure it in place. Finally, manually close the garage door until the latch is engaged. Keep in mind that operating a manual garage door can be challenging due to its weight, so exercise caution throughout the process. Once these steps are completed, your garage door will be manually locked.
FAQs
What type of lock is suitable for a garage door?
Garage door locks fall into four main categories: keyed locks, electronic locks, automatic locks, and smart locks. Each lock type offers distinct features and advantages, and the choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and security preferences.
How can you enhance the security of an up-and-over garage door?
Augment the security of your up-and-over garage door by incorporating bright, motion-activated lights, acting as a deterrent to potential intruders, especially during nighttime. Additionally, simple garage door locks can bolster the security of your garage, providing a secure solution that is easy to install.
Are automatic garage doors secure?
While automatic garage door openers provide convenience, they can pose a vulnerability in terms of security. Electronic malfunctions may create an opportunity for break-ins. However, automatic garage door openers typically feature an emergency release lever with a hanging cord, serving as a useful tool in certain situations.
Is manually opening a garage door safe?
Manually opening a garage door can be done safely, assuming there are no significant issues with the door or its components. It is crucial to disconnect the automatic opener by unplugging it before initiating the manual opening process.
Conclusion
This article addresses effective ways to secure your garage door, taking into consideration hardware upgrades and increased awareness among garage owners. The suggested methods include replacing the garage door, installing security cameras, and covering garage windows. We hope you find this information valuable. Feel free to leave your comments below and share this article with your friends.