How to secure a sliding glass door

You cherish your sliding glass door for the abundance of light it lets in and the easy access it delivers to your backyard. These entrances are desirable aspects of any Ogden home, but also pose safety risks. See why they’re targeted by intruders and what you should do to prevent intrusions.

Why sliding glass doors are frequent targets in Ogden

As attractive as sliding glass doors are to homeowners, they’re also enticing to intruders. There are a couple of reasons why. To begin with, they are generally made more for aesthetics than security. Many don’t utilize deadbolts, and their locking systems are usually easy to manipulate. Intruders also have a better chance of approaching unseen as the doors are found at the back of your house. 

How do intruders bypass sliding doors?

When experiencing warm temperatures and sun-splashed days, your sliding patio door could be the most-used doorway at your home. You could develop a habit of leaving it open so your little ones can effortlessly access the backyard. Even if you secure the door, determined prowlers can bypass it. Here’s how:

• Manipulate the lock. Numerous sliding glass doors have standard locks that intruders can circumvent with a common tool.
• Smash the glass. Prowlers are more inclined to shatter glass when they’re concealed from view. The thin glass of countless sliding doors is not hard to smash.
• Pry the door from its track. Criminals might try to force the door off the track and move it away from the frame with a crowbar or another tool so they can slip through.

Even though it’s not difficult to circumvent sliding glass doors, it’s also not difficult to boost your security. Learn how you can make it happen.

Better defend your Ogden home’s sliding glass door

If you want to improve the security of one of the most susceptible entryways in your Ogden house, here’s how you can.

• Install surveillance cameras. When potential intruders spot cameras at your property, they’ll probably try to locate a less secure target. They never want to risk being caught on camera. You can even find video cameras that actively discourage thieves with lights and sound.
• Integrate door sensors. Connect glass break and contact sensors within your comprehensive security system. The alarm will trigger if an unwanted visitor attempts to intrude or smash the window. You’ll also be sent an alert through your home security smartphone app.
• Install a more secure lock. Complement your standard flip lock with a deadbolt manufactured for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are terrific add-ons and easy to secure. You could also get a heavier-duty, key-turned deadbolt.
• Add a security bar. A security bar is a simple approach that brings another layer to your defense. These are often solid wood or metal supports fitted along the lower door track. Make sure it’s designed properly for a snug fit.

Open the door to improved security with a Vivint smart home in Ogden

Better defend your sliding glass door and all the entryways in your home with a comprehensive smart home in Ogden from Vivint. We offer all the equipment you need, from video cameras to door and window sensors. If anything trips, you and your 24-hour monitoring specialists will be informed right away. Contact (385) 900-2979 today to get more information and arrange your professional installation.