Tag Archives: garage doors

General Safety Issues

EIGHT WAYS NOT TO MAKE GARAGE DOORS YOUR HOME’S WEAKEST LINK (GUEST POST)

  Are you really saving if you install home alarm systems yourself?  Your house’s defense should be as strong as a fortress, ideally.  Safety and security nowadays require that.  That’s why we reinforce doors and add eyes on perimeters. 

Like most homes, the garage seems the easiest to penetrate.  As an example, out of habit we leave them open whenever we’re going out for a short errand.  Those short minutes are enough leeway for a burglar.  Many burglars target this because it’s an opening with a lot of opportunities.  The car, the tools among many that gives the burglar an upper hand. 

How will you make it stronger? 

Gary Bricks, a technical security specialist of  Alarm System Store,  based in Columbus, Indiana says, “Garage doors can act like Achilles’ heel of your home, thus, it is of utmost importance to secure it”. He further provides the following tips: 

1        Buy a keychain remote opener that you can leave on your keys.

2        Make safe your garage door emergency release – This is a pretty basic tip that you need to ascertain emergency release is secured.  

3        Ensure you have a rock-hard, strong door made out of solid wood or hardened steel and install an Anti-Kick device.

4        Never leave the garage door remote in your vehicle – If anybody got an access to your vehicle, then, your house will be vulnerable too. 

5        Use a wide-angle peephole in the door between your house and your garage – You’ll be able to have a good vantage on what is going on outside than opening the door.

6        Cover your garage windows – I could imagine why the need to have garage windows. Shut the door closed. No windows! 

7        Keep your garage locked using a deadbolt on the door between your house. Always prefer security than inconvenience whenever you come home using your keys.

8        Keep a well-maintained roll-up garage door and watch out for deterioration to be replaced.

The garage is the easiest to penetrate and the worst place to be invaded. The best way to deal with burglars is ensuring not having to deal with them.  Having a secure garage is a good way to discourage them. 

Author Bio:

John Anderson has been a freelance writer since 2008. His work is almost exclusively on web content about home improvement, home security, technology, green and simple living, and business.   John Anderson, a Southeastern American, specializes in home improvement and occasionally writes about GE Simon XT Alarms Systems.  He graduated from Tennessee State University. He’s a blogger and a freelance writer. His Twitter account is @johnanderson090.

 

 

 

 

General Safety Issues, Uncategorized

SENIOR SECURITY: SAFE AT HOME (GUEST POST)

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By Maddy Olsen.

Whether you are enjoying your golden years or a family member of a senior, there are things to look out for to increase their safety. Even if you live in a retirement community, some of these will still apply. Seniors tend to be the target of scam artists and hoodlums. They will case a home before they strike and sometimes it doesn’t end well. Being well protected will ease everyone’s mind.

  • Windows

Having double paned windows are great for energy efficiency, but they also have very secure locks on them. However, in the event that one is left unlocked, another safety measure should be taken just to ensure complete home security. It is as simple as having wooden dowels cut to fit in the tracks of all the windows in the house, even the bathroom. Home improvement stores generally carry these and will cut them for you if you ask.

  • Doors

Traditionally, we just lock our front door and rely on us not losing the keys to get us back in. Now, there is a way to unlock the door using the cell phone. The app is easy to navigate and requires an electronic device be put on the deadbolt area of the door. It can be easily installed with a screwdriver and is accessible from anywhere in the world, on most accounts. They can also be programmed to work with multiple phones, so family can unlock it in case of emergency or if the parents ever get locked out.

  • Garage Doors

Any outside entrance to the home is a concern. Garage doors are one of those safety issues that should be addressed. But it is only a garage door, you say? Well, that is true, but it is one of the biggest threats to home security. Having a newer model of garage door opener will reduce the risk of anyone being able to copy the code used to open the door. However, carry the opener in your purse or invest in a keychain opener. If anyone were to get into the car, they would take the opener to be able to get inside the home. When going on a trip, use padlocks to secure the door by the handles near the ground. But even more importantly, always lock the door that leads from your garage into the house. If possible, install a deadbolt to reinforce the door and make it that much harder to get in.

  • Smoke Alarms

This doesn’t deter thieves, but it is a very important part of safety and feeling secure in your home. Fires kill more than 4,000 people every year. That is not including those that die from complications due to the fire. That’s a lot of casualties that might have been prevented. Change the batteries in all smoke detectors each month. Just testing the alarms may not ensure that the batteries will work when there is a need for them to. New fresh batteries will keep them in tip top shape all the time. Practice an escape plan so if there were a fire in the home, the residents will know what to do based on the circumstances. 

Security of the home is so very important and so many of us pay little attention to it. If there are any concerns, address them sooner than later. Ask for help if you need it, but don’t be the victim of a terrible event because your locks and codes are subpar. Your personal safety should be a priority.

Maddy Olsen  blogs on a variety of subjects that are deep topics and can change lives. Writing for Brookdale http://www.brookdaleliving.com/ assisted living is a very rewarding passion she enjoys. Several losses in her family to Alzheimer’s Disease has prompted her write about the topics she has researched or practiced.