How to secure a sliding glass door

You adore your sliding glass door for the bounty of light it welcomes in and the easy access it provides to your backyard retreat. These doorways are valuable elements of any Fort Smith property, but also present security risks. Discover why they’re a target for intruders and what you can do to avoid break-ins.

Why sliding glass doors are often targeted in Fort Smith

As appealing as sliding glass doors are to residents, they’re also attractive to intruders. There are some reasons why. To begin with, they are commonly made more for function than security. The majority don’t have deadbolts, and their locks are typically simple to bypass. Intruders also have a greater opportunity of approaching without being seen as the doors are typically at the rear of your house. 

How do trespassers force entry through sliding doors?

When you have bright and sunny days and nice temperatures, your sliding glass door might be the most-utilized entryway at your house. You could get in a routine of leaving it unlocked so your little ones can readily enter and exit to the backyard. Even if you fasten the door, determined prowlers can bypass it. Here’s how:

• Pick the lock. A lot of sliding glass doors have non-keyed locks that housebreakers can unlock with a common tool.
• Shatter the glass. Prowlers are more inclined to smash glass when they’re concealed from view. Many sliding doors use thin glass that’s not difficult to shatter.
• Pry the door from its track. Thieves could try to force the door off of its track and yank it away from the frame with a crowbar or another tool so they can fit through.

Despite the fact that it’s simple to circumvent sliding glass doors, it’s also easy to boost your security. See what you might do.

Better defend your Fort Smith home’s sliding glass door

If you’re eager to improve the security of one of the most susceptible entryways in your Fort Smith home, here’s how you can.

• Install video cameras. When prospective intruders spot surveillance at your property, they’ll most likely try to locate a less secure target. They never want to risk being caught on camera. You can even find surveillance systems that actively discourage prowlers with sound and lights.
• Use entrypoint sensors. Incorporate glass break and contact sensors within your integrated security system. The alarm will sound if an unwanted guest starts to intrude or smash the glass. Advanced systems will also alert you with updates to your security system’s smartphone app.
• Add a more secure lock. Reinforce your basic flip lock with a sliding glass door deadbolt. Foot bolt locks are popular solutions and straightforward to operate. You can also incorporate a heavier-duty, key-turned deadbolt.
• Incorporate a reinforcement bar. A door brace is a traditional approach that adds another layer to your defense. These are often metal or solid wood supports fitted along the lower door track. Make certain it’s designed properly for a secure fit.

Unlock the door to a new level of security with a Vivint smart home in Fort Smith

Better protect your sliding glass door and all the entry points in your home with an integrated smart home in Fort Smith from Vivint. We provide all the devices you need, from surveillance cameras to window and door sensors. If something activates, you and your 24-7 monitoring experts will be notified instantly. Call (479) 370-4503 today to get more information and schedule your professional installation.