How to Properly Secure Your Home’s Garage Door

Automatic garage doors are a convenient part of modern life. They make accessing your garage door and keeping out unwanted pests and the elements easy. However, they may not be as secure as they seem, and may be unintentionally creating a security risk for your home if it’s attached to your garage. When your garage door is closed, you may think that there’s no way that anyone can get inside. However, that’s not the case. 

Criminals all over Georgia, including those in the Atlanta region, have been known to employ crafty methods for gaining access via unsecured garage doors into homes. A simple crowbar or other tool for prying allows a criminal to get inside your garage and leaves your items and your home at risk. A closed garage door doesn’t deter them from getting inside. 

You don’t have to live with the risk, however. By taking a few measures to increase your garage door’s security, you’ll ensure that your belongings and your home are protected from harm. While adding these security measures may be an investment, there is nothing more important you can do than invest in your home’s security protection. 

Why Garage Door Locks Are Essential for Home Protection

Garage door locks are an important but often overlooked component of a complete home security plan. Garage door locks are an affordable, effective means of securing your garage door against intruders. There are several different types of garage door locks on the market, which include:  

• T-Handle Locks: T-handle locks are frequently chosen due to their ease of use and affordable price. A t-handle lock is comprised of several metal hardware components that fit on the track and the door. These locks feature handle that is t-shaped which fits into the accompanying bolts, hence the name. A t-handle locks requires a key to open. This type of lock has been widely used and has a long history of success. 
• Slide Latches: Slide latch hardware is also commonly used and affordable. In this type of lock, one piece attaches to the inside of the door and the other fits on the door’s frame. These are simple to install and not costly, but effective as there is no way to open them from the exterior. 
• Electronic Locks: Electronic locks represent an exciting new frontier in lock technology for homeowners looking to secure their garage doors. While they are more expensive than manual garage door locks, this type of lock provides an excellent level of security for your garage and home. An electronic lock, especially of the deadbolt variety, can turn your garage door into a strong barrier that can’t be bypassed. 
• Smart Locks: Smart garage door locks are one of the latest innovations in the industry, designed to be a part of the “smart home” wave of technology to make using the appliances and mechanical elements of your home more convenient and time-saving. Smart garage door locks integrate with your opener mechanism, and allow you to control your garage door from anywhere via an app on your smartphone. You can even monitor any time your door is opened to make sure it’s not an unauthorized access.     

How to Choose Garage Door Locks

Since there are so many options for garage door locks, it’s important to take the time to decide which is right for you. Determine the budget you’re willing to spend on garage door locks and additional security measures. Research each type and the options available to determine which one sounds like it’s right for your garage door. A professional locksmith, such as Canton Locksmith Pros, can also give you advice about your options.

Going Further with Garage Door Security

Installing a garage door lock is just one of the measures you can take to improve your garage door’s security. Additional measures can afford you an added boost of protection, as well as peace of mind. It’s important to take additional steps if you house a lot of valuables in your garage, or if it connects directly to your home.   

• Keep Your Door Closed: Some people leave their garage doors open when they leave or even at night, especially if they live in a safe neighborhood and don’t keep much in their garage. However, this gives an opportunistic criminal the perfect chance to get inside your home. It’s better to keep your door closed at all times, especially at night and when you’re away for extended periods. 
• Consider Investing in Security Cameras: Security camera technology has greatly increased in the last few years, at the same time that the price has been trending down. Installing one or two security cameras to monitor the exterior around your garage not only will capture any sign of something wrong, but also act as an effective deterrent against criminals who don’t want their activities caught on film. Some of these cameras have smart technology that allows you to view what’s going on outside of your home at any time, right from your phone. 
• Invest in a Garage Door Timer: If you spend a fair amount of time away from home, it may be worth it to look into installing a garage door timer. These timers usually shut your door automatically a few minutes after you’ve opened it, as well as allowing you to program the times in which your garage door will remain shut. These types of timers can be installed on virtually any garage door. 
• Improve the Lighting of Your Exterior: A final tip is to ensure that the exterior of your home, including that of your garage, is well lit at all times. If any of the bulbs have burned out in your outdoor lighting, make sure to replace them right away. Criminals want to go undetected as much as possible, so they tend to search for targets where the light is poor.   

When you’re ready to improve your garage door’s security, contact Pro One Locksmith, LLC to receive the assistance you need. Our highly informed, trained, and experienced residential locksmith pros will be able to work with your budget and your home security goals to help you choose the right garage door locks and security features for your particular situation.