How to secure a sliding glass door

You adore your sliding glass door for the easy access it offers to your outdoor living space and the plentiful natural light it brings in. These doorways are valuable elements of any Long Island residence, but also come with security concerns. Discover why they’re a target for intruders and what you might do to stop unauthorized entry.

Why sliding glass doors are common targets in Long Island

As sought-after as sliding glass doors are to residents, they’re also tempting to intruders. There are some explanations. To begin with, they are commonly made more for function than security. Many don’t use deadbolts, and their locking mechanisms are usually easy to bypass. Prowlers also have a greater opportunity of approaching undetected as the doors are found at the back of your residence. 

How do intruders bypass sliding doors?

When you have sunny days and warm temperatures, your sliding door may be the most-frequented entryway in your home. You may a routine of keeping it open so your little ones can readily access the yard. Even if you fasten the door, determined intruders can bypass it. Here’s how:

• Pick the lock. Numerous sliding glass doors have basic locks that housebreakers can unlock with a common tool.
• Shatter the glass. Prowlers are more inclined to break glass when they’re hidden from sight. The thin glass of countless sliding doors is not hard to break.
• Force the door from its track. Thieves may try to force the door off the track and pull it away from the frame using a crowbar or other tools so they may squeeze through.

Despite the fact that it’s easy to bypass sliding glass doors, it’s also not difficult to improve your security. Learn what you might do.

Better defend your Long Island home’s sliding glass door

If you want to improve the security of one of the most at-risk entrances in your Long Island house, here’s how to do so.

• Implement video cameras. When potential invaders notice cameras at your property, they’ll likely try to locate an easier target. They never want to risk being caught on camera. You can even choose surveillance tools that actively deter prowlers with sound and lights.
• Connect security sensors. Connect glass break and contact sensors within your comprehensive security system. The alarm will sound if an unwanted guest starts to enter or break the window. You’ll also get an alert through your security system’s smartphone app.
• Add a more secure lock. Reinforce your simple flip lock with a deadbolt designed for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are fantastic solutions and straightforward to operate. You could also get a more robust, key-turned deadbolt.
• Add a door brace. A security bar is a simple approach that brings an additional layer to your protection. These are traditionally solid wood or metal reinforcements positioned inside the door’s bottom track. Make sure it’s sized properly for a snug fit.

Open the door to better security with a Vivint smart home in Long Island

Better protect your sliding glass door and all your home’s entrances with an integrated smart home in Long Island from Vivint. We have all the equipment you need, from door and window sensors to surveillance cameras. If a device activates, you and your 24-hour monitoring specialists will be alerted right away. Call (631) 502-4004 today to get more information and schedule your professional installation.