How to secure a sliding glass door

You cherish your sliding glass door for the convenient access it offers to your backyard and the abundance of daylight it welcomes in. These doorways are beneficial features for any Florence residence, but also pose security risks. Discover why they’re preferred by intruders and what you should do to prevent unauthorized entry.

Why sliding glass doors are often targeted in Florence

As appealing as sliding glass doors are to homeowners, they’re also attractive to thieves. There are a couple of simple explanations. To begin with, they are generally designed more for utility than security. The majority don’t have deadbolts, and their locks are often a cinch to bypass. They’re also installed at the back of your Florence home, giving burglars a greater chance to approach without being seen. 

How do burglars force entry through sliding doors?

During clear days and warm temperatures, your sliding door may be the most-utilized entry in your home. You could a routine of keeping it unlatched so kids can access your outdoor space easily. Even when you fasten the door, determined prowlers can circumvent it. Here’s how:

• Jimmy the lock. Numerous sliding glass doors have standard locks that burglars can circumvent with a simple tool.
• Smash the glass. Thieves are more prone to smash glass when they’re hidden from sight. The thin glass of many sliding doors is easy to shatter.
• Remove the door from its track. Thieves may try to force the door off the track and pull it away from the frame with a crowbar or other tools so they may squeeze through.

Although it’s easy to get around sliding glass doors, it’s also not hard to improve your security. Learn how you can do so.

Better protect your Florence home’s sliding glass door

If you’re eager to improve the security of one of your Florence property’s most vulnerable entry points, here’s how you can do it.

• Install video cameras. When potential invaders spot video cameras, they’ll likely try to find a less protected target. They don’t want to be recorded on camera. You can even choose surveillance tools that actively discourage lurkers with audible and visual warnings.
• Connect door sensors. Install contact and glass break sensors within your whole-home security system. The alarm will go off if an unwanted guest tries to enter or smash the glass. You’ll also get a notification through your security system’s cell phone app.
• Install a more secure lock. Complement your simple flip lock with a deadbolt designed for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are fantastic add-ons and easy to operate. You could also choose a sturdy, keyed deadbolt.
• Install a security bar. A door brace is a traditional solution that brings another layer to your protection. These are typically solid wood supports placed inside the door’s bottom track. Make certain it’s sized properly for a tight fit.

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

Better defend your sliding glass door and all the entrances in your home with a comprehensive smart home in Florence from Vivint. We provide all the tools you need, from window and door sensors to indoor and outdoor cameras. If anything activates, you and your round-the-clock monitoring specialists will be notified instantly. Reach out to (843) 438-7320 today to learn more and book your professional installation.