Four Common Home Security Questions
One of the most challenging things for many homeowners is ensuring that their home is secure. With so much information out there, it can be difficult to know what the best home security options really are. Here are a few of the most common home security questions that homeowners ask and information to help you make the right choices to protect your home and family.
- When should I change the locks?
- The locks on your exterior doors are the first level of security. As a result, they should be taken seriously. Knowing when you should change the locks can help you protect your home. This may be the time to look into Z-Wave technology. Z-Waveis a wireless communications protocol used primarily for home automation. It is a mesh network using low-energy radio waves to communicate from appliance to appliance, allowing for wireless control of residential appliances and other devices, such as lighting control, security systems, thermostats, windows, locks, swimming pools and garage door openers.
- When you first move in: It is important that you change the locks when you first buy your home. There’s no way to be sure that there are no extra keys out there somewhere, so ensure your home security by either re-keying or replacing all of the exterior door locks right away.
- When you lose your keys: Even if you get them back, it’s still in your best interest to have the locks re-keyed or replaced any time a key to your house is lost. You can’t guarantee that whoever found them didn’t make a copy, so don’t take any chances.
- You gave a key to someone to care for your home: Whether it was a housekeeping service, a friend, or a contractor doing work, if you gave someone a key, make sure you change the locks after you get it back.
- Your home was broken into: If your home is broken into, that’s a vital time to change all of the locks. There’s no way to be sure that the intruder didn’t find an extra key in the house. Any lock that was breached is vulnerable anyway, so have them all replaced.
- How can I secure sliding doors?
Sliding doors can be another security risk. Even if your sliding door has a lock on it, it’s in your best interest to reinforce it for extra security. Don’t neglect this, because some sliding doors can be manipulated from the outside to break them free of the track.
To add extra security, invest in metal security bars that you can put on the door. Measure the distance from the back of the door frame to the edge of the movable portion of the door, and then get a security bar that’s the same size. That way, you can secure the door at night and when you aren’t home.
- Is my home wiring vulnerable?
The exterior wiring on your home can be vulnerable to potential manipulation if it isn’t properly secured. When your electrical wiring and your alarm wires are exposed on the outside of the house, a would-be intruder can cut the wires easily, giving them easier access to the property without triggering an alarm. Many people are opting for security via their cable company and their system may be based on a wire that can be easily cut standing on the ground. Have the exterior wiring on your house secured with sheathing that prevents unauthorized access.
- Should I get an alarm system?
A professionally installed and monitored alarm system is one of the best deterrents to break-ins. Home alarm systems can monitor for fire, carbon monoxide, and panic buttons for further security. Special sensors can be added to gun, money, and valuable safes as part of your security system.
For more information and answers to any other home security questions you might have, contact us today.