How to secure a sliding glass door

You love your sliding glass door for the effortless access it creates to your backyard and the abundance of natural light it welcomes in. These entrances are desirable elements of any Chattanooga home, but also come with security concerns. Discover why they’re a target for intruders and what you can do to avoid unauthorized entry.

Why sliding glass doors are frequently targeted in Chattanooga

As sought-after as sliding glass doors are to families, they’re also attractive to intruders. There are a few straightforward reasons why. Primarily, they are typically made more for aesthetics than security. Many don’t use deadbolts, and their locking mechanisms are usually simple to bypass. They’re also positioned at the rear of your Chattanooga house, giving burglars an improved opportunity to approach unseen. 

How do intruders circumvent sliding doors?

When experiencing bright and sunny days and nice temperatures, your sliding door may be the most-used entry at your home. You could get in a pattern of keeping it unlatched so your little ones can get to the backyard easily. Even when you secure the door, determined prowlers can bypass it. Here’s how:

• Pick the lock. Many sliding glass doors have standard locks that housebreakers can force open with a common tool.
• Shatter the glass. Prowlers are more inclined to break glass when they’re out of sight. Many sliding doors have thin glass that’s easy to break.
• Pry the door from its track. Criminals could try to pop the door off the track and pull it away from the frame with a crowbar or other equipment so they can slip through.

Even though it’s not difficult to get around sliding glass doors, it’s also not difficult to boost your security. See what you might do.

Better secure your Chattanooga home’s sliding glass door

If you’re ready to boost the security of one of your Chattanooga property’s most vulnerable entrances, here’s how you can do it.

• Implement surveillance cameras. When would-be invaders see cameras at your property, they’ll likely try to locate a less secure target. They won’t want to risk being recorded on camera. You can even find surveillance systems that actively scare off prowlers with sound and lights.
• Integrate entrypoint sensors. Connect contact and glass break sensors within your integrated security system. The alarm will sound if an unwanted guest attempts to come in or smash the glass. You’ll also receive an update through your home security smartphone app.
• Add a more secure lock. Reinforce your standard flip lock with a deadbolt designed for sliding doors. Foot bolt locks are popular solutions and straightforward to secure. You can also incorporate a sturdy, key-turned deadbolt.
• Incorporate a door brace. A door brace is a simple solution that provides another layer to your security. These are often metal or solid wood reinforcements placed inside the bottom door track. Ensure it’s designed properly for a snug fit.

Open the door to improved security with a Vivint smart home in Chattanooga

Better safeguard your sliding glass door and all your home’s entryways with an integrated smart home in Chattanooga from Vivint. We offer all the equipment you need, from door and window sensors to indoor and outdoor cameras. If a device activates, you and your round-the-clock monitoring experts will be alerted right away. Contact (423) 561-9767 today to get more information and book your professional installation.