Garage Security – Property Protection

Is your garage safe from burglars? Bolts, latches, and locks are the most common garage security tools, none of which will stop a determined burglar. As garage doors are often more vulnerable targets than house doors, strong security is a necessity, ESPECIALLY if the garage is attached and allows entrance to the home. These systems vary in price, but they do not necessarily have to be expensive to be effective.

Older garage door security systems employ "dip switch" technology in both the door and the receiver. Dip switch technology locks and unlocks garage doors with a static, unchanging access code. Technology has evolved and this type of system is no longer secure. Updated security devices employ a "rolling-code" system that systematically modifies the access code with an algorithmic formula each time a button is pressed. Without the master key, this type of system is difficult to disarm.

The intelligent use of wireless security can offer an additional layer of protection for your garage and home. Motion sensors and wireless cameras are easily installed, and their range can vary according to your needs. Systems tend to offer between 100 and 1500 feet of range, providing a variety of options.

Human error can create opportunities for burglars or other security breaches. Forgetting to close or lock a door or neglecting to arm your alarm are common problems. Some security systems are programmed to correct these mistakes for you. Some will close garage doors automatically after a certain period of time. Others will rearm your security system in the same fashion or beep if a door is unlocked or unarmed for too long.

Burglars do not always invade unoccupied homes. If your family is home when an invasion is attempted, their personal well-being can be endangered. Situations like these demonstrate the need for small home firearms and the training to employ them. When properly secured and maintained, they offer minimal risk to occupants while providing a layer of comfort and security for the homeowner.

Purchasing a system with outside monitoring is another excellent security option. Some companies offer twenty-four hour surveillance and support in the event of an emergency. They can contact the police when the alarm system is triggered and alert you via voice contact that your security has been breached. In addition, some can detect fire or other emergencies and contact the proper authorities in those instances, as well.

There are many options on the market to solve your garage security problems. Some are more complex than others. No method is one hundred percent effective, but if you take the proper precautions, you can reduce your chances of being a victim of burglary or home invasion.

Looking to find the best deal on repair or installation for your garage or opener, then visit www.kansascity-garage-door.com to find the best advice on garage door service for you.

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February 27 2010 | home security | No Comments »

Deciding on a Door Lock

by Bob Donson

When youre shopping for a door lock, its important to know what your needs and options are. In this article Ill go over all of the basic types, so you know what best fits your needs.

A Privacy Lockset is one of the most basic types of door locks. These locks are the types most commonly found inside of houses and interior passages where privacy is important, but security is not. These locks either have a lever or a knob on one side which locks the door. They have a tiny hole on the non-locking side which can be used to pick the lock in emergency situations.

While interior locks are great for protecting privacy, they are relatively useless for security purposes. For exterior facing doors where security is a concern, you will want to use an Entry Lockset. This lockset is familiar to most homeowners, and has a button on one side coupled with a key mechanism on the other. This is essentially a one way lock.

An addition that can make an exterior door more secure is a deadbolt lock. In a deadbolt, the "throw", which is a metal slug, extends into the door frame. For most people, this variety of lock represents all the safety you'll ever need.

For people who want the added safety of a deadbolt without all of the hassels of drilling that come with interior installation, there are surface-mounted deadbolts. The function of surface-mounted deadbolts is essentially the same as that of the regular deadbolt, but rather than being installed into the door, the deadbolt is screwed onto the interior facing of the door. A metal flashing is attached to the door frame.

Frequently, locks are sold as combination sets, which form a unified security solution for an exterior door. In manufacturing terminology, this combination is called a lockset, and is most often comprised of a deadbolt and a lockset.

One of the less common varieties of locks which you will encounter as a homeowner is a Night Latch. The night latch is a lock which is placed on the interior face of the door, and whenever the door is shut the lock automatically engages. As the name implies, Night Latches are not ideal when used alone, but can be paired with other locks for added safety.

I hope that these explanations have helped to illustrate the main types of door locks. It is important for consumers to understand their options in order to maximize their safety, and one of the greatest impediments to understanding is mis-information. Homeowners must take an active role in maintaining safety as a priority in their own homes.

About the Author:
If youre shopping for a door lock and dont know where to look, do a little reading at Bobs door lock types center before you buy.
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June 16 2009 | home security | No Comments »