Window Security for Houses and Apartments

Author: johncherrylp | Posted: 26.03.2012

When people take steps to make their homes or apartments more secure, they often consider their doors, since they are the most obvious entry point for burglars. Certainly, doors are a critical aspect of home security and you absolutely should take care to install the proper locks and strike plates on every entry door to your home. However, many people neglect another part of their homes that could be as much of a vulnerability as the doors: the windows.

Even when people have a home security system installed, they sometimes do not put sensors on their windows because they think it is much more important to place them on their doors. This might be true if you are on a budget and cannot afford the extra sensors for the windows, but it is just as important for you to purchase those extra sensors as your budget allows to make sure the windows are secure as well. However, until you get those sensors installed, you need to take steps to make your windows as secure as you can.

First, you want to make sure your windows are equipped with locks that work and that those locks are always engaged whenever your windows are closed. Locks are not effective if they aren’t used, so it is recommended that you close and lock your windows whenever you leave your home. Even if you aren’t going to be in a specific room for any length of time, it is best to close and lock the windows in that room.

You can keep the windows open up to six inches for ventilation, but take the proper steps to make sure they cannot open any further than that. There are anti-lift devices that can be installed on windows that open vertically and there are charley bars that can be inserted in tracks of windows that open horizontally. To find out which device is best for you, it is recommended that you visit a home security system and ask an expert to provide you with advice that will correctly secure your windows.

If you live in an area where crime rates are especially high, you might even consider installing window security bars outside your windows. These are very effective at keeping unwanted visitors out, but you need to make sure that they are installed in a way that will allow occupants of the house to get out quickly in case of an emergency. Ask your local fire department or code enforcement agency what types of bars you are allowed to install.

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