Is Your Garage a Threat to Your Home Security? 7 Tips to Make It Safer

The garage is an essential part of most homes. It could be where a homeowner enters or exits the home daily. Think of the things you store in garages, such as tools, chemicals, vehicles, sports equipment, or gardening tools. The odds are that you store valuable belongings in the garage. With a high possibility of break-ins, dangerous chemicals, and powered equipment, garages are hidden hazards. Regardless of whether the garage is attached to your home or not, it’s paramount to take proactive measures to keep the garage safe and your home by extension. Taking the necessary steps keeps the garage safe from intruders and keeps your home safe from hazards like fire.

Invest in Sufficient Lighting

Thieves often attack during the night as they hide behind the dark shadows around a garage to attempt gaining entry to the house. An effective way of keeping your home safe through the garage is installing sufficient lighting to prevent burglars from attempting to approach your home at night. Invest in motion-activated lights near critical areas like the garage door and windows, house corners, and above entryways. They will discourage thieves from attempting a break-in at night. Motion-sensing lights are vital for detached garages. Motion sensor lights can be set up using a strong wifi network. Rhode Island internet providers (or an internet provider in your state) will help install wifi in your area to ensure your home security is top-notch. Motion-sensor lights will remain off when the garage area is still and turn on to fill the area with light when they sense motion or someone is within their detection area.

Close the Garage Door

It may seem like a no-brainer tip, but people leave their garage doors open. When the garage door is left open, burglars get the chance to gain entry to the garage, its contents, and the home. Ensure that you always keep the garage door shut even when you are home to prevent the entry by unauthorized people. If you are a culprit of leaving the garage door open, find a local locksmith to install an automatic door closer or garage door sensor. It alerts you when an overhead door opens or closes. It also has an automatic closer to close the garage door after a specific period. Moreover, it would also pay to invest in an automatic garage door lock that automatically deadbolts the door whenever you close it.

Install a Security System

As you think of your home’s security system, don’t forget the garage. Fortunately, the market is filled with security systems that you can easily connect to the garage. For instance, installing a camera at the garage door or windows would help enhance your home’s security. The camera gives an alert on your computer or phone when it senses movement around the door or garage window. Moreover, you can view the scene remotely. Additionally, installing an alarm system in your garage can significantly enhance your home’s security. It would help to install the alarm system around the garage’s doors and windows.

Unplug Openers When Out of Town

Burglars can tell when homeowners are not at home. A pile of newspapers, an empty driveway, a full mailbox, and no lights are all obvious signs that you might not be home. Try eliminating these signs with the help of your neighbors, but it’s also paramount to take extra precautions to protect your home from burglars when you're out of town. An effective way to do so is by unplugging the automatic garage door before leaving town. Also, install a bolt or lock for the garage door rails to avoid opening the door manually. When leaving, it’s best to exit the garage via a separate door and lock it. These precautions will give you peace of mind and keep the home safe you're while away.

Upgrade the Garage Door Opener

If your garage door’s opener is outdated, you risk break-ins. Some thieves gain access to your home with scanners that can quickly figure out an access code of an old door opener. Also, a neighbor with a similar access code as yours can accidentally open your garage door by pressing their remote. Therefore, it’s paramount to upgrade an outdated garage door opener. Newer garage door openers are more technologically advanced and use a more secure rolling code technology. The technology generates new codes every time you press the remote button. Moreover, modern garage door openers are more energy-efficient and make less noise than the previous models.

Keep Valuables Out of Sight

Most burglars don’t break into homes mindlessly. Thieves target the items they want and mark the location so that they can quickly and successfully steal. Besides, burglars have keen eyes. You can keep your home and garage safe by not keeping valuables in your car or garage. Avoid leaving high-value items inside your parked cars and in the garage to keep thieves at bay. Even if you keep the garage closed all the time, it’s not worth taking the risk of leaving valuables in the garage. Additionally, installing garage cabinetry with locks can also protect valuables stored in the garage.

Fix the Garage Door

A faulty or non-functional garage door is dangerous and poses a security risk. It’s advisable to secure side and entry doors if you want to keep thieves at bay. Upgrade your old garage door to a modern one that is more secure and stronger. Also, modern garage doors can easily withstand break-in attempts because they are designed with unique features and modern materials.

Since doorways are the most accessible points to gain entry into the garage, it’s best to fix a faulty door. In the worst cases, thieves can turn garage door handles and access your home because you forgot to lock the door or its opening mechanism is faulty. If the garage is attached to your home, ensure that you take extra security measures to bolster the entryway’s security. Consider adding an extra lock and deadbolt to the door.

There’s no worse feeling than waking up or coming home to discover the garage has been broken into. Use garage safety tips, such as keeping valuables put away, installing motion-sensor lights, and investing in an alarm system to secure your home. It would pay to consult a security expert to help enhance your garage’s security.