If you have a sliding glass door in your kitchen or dining area, make sure it is equipped with a Charlie bar, a dowel rod in the track, a solid lock and an anti-lift device that screws into the upper track to keep someone from lifting it out.
When most homeowners decide to install a security system, they think they are done once their home’s perimeter is secured. However, there are still even more steps they can take to make their house as secure as it can possibly be. home security systems are an excellent way to protect your family, but you can make them even more effective by taking the time to secure your kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms in addition to the more obvious rooms that are security vulnerabilities.
In the kitchen:
• If you have a sliding glass door in your kitchen or dining area, make sure it is equipped with a Charlie bar, a dowel rod in the track, a solid lock and an anti-lift device that screws into the upper track to keep someone from lifting it out
• If you have a hinged door in your kitchen or dining area, it should be either solid core or constructed out of metal. It should be equipped with a deadbolt lock with a minimum 1-inch throw. The hinges should be mounted on the inside and the door frame and molding should be tight and secure. Install a wide-angle peephole with a 190-degree or better view
• Windows should all be equipped with locks and if they are slider windows, they should all have dowel rods placed into the tracks. Anti-lift devices should be installed on all windows to make sure they cannot be lifted out
In the bedrooms:
• If there is a sliding glass door in any bedroom, they should be equipped with a Charlie bar and a dowel rod in the tracks. They should also be equipped with anti-lift devices so would-be burglars cannot lift them out.
• Hinged doors should be either solid core or constructed of metal. They should all have deadbolts with a minimum 1-inch throw
• The hinges should be mounted on the inside and the door frame and security strike plate should be solid and secure. Wide-angled peepholes should be installed in all exterior bedroom doors
• Windows should all be equipped with locks and if they are slider windows, they should all have dowel rods placed into the tracks. Anti-lift devices should be installed on all windows to make sure they cannot be lifted out.
In the bathrooms:
• Bathroom windows should all be equipped with locks and if they are slider windows, they should all have dowel rods placed into the tracks. Again, install anti-lift devices to ensure they cannot be lifted out
These changes and improvements to your kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms will make your home security system work even better. When would-be burglars realize they can’t get in through the traditional means, they will likely move on to an easier target, especially if an alarm tells them that help is on the way.
Window Treatment Advice for Casement Windows
Many older homes in the United States feature casement windows, which are typically deep-set and open outward. The nice thing about these windows is that there are deep window sills, which allow homeowners to display items in front of the window.
Packing Simplified
Begin packing by boxing up the clothes you aren’t currently wearing because they are out of season. You won’t miss these clothes because you won’t need them until the seasons change. Then, you can start packing up the other items you know you will not need until you move into your new house.
Lighting and Home Security
The kind of lighting you should have at your home is that which is activated by motion. There is certainly no need to have your exterior lights on at all times of the day and night. It is far better to have your home lights automatically turn on when a sensor detects movement.
