Let’s face it, the world can be a scary place. We hear about home invasions and burglaries happening all the time. And while it's not likely to happen to you, there is still the chance that someone might try breaking into your home while you’re away. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to make it substantially more difficult for them without spending a ton of money or hiring an expensive contractor. Whether that means adding an alarm system, upgrading your locks, or any number of other things, we’ll help you find ways to keep your home safer and reduce the risk of being targeted by criminals. That said, one of the most effective things you can do is install window locks.
What Are The Best Window Locks?
Let’s take a look at some specific examples of window locks to give you a better idea of what’s out there.
A simple twist lock is an incredibly common way to secure windows and other openings. They’re generally cheap, effective, and easy to install.
Deadbolts are a great way to secure a window if you don’t have any adjacent windows or doors.
A security bar is a heavy bar that goes across the top of a window. If someone tries to break the window, they’ll have to go through the bar too.
A security screen is a screen that has been reinforced with a metal grid. This can be a good option for people who want to keep the ability to open their windows.
A security storm window is a storm window that has been reinforced with a grid of metal or other material.
A security panel is a reinforced wooden panel that goes over a window.
A secure window is a slightly more expensive option that is basically a whole new window with a locking mechanism.
Why Are Window Locks So Important?
While there are many ways to secure your home, window locks are one of the most important. Why? Because they are relatively cheap, simple to install, and can be applied to any existing window in your home. If someone is trying to break into your home, they’re going to target the windows first. Not only are they accessible, but they’re a quick and easy way to get inside. This means that if you have a weak lock or no lock on any of your windows, you’re putting your entire family at risk. A single good lock can make it much harder for someone to break in, giving you time to get to your family and call the police. It’s not a guarantee, but it’s certainly better than nothing.
Second Lock: Security by a Different Name
While you can use a twist lock or other forms of a deadbolt on a window, you can also add a second lock. These are often called security latches, and they look like a small deadbolt on the outside of the window. A security latch also has a lever that you turn to slide the window open. When you put a security latch on a window, you are making it impossible to open that window from the outside. You can still open the window from the inside, but it will require a key just like the main door of your home. A security latch is a great option if you want to prevent easy access to a second-story window in your home. This is typically used for windows adjacent to doors or other windows with a lock. While it might sound like you’re overkill, it’s worth the effort. With a second lock, you make it much harder for someone to break in through a window. If they break the window, they’ll now have to break a lock too. That’s a lot more effort, and if they don’t have the right tools, they might give up entirely. This approach is particularly useful if you have a sliding glass door or another type of window that doesn’t have a good place for a lock.
Keyed Lock: More Security and Less Effort
A keyed lock is essentially a twist lock that’s been modified to accept a key. If you already have a lock on your window and it’s in good shape, a keyed lock is a simple upgrade. A keyed lock makes it harder to break the lock itself and makes it easier to secure your home. There are many reasons why you might not want to be twisting a lock each time you go in and out of your door. You might have arthritic hands or be carrying a lot of bags and not want to let go of them to open the door. You might be carrying a child or have a child who is old enough but too small to reach the doorknob but tall enough to reach the lock.
A keyed lock makes it possible for anyone in your family or anyone who might be visiting to get in the house, even if they have disabilities that make twisting a lock difficult or impossible. It’s definitely worth the money to have a lock that can be opened with a key instead of having to twist it each time. If you have a large family or visit your home often, this approach is even more valuable. You can simply unlock the window and leave it open when you want fresh air, but nobody can enter the house without a key. This is a great option for people with children or who work from home.
Automatic Lock: For When You’re Home Too
If you’re home, you can lock your windows manually. You can do this with a twist lock or a keyed lock. But what if you’re not home? Or what about if you work from home? You might not have time to secure your home every single day. Or maybe you have an elderly parent who needs to secure the house when they aren’t there. An automatic lock can help with this. An automatic lock is a way to lock the window when it shuts. This can be done with a twist lock, a keyed lock, or even a security bar.
An automatic lock doesn’t require any effort. You can set it to shut when you close the window, and when you open the window, it will automatically lock. You can set it to lock if you move the window outside of a certain range. You can also set it to shut if the computer detects movement in front of the webcam. You can also set it to shut if a certain program is opened. There are many different ways to set up security for your window, and you can even set it up to shut down your computer if it detects movement in front of the webcam.
Conclusion
Window locks are a relatively cheap way to add a lot of security to your home. They are a good option if you are looking for a way to make your home more secure on a budget. Window locks are easy to install, and they can prevent intruders from opening your windows and entering your home. They are a great option if you are away from home a lot, live in an apartment building, or want to protect your kids from easy access to your home. They’re incredibly important, especially if you don’t have a door between your living room and the outside world. While there are different types of locks, they all essentially do the same thing: prevent someone from opening the window from the outside. With the information we’ve provided, you should have a better idea of which type of window lock is best for your home.
