Garage Door Security Tips

Security is one of the biggest concerns of homeowners. Just like you take steps to secure the entryway to your home or office before you leave, you should do the same with your garage door regardless of whether it’s connected to your home.

Many homeowners stow valuable possessions in their garage, such as cars, lawn tractors, dirt bikes, and tools. No matter what you store in your garage, the items must have some value, or you wouldn’t have taken the time to stow them, right? If you want to keep the things you store in your garage secure, it can help to familiarize yourself with some garage door security tips.

Keep Openers out of Sight

One of the best tips to secure your garage door is also one of the simplest: keep your openers out of sight. While it’s convenient to attach an opener to a car’s visor, doing so allows for a potential thief to see your opener and access it if you park your car outside with the windows down. Put your garage door opener in your glove box, center console, overhead storage bin or under a floormat instead.

Close Your Garage Door

If you want to learn how to secure your garage door, you’re about to see that our next tip is as simple as our first — simply keep your garage door closed if there isn’t an immediate reason for it to be open. Even if you’re inside your home, it doesn’t mean a burglar won’t enter your garage if they can, so keep the exterior door closed. If you choose to leave the door open while you step inside briefly, at least take your car keys with you.

Change Your Door Opener’s Code Often

Automatic garage doors have a panel that is used to enter a code to open the door. Use a unique, hard to guess code when you initially program your panel. You should reprogram your code often to be on the safe side, especially if you shared your code with a third-party like a cleaning crew, pet sitter or house guest.

Inspect Your Garage Door Regularly

You should still inspect your garage door carefully on a regular basis. Look for broken windows and gaps in the seal, which could be entry points for people with nefarious intent.

Install Motion-activated Floodlights

Even if you already have a security camera in place, it’s still advisable to install motion-activated floodlights above your garage door. Bright lights are highly effective at deterring criminals, and ample lighting can help improve the quality of any footage your security camera captures.

Install a Manual Garage Door Slide Lock

Installing a manual garage door slide lock is a wise move if you’re going to be away on vacation. It’s also smart if your garage door remains closed for extended periods. You’ll need to unlock the door manually before you can open your garage door from the outside. For greater peace of mind, you can reinforce your slide lock with a padlock.

Get More Tips to Secure Your Garage Door

If you’re concerned about the security of your garage door, schedule an appointment with Ole and Lena’s. Our talented technicians will inspect your existing door and make recommendations to improve the security of your garage door by adjusting your current setup or upgrading to a more modern door. Give us a call or complete our contact form to schedule an appointment today.