A Safe and Secure Home
For every one of us, the very word “home” means a place that’s safe.
Keeping your place secure takes a little planning and attention. Here are a
few tips to help keep your home safe and secure.
Preparation
Once a year you should make a safety check of your home to identify areas that
need attention. You should check security at entry doors, the home interior, the
garage and the yard, and make sure you have working warning devices such as
CO and smoke alarms.
Entry Door Security
01 Check all entry doors. Every house should have an insulated steel, fiberglass or solid core wood door at each entry point. For instructions on replacing a door,
watch How to Install a Pre-Hung Exterior Door at Lowes.com/Videos.
02 Make sure that each entry door also has a deadbolt lock with at least a 1" throw.
03 Consider installing electronic keypads or locks with “smart key” technology for added safety.
- Pin-tumbler locks, the most common design for exterior doors, can easily
be picked using a special key, called a “bump key”, that tricks the pins into
allowing the lock to turn. This is called lock bumping. Various lock
manufacturers offer “bump-resistant” locks that make bumping difficult or
impossible. Some designs, called “smart keys” can easily change the
key configuration, known as re-keying, in less than 30 seconds. Ask your
Lowe’s associate for assistance selecting an appropriate entry door lock
for your security needs.
- To learn how to install a lockset or deadbolt, visit Lowes.com/Videos.
04 Check all entry door jambs for strength.
- To make sure your jamb can withstand a pry bar or a kick, install 2-3" screws
along its length.
- You can also add a door jamb reinforcement kit designed to fit over existing doorframes.
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05 Verify that all entry doors without windows, including the one to your garage, have a door viewer so you can identify visitors in advance. You can learn how to install one in the Installing a Door Viewer video and printable instructions available at Lowes.com/Video.
Interior Security
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01 Check all sliding glass doors to make sure they have a functioning lock. For added security, install a security bar in the door track.
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02 Check each window lock to make sure it includes a latching device that cannot be operated from the outside of the home.
03 Before leaving your home for extended periods, make sure your house still
looks “lived in”.
- Keep a car in the driveway, making sure to remove the garage door opener.
- Turn down the volume on your telephone ringer.
- Make sure that your phone’s answering system message doesn’t tell callers that you will be away for an extended period.
- Install timers on your lights. At Lowe’s you can find a wide variety of timers that control everything from lamps to wall switches to outdoor lighting. Some even have random settings to turn on and off at slightly different times each day.
Garage Security
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01 Check the operation and security of your garage door opener.
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- For best protection, install one with rolling code technology, which changes
your remote frequency after each use, virtually eliminating the chance of another
remote opening your garage door. Most rolling code units randomly select among
100 billion codes and cannot be duplicated by another remote.
02 If your garage door opener has a manufacturer’s preset code, change it to your own personal code following manufacturer’s directions in the operating manual.
03 Check that your garage door has a posi-lock feature.
- Once the door is closed, it cannot be manually opened from the outside.
04 If you have a manual lift door, install a C-clamp around the track next to the roller, and tighten it when you’re away.
- TIP: If replacing your garage door opener, consider the following safety features:
- Safety beam. When the infrared beam is broken, it will automatically activate the overhead light and reverse the door direction. Also stops and reverses the door if it comes in contact with an object.
- Battery backup system. Allows for full garage door opener operation when the power goes out. The battery recharges itself when power is on.
Yard Security
Make sure that each entry way has a light that provides clear visibility at night.
- It’s a good idea to have at least 100' of visibility near each entry.
- For increased security, add motion detection. Better outdoor security lights sense
motion in a 240° arc up to 100' away, as well as directly below. If anything moves
inside this zone, bright lights automatically illuminate the yard or driveway.
- Some security lights have a lens that can be mounted remotely to give you even
more detection flexibility.
- Decorative motion detection lights are available too.
- Most units are simple to install.
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01 Read the manufacturer’s instructions.
02 Turn the power off at the circuit breaker or fuse.
- Use a circuit tester on the fixture to ensure that the power is off.
03 Remove the existing light fixture.
04 Install the mounting strap using screws.
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05 If a plastic hanger is included to hold the fixture while you’re wiring, thread the small end of the hanger through the hole in the center of the cover plate.
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06 Thread all the fixture wires through the large holes in the gasket.
07 Then push the small end of the plastic hanger into one of the slots on the mounting strap.
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08 Connect the junction box wires to the fixture wires: black to black, white to white, ground wire to ground wire.
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09 Twist each one tightly, and secure with wire connectors and electrical tape.
10 Remove the plastic hanger, if used.
11 Secure the fixture to the mounting strap, making sure all the wiring is inside the junction box.
12 Push the rubber plug firmly into place over the head of the bolt.
13 If the junction box is not weatherproof, caulk the wall plate and the mounting surface with silicone sealant.
14 Turn the power back on and test the light.
- The instructions that come with your fixture will show you how to aim the lamps
for best coverage in your yard, and how to set the timers.
- Decorative exterior lighting and landscape lighting can illuminate your yard
providing security and curb appeal. For step-by-step instructions, watch
Installing Landscape Lighting at Lowes.com/Videos.
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TIP: Also make sure that house numbers are in good condition and easy for
police and firefighters to see from the street, day or night.
Warning and Safety Devices
01 Check that your home has operating smoke and CO(carbon monoxide) detectors
and, if battery-powered, have fresh batteries.
- To learn how to install one of these devices, view the
Healthy Home–Clear the Air video at Lowes.com/Videos.
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TIP: Test all smoke and CO detectors in your home per
manufacturer’s instructions.
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02 Verify that you have the correct type of fire extinguishers throughout your house.
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- Type A handles wood and paper fires.
- Type B takes care of grease and oil fires, like those in your kitchen or garage.
- Type C douses electrical fires, like those caused by appliances or computers.
- Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions for placement, mounting
and operation.
TIP: For general purpose in your home, select type A-B-C fire extinguishers.
As you can see, there are many comforting ways to make your home safer and more secure. You’ll find additional tips online at HomeSafetyCouncil.org. For other basic home improvement how-tos, check out our lineup of projects at Lowes.com/Videos.