Patio Door Security: How to Secure Your Sliding Glass Door

Did you know that, according to Bankrate, there are more than 2 million burglaries committed in the United States every year? Out of these burglaries, more than 60% of them were home invasions.

One of the most stressful parts of owning a home is having to worry about this type of crime. A burglary is not only a threat to your property but also to the safety of yourself and your family.

For this reason, you may have been thinking recently about patio door security options. While a patio door can be incredibly beautiful and perfect for leaving open on a beautiful spring day, it can easily let in a burglar.

This is stressful and can make it difficult for you to sleep at night, staying awake worrying about burglaries.

Fortunately, there are several ways you can secure your sliding glass door. In this article, we’ll cover these strategies. Finally, you can relax knowing that you, your family, and your home are safe. Read on to learn more.

Ways Patio Doors Are Vulnerable to Potential Burglars

In order to make your sliding patio door security the best, you first need to understand how these types of doors are vulnerable to potential burglars. First of all, it’s easy for a burglar to break through this type of door.

If the glass is single-glazed, then it’s easy for the burglar to take a blunt object and breakthrough it. If it’s double-glazed, then they can use glass-cutting tools to get in, too.

Additionally, because many patio doors have latches instead of locks, a burglar can easily fiddle with this type of lock to break in.

If they have enough strength or have the right tools, it’s also not a lot of effort to lift the sliding door from the tracks and get in.

Because they can see inside the home through these doors, they’ll also know when you’re not likely to be home. This makes it easier for them to plan their burglary.

Block the Tracks With Security Bars for Sliding Glass Doors

Fortunately, there are several strategies you can do to improve your sliding glass door security. One of these is to block the tracks with security bars for sliding glass doors. If you’ve ever put a broomstick there, this works in the same way.

However, with a broomstick or other common household item, it’s easy to move the door a bit and knock it out of place.

This is where the security bar solution comes in. This has the same purpose as a broomstick, but it’s specifically designed for holding sliding glass doors in place.

To use a security bar properly, all you have to do is place it on the track. Then, you use the pressure mounting system to keep it tight. (It works a bit like some types of shower rods.)

If you go for the Charley bar type, you’ll need to put in a few screws. However, both the traditional and Charley security bars shouldn’t take too long to install.

Cover the Door With Blinds

Even though it’s lovely to sit in your living room with the natural light falling in, this makes your home more vulnerable to theft. This is because burglars can see into your home, planning what to take and when. So you might have to cover your door.

To do this, you can install some blinds. This is a great solution because you can easily open them if you ever want to enjoy that natural sunlight. People usually select the long, thin type that comes down vertically.

However, these can break easily. If you want a more sturdy type, you can go for shutters or panels.

If you have children or pets, you might want to go for a different option that covers up your window but won’t break. In this case, you could use decorative window film.

These let in light while still blocking out the view from outsiders’ prying eyes.

Make Sure the Lock Latches Are Sturdy

Another way you can ensure that your sliding glass door is safe is by making sure the lock latches are sturdy. If you see, when you’re adjusting the lock latch, that it sticks or doesn’t come down all the way, then it’s easier for someone to break in.

Install a Sliding Glass Door Lock

If you really want your door to be secured with more than a flimsy lock latch, you should install a sliding glass door lock. This is a type of lock that you install at the top of the sliding glass door, where the sliding glass door and stationary glass meet.

You’ll be using this lock in addition to the lock latch, giving you double protection.

It can only be reached by a tall child or adult-so it gives you extra security if you have any small children at home who could forget to lock the door after going outside.

It’s impossible for anyone to jimmy the door so that it opens, whether the person trying to do it is inside or outside of the door.

To install this type of lock, there are a few steps you have to take. First, close the sliding glass door all the way. Second, clean the upper track out. Third, put the upper lock where you think it will go and mark where the holes will go.

Once you have your marks, drill holes there. Then, install the upper lock into these holes.

After you’ve installed the upper lock, you need to do the same thing-except on the door part.

One of the best things about a sliding glass door lock is that it doesn’t block the sun and won’t be noticed by guests. It stays out of the way, and it keeps burglars away.

Reinforce the Glass for Patio Door Security

Another way to keep your patio door secure is by reinforcing the glass. This is a bit more effective than a lock, which can easily be broken. When you reinforce your glass door, you’re putting a security brace in place.

This works best with French doors. Because it can withstand a large amount of pressure and force, a brace will hold the door closed because it holds it in place.

Even if someone breaks the glass and turns the lock from the inside, they won’t be able to get in because of the brace.

Install Door Sensors to Work With Your Home Security System

The best way to secure a sliding glass door is by using one or several of these methods while also installing door sensors. This is for several reasons. First of all, if you have a home security system installed, this will deter burglars from burglarizing your home.

Additionally, if they somehow do manage to break in, you and the police will be immediately alerted.

When you have this type of door sensor installed, it will send you a phone notification or sounding an alarm.

A special type of door sensor is the ADT glass break sensor. With this type of sensor, you’ll learn if someone has smashed your glass door.

Because there aren’t any foolproof security methods that protect against this happening, it’s essential that you have this sensor so you can keep yourself, your family, and your home safe.

To learn more about the ADT glass sensor, take a look at our door and window sensors.

Frequently Asked Questions About Security Sliding Patio Doors

You may be wondering a few things now that you know about different ways to secure your sliding glass door. That’s why we’ve put together this FAQ section. One of the most common questions is: “Can I reinforce my sliding glass doors?”

Unfortunately, reinforcements work best with traditional and French doors, so you can’t use them for sliding glass doors.

Another FAQ is: “I’m a renter. What solution can I install that isn’t permanent?”

For this question, the answer is that you should use security bars. These are less expensive and don’t have to be installed into the doors themselves.

Need More Information about ADT Security?

Now that you’ve learned about all the different patio door security strategies, you might need more information. Maybe you want to learn about other ways you can secure other areas of your home, like your front door or windows.

Or maybe you want to find out about smart home security solutions.

Whatever information you need, we can help. At ADT, we’re experts when it comes to home security. We also offer home security solutions. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us now.