Buying an Older Home? Look for These Potential Security Issues

You’ve spotted a beautiful old home and it has that perfect older charm that you’ve been looking for. The only downside is that older homes can sometimes have potential security issues if you don’t know what to look for. You can still enjoy the process of getting into an older home while using a few tips to increase your home and family’s security. 

Check out these tips below for better home security, from updating the locks to installing an alarm system. 

It probably doesn’t have an alarm system

The first thing you’ll notice about an older home compared to a newer home is that older homes tend to have no alarm system. This is an easy fix though as you can easily get one installed that will be new and all set up for your family. 

Older homes don’t have these because they didn’t have these back then and the ones that do have them were probably fixed up and modernized. If you see a basic alarm system from when they were first introduced, you’ll want to update it with something new. To ensure you don’t have to deal with a robbery or intruder, having a decent home alarm with sensors on the entryway and your windows is the first step. 

You can get one installed with a security company that will alert you when there is suspicious activity and can call the police if a situation happens. You’ll just have to arm or disarm it with your cell phone each day. 

This is great while you’re away from the home since many systems can live stream from your phone or record pictures. Add a doorbell camera to your home to allow you to see who comes to the door as well. 

The locks are old

With an old home comes old locks. That means they are going to be easier to break into or even break. You’ll likely find that the home has antique locks on the entries and gates that look beautiful but don’t keep the home secure. 

With all of the wear tear from use and the weather, the locks are going to be much easier to attempt to pick and break into. This would be the perfect time to update to all new locks that are difficult to lock-pick and sturdy. Consider a smart lock that will allow you to control it from your smartphone. 

What’s inside the walls are old

Another issue with older homes is that you are looking at older plumbing, older wiring, and older everything. You might be looking at this as a fixer-upper project in which you can replace or repair anything needed to make this your dream home. 

Start with the locks and the security system, and then dive into the rest of the projects with a professional. You may need new pipes, new wiring, and electrical outlets installed. You may also have an old HVAC system with missing air filters, and even a roof that has damage. All of these things will need to be looked at and assessed by plumbers, electricians, and more. 

Old garage and windows

This may be a good time to update your windows and garage door. Sometimes these things don’t get tested for a long time and won’t keep your home protected in their current condition. Talk to a specialist about investigating the condition of these units so that your security is protected. 

Lastly, be sure to update your detectors for smoke, fire, floods, and carbon monoxide. Keep your family safe from these hard-to-detect hazards. 

Use these tips to avoid a potential security issue in your new-to-you, older home

The Three Most Common Door Lock Problems

You probably haven’t thought much about problems that can happen to your door lucks until an issue came up for your family. You knew that your locks were getting old or that you could always call a locksmith if something ever went wrong, but what are the most common door lock problems that happen and you should be aware of?

For starters, you could end up with a key breaking in the lock or just a key that isn’t working right. In another scenario, you could end up with your locks misaligning or being too loose, or even a slow lock and faulty door issues. Take a closer look below at the three most common areas of door lock problems. 

The key doesn’t work or broke

Have you ever tried to turn your key and it broke in the lock? Perhaps the key got stuck in the lock or maybe even the key won’t insert at all. Key issues are one of the most common door lock problems. 

If your key broke inside the lock because you tried to force it to turn after it got stuck, you can try to pull it out with pliers. If that doesn’t work, call a professional to help as they may need to help you try to get it out. 

If the key isn’t working, first make sure you are using the right key. If you are, then you may be having an issue with a deadbolt not interacting properly with the strike plate, which you would be able to find out in the case that you do finally open the door and find that the key now works fine.

 If it’s a new key, it may have been cut improperly. Call the locksmith to get this looked into and to see if it’s a bad key or a broken lock. 

Misaligned locks or loose locks 

Next, you could run into a lock issue in which you have poor alignment or it’s too loose. You want the deadbolt to fit properly into the strike plate along the door jam, but when it’s off even by a little, the lock may not work at all. This can sometimes happen when a person is too rough on the door or if a door isn’t installed properly or shifts from conditions like too much humidity. 

You could also be dealing with a loose handle or lock since these things will loosen up over the years. This is an easy fix with a tightening of screws, but if you wait too long to correct it, you’ll likely end up needing to call for help with an emergency lockout. 

Slow lock or faulty door 

Finally, beware of slow locks and faulty doors. A slow door lock is common when dirt or grime accumulates in the lock. This is not a hard fix, but it’s easy to make it worse which is why you should call a professional to help correct it. 

A faulty door mechanism can also happen with time and wear and tear. With excessive use and not getting the maintenance they need, they can become defective. In those scenarios, you’ll want to properly maintain your locks and doors to avoid a slow lock or faulty mechanism because these are mechanical functions that only a professional will be able to properly repair later on. 

These are a few of the most common door lock problems that you could come across on your property. Be sure to maintain your doors and locks, and call a local Chicago locksmithin the event that you need something repaired.

What is Lock Snapping and How to Prevent it?

One of the most common ways a burglar will break into your home is through the entry door. They use different tactics to get in through your door, such as your spare key in the fake rock or simply taking advantage of you forgetting to lock the door.

Even if you do everything correct, a burglar may break in through a method known as lock snapping. This common way of getting into a home usually happens due to a homeowner believing their home is secure when it's not.

Understanding What Lock Snapping is

A technique that doesn't require much skill, burglars use lock snapping, also called cylinder snapping to get into your home. Since this method doesn't require much skill or any special equipment, it's very common. All the intruder needs is a hammer and screwdriver to get into your home and they can do it very quickly with lock snapping.

Usually, this method is applied to a Euro profile cylinder lock, which is commonly used on uPVC doors. Even though the lock has multi-locking points, they are operated by a single-cylinder, which can be snapped into two halves rather easily. The burglar just has to apply the right force to the cylinder and it will break.

Once the lock snapping has occurred, entry into your home is rather easy. The burglar can now open the door with simple household tools and gain access to your belongings.

Simply put, lock snapping is the process of applying for to a lock cylinder to snap it in half. A burglar with very little experience can snap your lock in a matter of seconds.

How to Prevent Lock Snapping

Preventing lock snapping starts with figuring out if your locks are vulnerable. Make sure to check all entry points to your home as not all burglars break in through the front door. If you want a professional to check your locks, call a local Chicago locksmith. They will be able to tell you if your locks are anti-snap and if not, they can recommend the right upgrade to protect your home.

If you decide to check your locks on your own, you want to find out if you have cylinder locks that can easily be snapped. Look to see if the lock sticks out of the door handle and protrudes very easily. If so, it's likely time for an upgrade.

Install the Right Locks

The best way to prevent lock snapping and make your home more secure is installing the right locks. Have a locksmith install the highest quality locks for your doors and make sure they are anti-snap locks. Having an anti-snap lock fitted to your door will ensure you don't have to worry about a burglar breaking in, even if you locked the door.

Anti-snap locks have a tested cylinder that keeps the lock from being snapped by the method used by burglars. They can attack this lock, but it won't snap like a traditional euro-cylinder lock will.

As long as your new locks are properly fitted and installed, you won't have to worry about snapping. A professional locksmith will be able to make the right recommendation for your door and install the proper lock to better protect your home.

Safes for You to Securely Store Valuables at Home

When it comes to storing your valuables, this is one area that you don’t want to take a shortcut. If a home burglary is going to happen, it’s crucial that you have a secure safe to store your valuables to avoid theft. Some of the most common items taken from homes are jewelry, money, firearms, baseball cards, and family heirlooms.

Not only is it important to protect these things that are worth good money or sentimental to you, but you should have a way to protect important personal documents like birth certificates and passports in the event of a fire or other disaster. Take a look at the best way to securely store your valuables at home from theft or a disaster.

Small safes for your home or office

To get started, you may simply want a small safe to use in your home or office.

You can get a lightweight and inexpensive safes like Amazon Basics Security Safe which features 0.5 cubic feet of steel-enclosed space and a carpeted floor only accessible digitally.

A Combination Fire Safe is great if you need fire and water protection for things like photos and USB drives, such as the SWF123DSB for something heavy duty in the home.

One of the best in fireproof safes for those wanting a small safe is the First Alert 2092DF that can float and handle fires. It has a programmable lock and steel locking bolts and weighs a hefty 100lbs.

For a Biometric safe to hold your valuables or firearms, get the BARSKA biometric safe for an inexpensive, small, and ideal storage solution.

By Tanemori (Hatena Ftolife) [CC BY 2.1 jp (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.1/jp/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Varieties in size and features

When you aren’t concerned about size or price and simply want the best for your valuables, your home could use one of the safes mentioned below.

The Safstar Digital Electronic Security Safe Box is a great choice for something compact, affordable, and for the smart accessibility, it allows between the digital PIN and the backup key option. It won’t hold as much as the large SentrySafe SFW205CWB water-resistant combination safe which gives you 60% more storage than a traditional safe, so it’s important to determine what size you need from the start.

If you are concerned about a fireproof option, the SentrySafe can’t offer that, but you can get that feature with the First Alert 2092DF. If you like something compact, the Safstar is one of the best, but the Stack-On PDS-1500 Drawer Safe is another option which allows access electronically and with backup keys. On the larger end of things, the SentrySafe is a top choice, as well as the BARSK Large Biometric Safe that features a huge memory storage for fingerprints and a silent access mode.

Options for the ultimate hiding places

If your goal is to be as discrete a possible, you may like one of these types of safes in your home. Store your valuables in a hollowed-out book, wrapped up in your freezer, or in a VHS tape. There are places in your home that a thief is less likely to look, giving you protection through discretion, but it won’t save you from a fire or flood. For discrete hiding options, hide your valuables in a houseplant or under the plastic liner of your trash can. Try a hollowed-out book or false VHS tape in your living room where a criminal is not likely to spend the time digging.

A false container in your kitchen could be under the sink or disguised as a food box, while an item that isn’t temperature sensitive could be hidden in aluminum foil in the back of your freezer. Try a floor safe in your bedroom or inside a container marked as “Christmas ornaments” in your attic. Just avoid hiding things in your desk drawers, your jewelry box, a DVD case that is worth more than your VHS tapes, or in an area that could get damaged like your jars of food or your toilet’s water tank.

When it comes to protecting your valuables or those hard to replace items, these are some of the most efficient ways to protect them. Be sure to get your home and office equipped with what you need today. Call The Professional Locksmith for more information!