Home security is vital to any homeowner, as it helps to protect you, your family and your valuables. But with hundreds of thousands of residential break-ins occurring in the United States each year, home security is still an issue for many.
One aspect of home security that homeowners often overlook is window security. While you can’t guarantee that secure windows will prevent break-ins, you can help prevent anyone from using your windows to access your home.
Replacement windows can improve your home’s security thanks to the numerous features they have, which are often not found on older windows.
Modern replacement windows often have advanced locking systems that offer more protection than the simple latches commonly found on older windows. Many would-be intruders could easily circumvent a basic latch. Modern locking systems are more difficult to access and bypass, making your windows much harder to break into.
Multipoint locks are widely used in replacement windows. These locks secure the window in several places around the frame, adding additional security and strength to the window. Shootbolt locks can extend steel bolts when the handle is turned, securing sash windows at the top and bottom of the frame.
Weak hinges can undermine a window’s locking system, which is why modern replacement windows commonly use security hinges. The design of a security hinge will affect how it enhances the window’s protection, with several different designs available. Anti-lift hinges can stop intruders from leveraging a sash window open, while friction hinges can control how fast you can open a window. Friction hinges can also secure the window’s position.
Window restrictors perform a similar function to security hinges in that they affect how a window can open. The type of window restrictor you can use depends on the design of your window. In particular, whether it swings or slides open will affect the restrictors you can use.
Vent locks allow you to crack the window open just enough to let fresh air into your home, but prevent the window from opening further. This restriction lets you leave your windows open without worrying about someone accessing your property through the window.
Child safety latches serve a similar function, but their primary purpose is to prevent children from opening a window wide enough that they may fall out.
These restrictors are usually easy to install after the windows have been fitted.
Impact-resistant glass is designed to stay intact even when struck with considerable force. This high resistance to impact makes it harder for intruders to force their way into your house. It also makes it more durable and less likely to be damaged during extreme weather.
When impact-resistant glass does break, it shatters into small pieces rather than large, sharp shards. These shards are less likely to cut you, making impact-resistant glass a safer option for your home.
Many older windows were made with wooden frames. While wooden frames may look fantastic, they can warp, crack and rot if they’re not properly maintained. Because of this, modern frames aren’t often made from wood alone.
Instead, newer wooden frames are covered in materials like aluminum. Other modern frames are made from stronger and more durable materials, such as vinyl and fiberglass, rather than wood. These changes reduce the risk of damage to your window frames, making them more secure.
Modern windows are generally larger than older windows, which means they can provide a better means of escape in an emergency. Many modern windows are designed with this specific function in mind and can open wide enough for a person to climb out. Some windows are installed lower to the ground, too, making them easier to access.
Besides being smaller, older windows are often painted shut or simply not designed to open far enough for a person to climb through.
Another benefit of modern windows being larger is that they can offer an improved view of your surroundings. Beyond letting in more natural light and allowing you to enjoy the views, this increased visibility means you can more easily survey your surroundings, making it harder for intruders to approach undetected.
Besides improving your home’s security, replacement windows can offer many other benefits, such as:
Replacement windows can undoubtedly increase your home’s security and benefit it in other ways. However, to give your home the best level of protection and get the most out of your replacement windows, you should:
Windows designed with security in mind are one of the best ways to improve your home security. While replacement windows have plenty of other benefits, one of the most important is how they can help protect your home and anyone living in it.
At Renewal by Andersen®, we know just how important it is to have the best windows for home security. That’s why we’re proud to deliver premium windows to our customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. In areas that need them, we can also offer impact windows to provide additional security against extreme weather events, such as hurricanes.
We’re highly confident in our products and services, which is why we offer a 20-year warranty on our windows.
To find out more about how you can take advantage of replacement windows for home security, contact us today.
