Cheap Home Safety Upgrades

Maintaining the safety of your home doesn’t need to be expensive. These affordable home safety upgrades are here to help deter intruders, monitor flood, smoke and carbon monoxide levels or simply improve privacy and improve privacy in an effective manner.

Cove takes an intelligent approach to security with customizable equipment packages and a la carte options starting at $99. Their system also features cellular monitoring.

Door and Window Locks

Many burglars gain entry through windows that are left open, even if you already have locks on your doors. Installing window locks to deter burglars should be made a priority – they are easy and inexpensive to set up so make it a priority!

If you are moving into a house where the former owners held keys, make sure that you change all door locks and use reinforcing hardware on the jambs to strengthen them. One well-placed kick or body slam could break through a weak jamb and allow intruders to gain entry with relative ease.

Basic sash locks will cost only a few dollars and should fit most windows. For added protection, consider investing in a track lock that clamps onto sliding window tracks to stop opening more than what was set when set; these can also help provide ventilation – they are available at most hardware stores.

Canzak window restrictor cables can help control how far any window opens – this can be especially beneficial when dealing with children and animals that might try to open windows too far – as well as offering extra burglar protection.

Note that all of these inexpensive upgrades can be combined with home automation and smarthome devices to monitor for window or door openings, such as using IFTTT to set an “IF recipe that posts to Facebook when your door opens when on vacation.” Likewise, your local police department may provide free home security checks.

Wireless Alarms

Home alarm systems are an effective deterrent against burglars. Studies show that burglars are significantly less likely to break in when there’s an alarm system present, acting as both a loud and bright visual deterrent, as well as providing smart-home integration for added convenience.

Basic systems typically cost under $300 to purchase and professional installation can cost about $1,200. Installation may be accomplished DIY with some basic DIY skills, though the process can be time consuming. If you opt for a monitored system instead, security personnel will monitor your property remotely and alert authorities of any breaches or other problems on site.

Wireless security systems offer multiple advantages over hardwired security systems. One advantage is their independence from wires between sensors and control panels, eliminating the chance for burglars to cut them and disarm your security system. Most wireless systems use both Wi-Fi and cellular technology for communication among devices.

Some systems also provide an alternate backup communication path if your internet goes down; should that occur, your system will trigger an emergency call to either police or fire departments automatically – this feature is known as Enhanced Call Verification (ECV), and in certain jurisdictions is legally mandated.

System components typically include contact sensors to monitor doors and windows, motion detectors, and a base unit that provides full control for arming/disarming the system and setting alerts/schedules. There are a range of third-party accessories such as smart locks/cameras available; door/window sensors paired with smart lights may even instantly turn on when activated by sensors – which makes these solutions affordable options!

Screen Doors

If you live in a warm climate, a screen door can be an invaluable addition to your home. Not only can it keep out mosquitoes, it also keeps out heat during winters to lower your energy bills and enjoy fresh-cut grass without any pesky insects entering through open doors.

Choose between swinging screen doors that open and close like regular doors, and sliding ones which add extra protection against intruders. Both types can add both style and function to your exterior door, with many colors and designs for frames and mesh areas available to customize the style and function.

An insulation screen door adds just the right touch of extra insulation, helping keep warm air inside during winter and cold air out during summer, which reduces utility bills while cutting energy consumption from your AC.

Screen doors also protect exterior doors from direct sunlight and rain, helping extend their lifespan and prevent them from being warped or damaged by the elements.

If you want to prioritize home security, magnetic screen doors offer both style and substance. Constructed of weighted mesh panels arranged in parallel rows with an opening in the middle held together by magnets, these doors make use of easy accessibility while deterring burglars at once – ideal for outdoor entertaining spaces! They automatically close when someone passes through. Magnetic door screens are an attractive and affordable solution that provide easy access while providing burglar protection at once!

Side-Pane Glass

Home improvements don’t just improve the aesthetic appeal of your house; many can also make it safer. As you complete items from your summer to-do list, consider including some inexpensive home security upgrades in the mix – these DIY projects can help prevent burglars from seeing inside and knowing who is home or not. When selecting window panes, subtract 1/8 of an inch (0.32 cm). This gives extra room to work with while guaranteeing they fit seamlessly; glazer’s points can help set putty securely.