Guides / Protect and plan
Home security
Good home security is layered and mostly unglamorous. Solid doors and locks, good lighting, and a house that looks lived-in do more than any single gadget.
What to check
- Exterior doors
- Use solid-core or metal exterior doors with deadbolts. Look for locks rated ANSI/BHMA Grade 1 or 2.
- Strike plates
- Replace short strike plate screws with screws long enough to reach the wall framing, often 3 inches. This makes doors much harder to kick in.
- Sliding doors and windows
- Add a bar or pin to sliding doors and make sure every window latch works.
- Lighting
- Light entries, the driveway and dark corners. Motion-sensor lights are inexpensive and effective.
- Visibility
- Trim shrubs near doors and windows so no one can work unseen.
- Cameras and alarms
- If you use cameras, point them only at your own property and entry points, secure them with strong passwords and two-factor login, and keep firmware updated.
When to do it
Review locks, lighting and camera accounts twice a year, and again before any trip.
Call a licensed professional for
- Lock replacement on damaged or misaligned doors
- Professionally monitored alarm systems
- Rewiring for exterior lighting
This guide is general information for US homeowners. Codes, climates and houses vary. It is not a substitute for an inspection or advice from a licensed contractor, and in an emergency call 911.