Are you interested in improving the security of your garage? Today, most garage doors have automatic locking systems and rolling codes, which may be practical security measures but may not always be sufficient. Burglars have devised several clever ways to open automated garage doors manually. To enhance the garage door’s security, several ways are available from the inside. Below, we provide some inexpensive but low-tech suggestions.
Tools
For the purpose of locking your garage door manually, you will need the following tools:
- Hole punch (2 per hole)
- A flat-head screwdriver
- For drilling self-drilling screws
- An impact drill
- Wire cutter
Resources
- The key padlock
- Comes with a C-clamp
- Attachment and a zip tie
- A latch lock
- For securing the ladder
What to do if you want to lock your garage door manually from inside?
Burglar-proofing your garage door can be done in several ways. Take these simple steps to ensure the safety of your garage.
1. Lock the release lever with a zip tie
An emergency release lever is attached to the garage door opener. If there is a power outage or if the opener malfunctions, you can open the door manually from the inside using this lever. However, thieves can also access your garage using this lever. It would be possible for an intruder to open the garage door by positioning themselves at the top opening of the door, reaching for the lever, and pulling it toward the door. Intruders call this “fishing.”
Despite the security of many automatic doors, it is still possible for a determined burglar to gain entry to your garage and home by fishing. Installing a zip tie on the release lever is a simple solution to this problem. The steps are as follows:
- The garage opener must be disconnected as a safety precaution so the door cannot be opened accidentally.
- This cord swings prominently from the overhead opener trolley (which holds the door open) and is attached to the release lever.
- The release lever is attached to the trolley by a hinge at the bottom. Find the hole at the bottom of the trolley. The hinge will also have a hole.
- The zip tie is inserted by inserting one end of it through the aperture in the hinge, then the other end through the opening on the release lever. This will make a loop around both holes. The zip tie should be tightened and the excess tied trimmed off with a wire cutter.
- By tying the zip tie to the cord, you prevent the opener from engaging when you pull it down.
2. Activate the slide lock
You can lock your door manually from inside with latches or deadbolts for a low price. A locksmith or garage door professional is not required to install these. You can manually lock your garage door by installing a slide lock using these simple steps:
- Gather the required tools. An impact drill and latch are required, as well as a flathead screwdriver, hex screws, and a screwdriver.
- On either side of the garage door, place a small knockout template on the vertical tracks. The template is usually found near the bottom of the door. To slide the latch into the track, remove this template with a hole punch. There are doors that already have a hole where the latch fits in the vertical track.
- Align the latch of the lock with the hole in the track and press against the wall. Pre-drill screws holes into the wall using the pilot holes on the lock.
- Drive two screws into the pre-drilled holes in the wall, one through the top pilot hole on the lock and the other through the bottom pilot hole.
3. Secure the tracks by locking them or by using a c-clamp
Your garage door is most securely locked from the inside with a slide lock attached to the wall. As an alternative, c-clamps or key padlocks can secure the vertical tracks. On each side of the door, examine the vertical tracks to see if holes have been pre-drilled. If holes are not present, drill a few holes, ideally about one inch up from the bottom of the door. You can lock the track by putting a C-clamp or keypad lock through the holes. You will have a hard time prying the door open when this happens.
Make sure you secure all of your home’s doors, including the garage door, to prevent intruders from gaining access to your home. Deadbolts are a simple and inexpensive way to accomplish this. Your garage door can be opened manually by an intruder if you have windows. To avoid them peering into the garage, you need to close the windows. You may want to consider tinted windows or installing blinds.
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Remove the opener from the wall
Using special equipment, burglars can easily capture garage door codes to gain access to your home. Thieves cannot access the opener by fishing with an older rolling code mechanism. Unplugging the opener will make it harder for thieves to access it. In the dark, thieves will be attracted to your garage. Motion sensor lights should be installed in your home to deter people from breaking in.
Automatic garage doors with openers are generally quite secure. It is still possible to boost your home’s security by locking the door from the inside. Make sure your garage is not accessible if you’re going to be away from home for a long period of time.
Is it advisable to lock your garage door?
Your garage door will sustain significant damage if you install a lock and someone tries to open it using the opener thereafter. Of course, installing a lock is a smart option for your home’s safety and security if you do not have an automatic garage door opener.
Can you get someone to open the garage door?
One can simply hack into your system and open your garage door if they possess hacking abilities and a code grabber (which captures the code supplied by an opener). When you aren’t home, the burglar will frequently leave a code grabber hidden next to your garage door.
Apart from this, if you are interested to know more about Garage Door Vents then visit our Home Improvement category.
