A leading provider of home improvements & double glazing in Lincoln
Christmas is just around the corner, but winter doesn’t fill everyone with festive joy. Darker nights, colder weather, and braving minus temperatures in the morning to de-ice the car do little to help us dodge the winter blues.
While most homeowners don’t relish the thought of the clocks going back, for thieves it really is the most wonderful time of the year, with statistics revealing up to 40% more burglaries occur in winter.
Of course, it’s not just burglars you want to keep out either. Our homes require a little extra love and care in winter to protect them from freezing temperatures and keep them cosy inside.
Whether you're visiting loved ones this winter or your Christmas tree is surrounded by valuable presents, it’s vital you theft-proof and winter-proof your home to ensure your loved ones wake up warm and with smiles on Christmas Day.
We’ve curated this list of top home security tips for winter, so you can make it a holiday season to remember for all the right reasons.
The gloomy winter months gives thieves more time to operate under the cover of darkness, so lighting up the exterior of your home is both a worthwhile investment and a significant burglar deterrent. Motion-sensitive outdoor lights that light up when they detect movement near them are available from most DIY shops — installing them outside your house or front door will give your home an additional layer of security by making intruders think twice about discreetly sneaking up and attempting to enter.
Don’t forget about the lights inside your property too. Timers are effective at giving the impression someone is home by automatically turning on lights at certain times to mimic your usual activity patterns.
Windows are one of the main access points to your property, so it’s imperative they’re secure to keep burglars at bay. Old single-glazed windows with thin, unreinforced glass and old-style double glazing windows that use external beading to hold the glass in place are extremely vulnerable to forced breakage. Have a good look at your windows — if the frames look flimsy, a firm kick or shove could give a burglar instant to your home and possessions.
To bolster your security against intruders, upgrade to modern double glazing windows, or better still, triple glazing. Both are extremely strong, with the glass sturdy enough to withstand the impact of a brick or stone. While up-to-date double-glazed windows still feature beading to hold the glass in place, it’s added internally to make it virtually impossible for any burglar at the exterior of your home to remove the glass pane from the window frame.
High-quality and well-installed winter proof doors are not only secure, but also energy-efficient, helping lower your utility bills.
Upgrade to a modern composite door to keep your home warm in winter and cool summer. Their excellent insulation properties are ideal for weather proofing your house for winter, while their multi-layered design means they are made from a mix of strong materials and come with multi-lock point locks which cannot be forced or jemmied. At Lincoln Windows, our doors use the acclaimed Ultion lock, featuring a hidden firing pin which secures the central cam to stop the lock from being prized apart.
Have a look at our composite door designer too, which allows you to choose styles and colours to match your home’s design. With their combination of aesthetic appeal, durability, and strength, composite front doors are an excellent investment that’ll make you feel safe and secure in your home for years to come.
Improving the security of your patio or french doors is another effective way to winter-proof your home. These styles of doors incorporate large panes of glass, but the greater risk isn’t burglars trying to shatter it, rather the level of visibility it offers inside your property.
Don’t leave any valuables in plain sight and shut your curtains (if you have them) across the interior of the door at night when you’re not around. We’d also recommend reinforcing any French doors or patio doors with tension rods to stop them from being forcibly opened.
All our patio and french doors come with robust multi-point locks to keep out any unwanted intruders, creating an impression of extended space and allowing you to benefit from extra light into your home, without any lapses in security.
Keep your plant pots for plants and planting flowers. Concealing your spare keys under plant pots or wheelie bins is an open house invitation for burglars to access your home. Whether you need someone to check on the dog or have accidentally locked yourself out in the past, it’s always good practice to have a spare key for your house in case of emergencies. Leave your spare key(s) with a trusted neighbour, or keep them in a secure combination key safe.
Remember, most insurance companies won’t cover any losses if there’s no sign of forced entry, so don’t compromise your security by storing your spare keys in unsecure locations.
A poorly constructed conservatory is sometimes considered to be the weakest spot when it comes to winter home security. The abundance of glass makes them ideal entrance points — installing new A-rated windows with reinforced double glazing that’s harder to break will minimise the risk of break-ins.
If it’s time for a new conservatory, you should always ensure it’s installed by a licensed professional. Whether you choose an Edwardian, Victorian, or lean-to conservatory, all our conservatories meet benchmark security standards, with security locks installed on your conservatory doors and windows.
Another fragile spot for intruders to exploit could be your fencing. Whether your fences have been flattered by Storm Bert or the timber is rotting away, your perimeter fencing needs to be a solid first line of defence.
Ensure your new, secure fencing is installed as close to the ground as possible to prevent intruders from crawling under it, and at least six feet tall — remember “the higher, the better”. Also, consider securing your fence panels to the concrete posts, as it prevents the panels from being easily lifted out.
You never know who’s lurking on social media. While most of your friends and followers might love seeing pictures and videos of your festivities, you could be alerting burglars to the fact your home is vacant.
Keep your travel plans on the low down until you return. Even if you’re staying at home, posting excessively about the gifts you’ve received can also draw unwanted attention to your property.
Over half of burglaries are carried out by entering through the front of a person’s house (59%), with windows the third most common entry point for burglars. That’s why it’s essential to keep them locked, even if you’re at home. When you’re not at home, shut every window and remove the keys from locked doors to stop your home looking like an easy target.
It’s worth remembering that the majority of crimes are committed by opportunists and are NOT pre-planned, so these simple steps we’ve highlighted could have a major preventative effect.
For more details on our products, more tips on winter-proofing your house, or security advice about your doors or windows, contact us by calling on 01522 500096 or emailing [email protected] to arrange a FREE home visit.
Disclaimer: All images used are for illustration purposes - actual products may differ slightly
