What About Electronic Garage Doors?
The lock types described above are ideal for manual garage doors that are not attached to motors. It should be noted that it can actually be damaging to use either a slide lock or a t-handle lock on a garage door that has an electronic motor. If you were to have the manual lock set in place and then turned activated the garage door, this could easily burn out the motor or break it entirely.
However, there may be some instances where you may want to add a manual lock to your motorized garage door. For example, if you are leaving home for an extended period of time or frequently travel away from your home, adding a manual lock can be helpful. That way, you have an extra layer of security on your garage door while you are away. Plus, you will not have to worry about accidentally activating the garage door while the lock is in place since you will be away from home. Just remember to unlatch or unlock and manual locks before opening your garage when you return.
How Else Can I Protect My Garage?
In addition to a lock installation or two, there are a few other things you should consider trying in order to enhance the security of surrounding your garage.
Plenty of Light
Adequate lighting is important, especially if there are areas around your home that are particularly dark. Darker areas can make good hiding spots for criminals that may lay and wait for the perfect moment to break-in to your home or garage. Eliminate any chances for intruders to hide in the dark by installing motion-sensing lights. These lights do not stay on 24/7 but will light up brightly whenever a motion of any kind is detected.
Secure Any Entryways
Do not neglect to secure any doors that lead to and from your garage. If you have an attached garage, this is especially important since the door leads straight into your home. You will need to have deadbolt locks on any doors on your garage in order to prevent intruders from breaking in. A knob lock or other smaller lock will not be enough to withstand force of any kind if a criminal is determined to break-in to a home after initially breaking into an attached garage.
Cover and Secure Windows
If you have any windows in your garage, it is important to make sure they lock securely and are covered. If a criminal can peek into your garage and see what is inside, you may be more likely to experience a break-in. With curtains or window coverings, prying eyes cannot know for sure what is inside. Adding window locks is also a good idea, just in case someone is extra determined to make their way into your garage.
