During the winter period, the days are shorter, and temperatures drop which can bring a range of challenges to homeowners. With the season’s increased darkness, harsh weather, and often extended periods away from home during the festive season, it is important to ensure that your property is well-secured. Taking the right steps to protect your home during winter can give you peace of mind and help you avoid potentially costly repairs or thefts. Here are several practical tips to keep your home safe and secure during the colder months.
1. Upgrade Your Locks and Doors
Winter is the perfect time to review the condition of your doors and locks. The cold can weaken older materials, making them easier to breach.
- Inspect locks: Make sure that all locks are functioning properly. Consider upgrading to deadbolts or smart locks, which offer additional security and allow remote monitoring.
- Reinforce doors: Wooden doors can swell and shrink with changes in temperature, creating gaps that may weaken their structure. Installing a steel reinforcement plate on exterior doors can add strength and resistance to forced entry.
- Secure sliding doors: These are often vulnerable to break-ins. Fit a metal rod or dowel in the track to prevent them from being forced open.
2. Install Outdoor Security Lighting
Winter brings longer nights, which can offer cover for would-be intruders. Outdoor security lights, especially motion-activated ones, can help deter burglars by eliminating dark spots around your home.
- Motion sensor lights: Install these at key points such as near entrances, garages, or garden sheds. They activate when they detect movement, startling any potential intruder and alerting you to their presence.
- Smart lighting: With advancements in home security, you can set up lights that are controlled remotely or programmed to mimic regular activity even when you’re not home.
3. Use a Smart Security System
Home security systems have evolved with the rise of smart technology, and winter is an ideal time to make use of them. These systems can monitor your home for break-ins, fires, or water damage, making them an all-in-one solution for winter security.
- CCTV cameras: Install cameras that provide real-time feeds to your phone or device. Ensure they have night vision and can withstand winter weather conditions if they have outdoor cameras. You can also consider indoor smart cameras that don’t require professional installation for ease.
- Smart alarms: These systems alert you when they detect suspicious activity. Many also allow you to arm or disarm the system remotely, ensuring your home is always protected.
- Monitor extreme weather: Many smart systems also detect water leaks or freezing temperatures, helping to prevent burst pipes or flooding, which are common winter issues.
- Professional Monitoring – Some smart systems come with 24/7 professional monitoring so there is always someone looking after your property when you are away and will dispatch police response in the case of a confirmed intrusion.
4. Secure Windows
Windows are often targeted by burglars as they can be easier to break into than doors. During the winter, your windows might also suffer from wear due to the cold, making them less secure.
- Install window locks: Make sure all windows have functional locks. If they don’t, consider installing key-operated ones for extra security.
- Add security film: Apply window security film to strengthen the glass and make it harder to shatter. This not only deters intruders but also helps in preventing drafts and keeping the house insulated.
- Use window sensors: For a high-tech solution, window sensors can be part of your smart home security system, alerting you if any windows are opened unexpectedly through a smart app.
5. Keep Your Property Well-Maintained
A well-maintained home not only looks more occupied but is also less attractive to burglars who are more likely to target neglected properties.
- Trim overgrown hedges: Ensure your hedges and trees are trimmed back to avoid providing hiding spots for intruders.
- Clear pathways: Regularly remove snow and ice from your driveway and pathways. An uncleared driveway can signal to burglars that the home is empty.
- Lock garden tools: Don’t leave ladders or tools lying around outside, as they could be used to gain access to your home.
6. Keep the Home Warm Even When Away
While security is about protecting your home from intruders, it’s also important to safeguard it from winter's harsh elements. Pipes freezing and bursting is a common winter hazard that can cause significant damage.
- Set the heating: If you're going away, leave your heating on low or program your heating to come on to prevent pipes from freezing. A temperature of around 12°C is usually enough to avoid problems.
- Install a smart thermostat: With a smart thermostat, you can adjust your home’s temperature remotely, ensuring it stays warm enough to avoid damage but not too high to waste energy.
- Insulate pipes: Protect vulnerable pipes with foam insulation to reduce the risk of freezing and bursting. Pay particular attention to those in unheated areas like basements or lofts. Don’t forget to turn off any outdoor taps too to reduce the risk of freezing pipes and bursts.
7. Use Timers for Lights and Electronics
Making your home appear occupied is a simple but effective way to deter burglars. Setting lights and electronics on timers can create the illusion that someone is home, even if you’re away.
- Smart plugs: These allow you to turn lights, televisions, or radios on and off from your phone, creating a sense of activity in the house.
- Traditional timers: For a more budget-friendly solution, you can use plug-in timers to switch lights on and off automatically during certain times of the day.
8. Inform Neighbours or Use a House-Sitting Service
If you’re planning to go away for an extended period, let a trusted neighbour or friend know so they can keep an eye on your property.
- Arrange for post collection: Ask them to collect your post or take out the bins to avoid an accumulation, which signals to burglars that the house is empty.
- House sitters: Professional house-sitting services have become increasingly popular for longer trips. Not only will they keep your home occupied, but they can also take care of any issues, such as burst pipes or storm damage, some even sit your pets too!
Conclusion
Securing your home during winter requires a combination of practical steps and smart technology to keep both intruders and the elements at bay. By upgrading your locks, using smart security systems, keeping your property well-maintained, and ensuring your home appears occupied, you can enjoy the colder months without the need to worry. Take time to assess your home’s weak points and implement these tips for a safer, more secure winter season.
