How to Improve Home Security with Smart Doors and Locks
By the LocalXR Team|Published:
Your Home's First Line of Defense
Your front door is the primary entry point to your home, making its security absolutely critical. While a good lock is essential, true security involves a system of components working together—the door itself, the frame, and the hardware. A single weak point can compromise the entire system. Fortunately, upgrading your door's security is one of the fastest and most effective ways to protect your home, especially with the rise of smart technology.
The Overlooked Weak Point: The Strike Plate
The most common way intruders defeat a locked door is not by picking the lock, but with a simple, brute-force kick. The weak point is almost always the flimsy strike plate (the metal piece on the door frame) and the short screws that hold it to the soft pine door jamb.
- The Simple Fix (High-Priority): This is a crucial, inexpensive upgrade. Replace the standard strike plate with a heavy-duty, reinforced one. More importantly, replace the 1/2-inch screws with 3-inch or 3.5-inch screws. These long screws will bite deep into the solid wood stud *behind* the door jamb, making the frame incredibly resistant to being kicked in. This is a job a professional handyman can do in minutes.
Upgrading the Lock Itself: The Deadbolt
Your doorknob lock is for convenience; your deadbolt is for security. If your door only has a knob lock, you need to add a deadbolt immediately.
- Look for ANSI Grade 1: When buying a new deadbolt, look for the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) grade. Grade 1 is the highest-rated residential security, tested to withstand significant force.
- 1-Inch Bolt Throw: Ensure the deadbolt has a 'bolt throw' of at least 1 inch for maximum protection.
The Modern Upgrade: Smart Locks
Smart locks are no longer a gimmick; they are a powerful security and convenience tool. They replace your traditional deadbolt with a version that can be controlled by your phone, a keypad, or your voice.
- Keyless Convenience: No more fumbling for keys or hiding one under the mat (a major security risk). Enter your home with a simple keypad code.
- Remote Access: Let a guest, dog walker, or contractor in from your phone, no matter where you are.
- Activity Logs: Get notifications on your phone when the door is locked or unlocked, and see a log of who entered and when.
- Auto-Locking: Set the door to automatically lock itself after a set period, so you never have to wonder if you forgot to lock up.
Don't Forget the Door and Hinges
Your new high-tech lock is useless if the door itself is weak.
- Solid Core Door: Ensure your entry door is a solid-core (fiberglass, steel, or solid wood), not hollow. A hollow-core door offers almost no security.
- Secure the Hinges: If your door swings outward, the hinge pins may be exposed. Ensure it has security hinges to prevent intruders from simply removing the pins and the door.
- Glass Inserts: If your door has glass near the lock, use reinforced or double-paned glass to prevent an intruder from breaking it to reach in and unlock the door.
Layered Security
True home security is layered. By combining a strong, solid-core door, a reinforced strike plate, a high-quality deadbolt, and the convenience of smart technology, you create a formidable barrier that provides both protection and peace of mind.