Tips for Securing Your Garage Door Before a Vacation

Everyone looks forward to vacation time, but many worry about keeping their garage safe when they are away. Garage doors can become vulnerable when you are far away on vacation. In addition, some older models can be manipulated, giving intruders free access to your home and belongings. However, there are several things you can do to ensure garage door safety before leaving for your holiday. We have highlighted some to help you rest easy, knowing that your home is safe.

Tips for Securing Your Garage Door Before a Vacation

Ask neighbors for help

The first thing many garage door experts recommend before going on vacation is asking the neighbors for help. Neighbors can be your eyes in the neighborhood even though you are a thousand miles away. A good neighbor can help you water your plants, pick up your mail, and park in your driveway. That creates an illusion that you are home. That alone can prevent burglars from paying you a visit in your absence. So start by making friends with your neighbors and offer to help them out when they travel. 

Secure your garage door remote

The remote control of a garage door offers easy entry into your property. That is why keeping the remote control in your car during vacation is unsafe. If a burglar finds the remote and takes it, then breaking into your home will be a breeze. Check if your remote has rolling code technology. This technology forces the user to reset a remote’s security code every time it is used. It will reduce the chances of a criminal using it successfully.

Activate your garage door opener vacation lock

Another thing to look at is the garage opener wall console. More recent models of opener systems feature a vacation lock function on the consoles. The feature is relatively easy to activate. It blocks out handheld radio controls and others programmed to open garage doors with radio signals. The instructions are self-explanatory, and some electronic devices must be pushed and held until the signal lights are visible. Some others look like simple light switches with off and on positions. After activating the vacation lock, you can use the remote control to close the door again. The remote control cannot open the door until the vacation lock is reset out of that position. 

Upgrade to a smart garage door opener 

Nowadays, smart garage door systems have been designed to offer more. They now allow users to monitor a garage door from any part of the world with their smartphones. In addition, the security apps let you lock garage doors while on vacation, offering you peace of mind. They are also compatible with many garage doors. However, newer models may offer better smartphone compatibility. 

You will understand how it works if you have a unit like this one. You can use it to monitor your garage door’s position (open or closed) from anywhere in the world. It can come in handy if you have to let a contractor or delivery service into the garage. All you will need to do is unlock it remotely, and they can gain access. After they leave, you can check if you have locked it properly. This impressive feature can work better with an internet-enabled security camera. It will give you peace when you are far away from home.

Secure your garage door keypad

A garage door keypad is often easily accessible. If this is the case for you, you should turn it off to secure it against intruders. If the keypad does not work, intruders will not waste time trying to enter it. It stands as the first line of defense against them. An excellent way to secure the keypad is to turn off its circuit breaker. In some garage doors, you can find vacation settings on the keypads. You can use this as well, and you can also choose to remove the device’s batteries.

Hide the emergency release

The emergency release cord makes it possible to open a garage door manually if all other methods fail. While it helps you during emergencies, it could be a weak link that exposes your garage to intruders. All-electric garage doors are built with an emergency release cord to allow you to open the door in case there is a power outage. However, intruders can run a wire into the garage from the top to trigger the release. You can prevent this by adding a padlock or placing a zip tie through it. It may help prevent unauthorized entry. But remember to remove the devices because they could affect your entry and exit from the garage.

Lock the garage door tracks

Another way to lock your garage door before traveling is to install a deadlock to lock the track. Some garage doors have a lockable latch. You need to lock it in this case, and you are good to go. In the absence of a lockable latch, you can drill a hole along the track and add a padlock. A can install a garage door deadlock as well. It is very affordable. It involves a lever that slides over the garage door track. It prevents the door from being raised when the lock is added. This one does not require any keys because it works like a sliding bolt that many other doors use.

Other homeowners may choose to lock the door itself before going on vacation. It may seem like a good idea to unplug the opener, but it is better to lock the door. A burglar can still fish for the emergency release cord if the opener is unplugged. Also, people with attached garages are at risk. Burglars can open the garage door from inside if they enter through the house. They can also easily park a van to cart away items in your home. Locking the door will make the burglar’s job harder, which is better since you are away.

Garage Door Service Near Me

Keeping your garage door secured is our business. Titan Garage Doors NE is a leading garage door installation and repair service provider in the Omaha region. We offer a wide range of products and services to meet your needs, and our experienced team is here to help you every step of the way. Contact us today to learn more about our products and garage door services or to schedule a free consultation.