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One of the most effective and popular sliding door locks is called a "jimmy plate." Many homes have sliding patio doors, especially for apartments and townhouses. These doors are popular and effective because they are able to open up the home for more fresh air, access to the pool or back yard and for easier access for residents and guests. Unfortunately, they do lack security since they do not use the same types of double locking entries with deadbolts that secure doors have.

Every home requires adequate locks to discourage unauthorized entry. The simple, single lock that equips many sliding doors is rather flimsy and easily overcome. The mechanisms become more unreliable with time as the parts age. Fortunately, there are lots of devices available that are easy to apply to these doors and add considerably more security. You simply screw this device into the upper channel of the door. When the device is in place, an intruder cannot "jimmy" open the door by lifting it up off its track, which then could circumvent the lock.

A door can sometimes be lifted up completely, and can also be removed if there is too much play available at the top and bottom. You can accomplish the same security using materials you may already have at home. However, the ones you can buy from any store carrying hardware and home supplies will sell genuine jimmy plates that will do the job best.

Another popular and amazing choice for creating additional home security is the safety bar. This device is attached to the door's glass. The positioning of this device prevents anyone from sliding it open from the outside. These sliding door locks are easier to install and very low-cost ways to add security. The proper location is at the bottom area of the door's glass. Some add a second one for the door's mid-point just to be even safer. It is strongly recommended that you go outside to make sure the sliding glass door locks like you expected.

To decide what type of lock you need, first consider the placement of your door, its size and what is on the other side. A door that opens up to a balcony 10 stories up has very different requirements from one that opens up to a pool area that belongs to the whole apartment complex. Fortunately, there are plenty of different kinds of locks on the market made for each situation. For such an important item, you want to pick quality merchandise that will do the best job.

Large numbers of manufacturers offer their own brand of lock just for sliding doors, and each puts their own spin on the style and the way it works. Whichever one you choose, they will give you more peace of mind in a sometimes dangerous world.

Prevention is the best way to keep your family and home safe. Potential intruders want easy targets. If they see that getting through your door is going to require time and possibly noisy effort, they will move along. The proper sliding door locks can provide that extra measure of safety that you want for your most precious possession - your family.