Homeowners today are often worried about the security and safety of their home. If you’re planning on purchasing new windows, looking into the security and safety options for the windows is a great idea. This helps you ensure the windows you choose are going to provide security against intrusions and have safety features designed to help your home be a little safer. Read through these frequently asked questions to answer the question, how secure are vinyl windows, by learning more about the safety and security features of Milgard vinyl windows that are properly installed by a professional.
What Security Measures Should Homeowners Consider?
This entirely depends on what the homeowner might be worried about. Some homeowners are concerned with ensuring a burglar cannot enter their home, whether they’re in the house or out for the day. Others might be concerned about the safety of their children and pets or about the potential for injuries if the glass in the window breaks. Think about your own concerns to see which features might be more important to you or look into adding as many safety and security features as you need to ensure you can answer, how secure are vinyl windows before choosing a window type.
What Preventative Measures Can Stop Burglaries?
Most burglaries often don’t require the burglar to use force to enter the home. In many cases, they simply enter through an unlocked door or window when the homeowner is away or asleep. Preventing these types of burglaries is typically as simple as making sure all windows and doors are closed and locked if you’re not actively using them for ventilation. If you are using the windows for ventilation, it might be a good idea to look into window opening control devices that hold the windows open a certain amount. This lets in some airflow while restricting a burglar’s ability to fully open the window and enter the home.
What Can Protect Against Forced Entry?
Forced entry doesn’t occur as often because it requires making noise or spending time trying to break into the home. Burglars want to get in and out quickly and quietly to avoid detection. That said, forced entry burglaries do still occur. The chance of this can be minimized if you use high-quality locks and hardware on your doors. The more difficult it is to break through your locks, the more time the burglar will spend trying to break in, and the more likely it is someone will notice them. Multi-point locking systems are far more difficult for burglars to break into. However, if a burglar does break into your home while you’re inside, the windows can also be used as an exit so you can escape from the home faster.
How Can Homeowners Protect Children and Pets from Falls?
How secure are Vinyl Windows if you have small children or pets? Opening windows for ventilation might be a concern if you have little ones who are curious about the world. Screens can help stop bugs that might try to get inside the home, but they cannot prevent falls. Instead, when possible, use windows that cannot be easily reached by children or pets and keep furniture away from the windows so they cannot climb to them. If you do need to open a lower window, look into a factory-installed window opening control device (WOCD) that’s designed to limit the window opening to under 4 inches. These devices are specifically designed to help prevent falls to keep your children and pets safe.
Can Windows with a WOCD be Opened for Emergencies?
Windows that have a WOCD can still be opened fully in an emergency so you and your family members can get out of the house. They include a way to manually disengage the control device so the window can be opened all of the way, and the control device resets when the window is closed again. Make sure you understand and know how to use the manual override for the control device on your window so you’re able to use it quickly and easily in case of an emergency.
Are There Options to Add Privacy?
If burglars cannot tell if you’re home, they might think twice about trying to enter your house. Plus, some windows should have added privacy to ensure no one can see inside your home, such as in your bathroom. For your privacy, consider windows with obscured glass or tinted glass. Obscured glass uses colors and textured patters to create a translucent to semi-opaque effect, while still letting in as much light as possible.
Tinted windows are often chosen because they provide additional protection from direct sunlight and help stop harmful UV rays from entering the home. However, some tints will also provide added privacy by reducing what can be seen from the outside. Check out the different types of tints to see which one is the best option for adding privacy to your home.
How Does Laminated Glass Help?
Laminated glass consists of two or more panes of glass with a plastic inner layer. They’re designed to help reduce noise and eliminate UV rays. However, they’re also an excellent safety feature for your windows. If the glass is broken, it tends to stick to the plastic middle layer. This means the glass won’t shatter and fall all over the floor, possibly causing injuries to anyone nearby when it happens or whoever needs to clean up the glass.
How Does Tempered Glass Help?
Tempered glass, like laminated glass, has safety features that can protect you if the glass is ever broken. This kind of glass has added strength to help prevent damage, but if damage does occur, the pieces of glass will not be harmful. If the window’s glass is broken, it will break into small pieces that do not have sharp edges. This means it’s easier to clean and won’t be likely to injure the person who is cleaning up the broken glass.
If you’re looking for windows that are safer and have added security features, check out the Milgard vinyl window options today. High-quality materials, expert installation, and fantastic upgrades can help you find the security and safety you’re looking for in new windows for your home. Hopefully this guide helped you answer the question, how secure are vinyl windows. If you want to learn more feel free to contact us to setup a free in-home estimate*.
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