Home Secuirty Archives

You can improve your home security in multiple ways, including a small and inexpensive piece of equipment – sash jammers! But what are sash jammers and are sash jammers any good? Will they make my home more secure? What are the best sash jammers? Read on to find out!

What is a Sash Jammer?

Sash jammers are small devices that can improve the security of your uPVC windows and doors. They attach near the window or door frame and pivot over the door or window securing it into place, offering another level of security that can help prevent forced entry.

Are Sash Jammers Any Good?

Sash jammers are effective in improving your home security as they add an extra boundary through which a burglar must force through when trying to break into a home. This will add time to the burglar’s efforts and will give you more time to call the police and get to a safe place if you’re home.

If you’re not home some burglars may even give up trying to break in as they aim to be in and out of your home in as little time as possible to avoid getting caught! They fit most types of uPVC windows and doors and are widely available at a cheap price.

Why Do We Recommend Sash Jammers?

There are several reasons we would use sash jammers, whether for extra window security or door security or as a temporary measure to secure a property until the correct parts can be ordered and fitted.

Pros

They work on inward and outward opening doors
They’re cheap and easy to supply and fit
There are various versions such as locking or non-locking
They also come in several different finishes, usually black, brown, or white

Cons

Can only be used from the inside of a home
Security could be at risk if enough aren’t fitted for the size of the window or door needed.
Damage to the door may occur if the sash jammers aren’t fitted correctly
Some use sash jammers as a substitute for a suitable locking device on the window or door, but this should not be the only means of security and a main more complex lock is still required.

How Can I Make My uPVC Windows or Doors More Secure?

You can make your uPVC windows more secure by getting an approved Locksmith to fit a sash jammer. Another way you can improve your window security is to upgrade the locks to anti-snap locks which prevent the burglar from being able to pick the lock or damage it and can force the window open.

What Are The Best Sash Jammers for uPVC Doors and Windows?

Sash jammers are available cheaply and ‘does what it says on the tin’. If you’re looking to buy the best of the best then look at the sash jammers that bolt through the frame and are lockable from the outside, of course, these will be more expensive than your regular sash jammer.

Any brand of sash jammer, whether Screwfix sash jammers, B&Q sash jammers, or Wickes sash jammers will all be of the same quality.

Can I Install Sash Jammer Myself?

Yes, it is relatively easy to fit a sash jammer yourself. However, if you are upgrading your doors and windows due to security concerns, perhaps you have recently been burgled then we recommend you call a professional Locksmith. Not only can our NGCL Locksmiths fit your sash jammer correctly they can also give you advice on your home security and fit more secure locks if need be.

How Many Sash Jammers Do I Need?

Depending on your door or window type and size you will typically need between 1 and 4 sash jammers.

How Many Sash Jammers Per Window?

1 x Sash jammer for a small window

How Many Sash Jammers For Doors?

2 x Sash jammer for a single door. One at the top and one at the bottom of the door.

4 x Sash jammer for patio or French doors. Two at the top and two at the bottom of each side of the door.

What Are Sash Jammer Packers?

There are two kinds of sash jammer packers. The first kind is long and rectangular usually the size of the base of the sash jammer. These sash Jammer packers are secured on the back of the sash jammer in between it and the door/window to provide a secure fit for the jammer and to ensure it can pass over the uPVC frame without issue to lock correctly.

The other kind of sash jammer packers are much smaller and go on the swinging end of the sash jammer. This allows the sash jammer to be swung over the frame without causing it to be scratched.

Sash jammer packers aren’t always needed; it depends on the depth of the window or door against the frame’s depth and the size of the gap between the sash jammer and the frame.

How Much Are Sash Jammers?

Sash jammers are a great budget option for upgrading your home security as buying the sash jammer yourself will be around £10.

Sash Jammers Should Only Be Used As Extras!

Please remember that sash jammers are to be used in conjunction with your secure, British Standard approved locks. Using a sash jammer without additional locks will not only leave your home vulnerable to break-ins it will also invalidate your home insurance.

As a Locksmith company, we mainly used sash jammers to secure a door or window when the engineer doesn’t have the lock or part to hand in their van. This temporarily secures the property until the correct part is ordered and fitted.

Need An NGCL Locksmith?

If you need a trusted local Locksmith to upgrade your home security then give us a call on 0808 164 2928 or visit our website to find a reputable Locksmith near you!

Our local Locksmith will be able to easily fit a sash jammer for extra security or as an interim to secure your property if you are waiting for another part. If you need a Locksmith, whether to add any additional home security or in an emergency such as if you were locked out of house, or if you’ve just moved in and want to change your locks for security reasons, then get in touch today. Our Locksmiths offer a wide range of services, so contact us today at 0808 164 2928 to book a Locksmith to help with your home security!

Whenever you think about improving the security of your home, the cost comes to mind. Your home is the biggest thing you will ever buy, so it’s natural to want to protect it. It’s up to you what type and how many locks you purchase for your house, there is a wide variety to choose from, so it can be confusing trying to work out what’s best for you and your home.

This means many home owners will take to Google to ask how much new locks should cost. Does a cheap lock mean sub-par security? But on the other hand does an expensive lock really mean you are getting a better quality lock? Here at the NGCL we want to help you answer those questions, as well as looking at what effects the price of a lock.

What Influences the Cost of Door Locks?

The Type of Door Lock

There are several types of door locks, the most common are:

Mortice Lock
Euro Lock
Rim Lock
Padlock
Yale Type Lock (Night latch)

Not all door locks are the same and when it comes to researching the cost of a new lock, you need to take in to consideration what type of lock is being purchased. Whether you need an external door lock, internal door lock or smart lock, prices can vary. Once you know if you are looking for an external or internal lock, there are more categories to think about; do you need a British Standard, Anti-snap, Mortice, or Euro Cylinder? Mortice locks are traditionally used on wooden doors, whereas Euro Cylinders are used on uPVC. So what your door is made of will make your choice for you.

Door Lock Standards

The standard of a door lock is a measure of the quality and security of the lock. The various lock standards are used to test the strength and reliability of the door lock. To be given a certain standard, a lock must be able to pass various tests that prove their strength and longevity. British Standard sets a benchmark for quality goods and services.

TS007

This standard is aimed at protecting cylinder locks against all known methods of forced entry. Any cylinders or hardware solutions that meet the requirements are marked in correlation with the star rating scheme.

BS 3621 and BS 8621

This series was set to provide a national performance standard for single point locks that ensure a minimum specification deemed to provide suitable protection for external doors.

This is regulated by the BSI (British Standards). The BSI has a Royal Charter that grants them the authority to prepare, revise, alter and amend the standards as experience and circumstances require. A lock with British Standard kite mark is guaranteed to meet the minimum performance for locks and cylinders on internal or external doors set by the police service. A door lock with a British Standard kite mark will cost more than an untested lock, but you will be paying for the peace of mind that this lock will secure your home.

There is a trend of higher standard locks having a higher price tag. This is because the higher the standard the longer the lock will last and keep you more secure than lower standard locks. In this instance, choosing to spend less on your home security may be detrimental in the long run, as the cost of a break-in will be significantly higher than the cost of a high standard lock.

Installation of your Lock

Unfortunately, just buying a replacement door lock isn’t enough. You will need to install it as well. You might be tempted to install the lock yourself to save money. However, unless you are a professional Locksmith we would advise against it.

Modern uPVC doors are very complicated and contain a lot of mechanisms, so you may struggle to install the lock correctly which will leave your security weakened and more susceptible to an attack. Even if you have the DIY skills to fit the locks yourself, by doing so you may be breaching the terms of your home insurance. This would mean that if you did suffer a break in, and you fitted the locks yourself, your insurance company might not pay out.

The cost of a Locksmith will depend on a few factors; how many locks you need changing, what type of door you have and what equipment is needed. Most Locksmiths will be able to install one new lock within an hour, however if you have just moved and need multiple locks replacing it could be longer and therefore cost more. The price of a Locksmith may also be affected if you call them out for an emergency as rapid response and unsociable hours mean a Locksmith may charge more. You can’t help your lock breaking but if it is a planned job then you may try to keep it in work hours on a weekday to keep the price down. You can find more about the cost of a Locksmith on our Locksmith Prices Page.

Brand of Lock

As with almost every product on the market, you will find it is available in several brands. You may have heard of some of the big lock brands; Yale, Abloy, Mul-T-Lock etc. Big brands do come with certain benefits; guarantees, customer service and a long history of manufacturing locks, amongst other things, but they do come with a bigger price tag.

There are some lock brands that are endorsed by Locksmiths and experts that offer a high amount of security whereas there are big lock brands that homeowners are warned against as the security of the product isn’t relative to the price. Branding can be a very confusing as popularity and brand can often be confused with quality when this isn’t always the case.

Companies like Yale have been around for 100’s of years and most Locksmiths train by using the most common brands. If you buy a lock that is unbranded or an obscure brand, there is a risk that a Locksmith may not be able to fit it.

To learn more about different types of Locks read our Guide to Locks.

Category: Home Secuirty

Everything You Need To Know About Sash Jammers