How to Secure a Window With an Air Conditioner Installed By Using a Security Bar

Gearing Up For A Secure Summer

After reading this guide, you will be aware of a variety of options for adding security to a window with an air conditioner in it, and be able to choose the best options for your specific needs.

Know what you’re looking for, and keen to jump the line? Check out our Sliding Door Security Bars and Window Security Bars below.

Patio Door Security Bar

Medium Window Security Bar

Small Window Security Bar

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With summer arriving, you’re probably gearing up for the hot weather, and this means installing your AC window units and portable AC units. While these things are great for keeping you physically comfortable, we know they can sometimes leave you feeling emotionally uncomfortable.

Why?

Because according to Safe At Last, burglars commonly choose houses with window air conditioning units.

Window air conditoning units provide one of the easiest entry points to a home

With that air conditioner sticking out of your window, there’s nothing keeping the window locked! Not a big deal on the third floor of an apartment building, but what about those of us who live on the ground floor? Or even on the second floor with an easily accessible balcony? Suddenly the built-in locks on our windows are useless, and anybody walking by can just slide them open and walk right in.

The good news is you don’t have to compromise safety for comfort. There are some great options for adding extra security to a window with an air conditioner in it.

When doing market research for our new window security bars, we developed a lot knowledge about the best ways to secure a window with an air conditioner installed, whether it be a vertical window air conditioner or an air conditioner in a sliding window. If you’re struggling with the same questions, we’ve got some answers for you below.

Note: Yes, we make a window security bar. And yes, we think it’s the best option on this list. But we try to offer impartial advice. None of these are affiliate links, and we don’t make any money from this content

Quick Run-Down of the Options

1. Any ol’ piece of wood
2. Sliding window locks
3. Ideal Security’s Adjustable Window Bars
4. Window alarms

Tried and True: Any Ol’ Piece of Wood

We’ve all seen it, and that’s because it works. Just grab an old hockey stick, broken broom, or whatever else you’ve got lying around. Cut it down to fit your window and lay it in the track if your window slides horizontally or jam it into place in a vertical hung window. Remember, if you’re measuring for a vertical window, you’re going to want a nice tight fit to keep it from falling over.

Just watch out. If you get the measurements wrong and it’s too short, it may not be secure at all. Remember, measure twice, cut once.

Pros

• Cheap
• Nothing to buy (if you already have equipment and materials lying around)

Cons

• Ugly
• Requires tools and comfort using them
• Time and energy
• Room for error

Sliding Window Locks

These things are pretty cool. They’re little locks that you fix onto the sliding track of the window to block it from opening.

They’re super easy to install, usually don’t require any tools, and are pretty affordable. There are also so many different styles, designs, and vendors, which could make it difficult to identify one that will work on your window or find reliable quality. They work by holding onto the track with pressure, so quality here is going to be super important. We didn’t test any, and have no idea how we’d choose.

Also – and this is a big problem for anyone worried about safety – they’re basically impossibleto remove in an emergency. There are egress regulations about this sort of thing, and it was a huge consideration for us when we were designing our own security bars. If you’ve got kids or a disabled family member, or you’re just thinking ahead to a situation where you might need to quickly get out of your house, these locks may be problematic.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Effective (depending on quality)
• Easy to install

Cons

• Difficult to remove in an emergency
• Too many potential vendors and styles

Wedge Locks for Sliding Windows

These function similarly to the sliding window locks we discussed above, but with some notable differences. Instead of being screwed onto the track, you just jamb these into place against the profile (easier to understand from the picture than to explain).

That makes them easy to remove for emergency exit, but sacrifices both security and convenience. All a potential burglar has to do is jiggle the window enough to reduce the pressure, and the top-heavy wedge might fall out of place. And every time you adjust the window, you need to reseat the wedge to ensure it’s still solidly in place.

Pros

• No installation necessary
• Removable for emergency exit

Cons

• Rely on pressure for security
• Could fall out of place
• Don’t remain in position when the window is adjusted

Ideal Security’s Adjustable Window Security Bars

We’ve made our 110 Security Bar for Sliding Patio Doors for years, and it’s one of our best-selling products. People love that it’s easy to adjust so you can size it for your door with no cutting and it lets you lock your door in an open position to let air in but keep intruders out. They also love the pivoting bracket to lift it out of the way when you want to open your door completely.

Last year, Diane (one of our team members who handles customer support in addition to her roles as ERP Champion and Product Coordinator) noticed a new trend: Customers had started asking about shorter bars to accommodate windows and pet door inserts.

Well, we listen to our customers, especially when they’re telling us what they need. A few years ago we added a unique child- and burglar-proof Anti-Lift Lock to our 110 bar, which was a big success.

So after a ton of market research and some design tweaks from our engineer Dex, we introduced the 111 and 112 bars. These are shorter versions of the 110, designed specifically for sliding windows and narrower sliding doors.

Features from the 110 Bar

• They adjust super easily by just pressing on the release button, letting you open and close a window at will.
• They auto-lock when you let go of the button, letting you lock a window in any position – closed, slightly open for ventilation, or with an air conditioner installed!
• They include the anti-lift lock.

Differences – Features Designed Specifically for Windows and Narrower Doors

We changed two things about the 110 bar:

1. Instead of the the pivot bracket, they have saddle brackets at both ends. Why? This makes them compliant with egress regulations. The bar can be removed quickly and easily in an emergency, allowing the window to open to its full size.
2. Includes super-strong adhesive tape in addition to screws for installation. Why? This makes them compatible with a wider range of tracks and profiles (see below). They’re also even easier for you to install, and you can remove them without leaving holes behind.

One thing to note, though: Due to the many different styles of window tracks and profiles out there, there are some that aren’t compatible with our saddle brackets. Most notably aluminum windows with multi-grooved tracks.

Pros

• Easy to install
• Adjustable to fit any size window
• Easy to remove in an emergency (complies with egress regulations)
• Useful even when the air conditioner is gone

Cons

• May not work on all windows. Depends on profile and track type.
• Doesn’t feature the same pivot hinge as the bigger security bar for sliding doors

Window Alarms

Even a locked window can be broken… After all, it’s just a glass pane. And once broken, any bars or locks you have in place can be unlocked, giving a potential burglar free access.

Locks and security bars work because most burglars commit crimes of convenience. They find an open window (or a window that can be opened easily), climb in quietly, take what they can quickly, and get out.

An easy and cost-effective way to level up your family’s safety is to add an inexpensive window alarm. Here’s a few stats for you:

• About 60% of convicted burglars said that a security system influenced their decision to target another home (source).
• A whopping 74% of all unsuccessful burglary attempts failed because of an alarm that emits a loud sound (source).

You can easily add a basic, no-frills alarm to any window or door. For example our SK604 and SK605 contact sensors are great, low-cost units that are super easy to install and emit a loud alarm if your window is opened unexpectedly.

Pros

• 74% of all unsuccessful burglary attempts failed because of an alarm
• Easy to install
• Adds a second layer of security

Cons

• Doesn’t prevent intrusions, but will scare off a burglar

Conclusion

Just because you’re installing an air conditioner for the summer doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your home security or your family’s safety. Be a hero! Use one or more of these add-on security products, and sleep comfortably in a cool and secure home.

What Are Garage Door Rollers?

After years of use, your garage door may begin to click, rattle, and shake loudly each time you open and close it. Luckily, your solution comes in the form of a quick and convenient fix that doesn’t require replacing your garage door. The key component to eliminating a noisy garage door and making each open and close smoothly and silently comes in the form of a high-quality garage door roller. 

Garage Door Rollers: The Silent Solution to Noisy Garage Doors

Located near the hinges of your garage door and placed along steel tracks, rollers help bear the weight of your garage door and work to seamlessly open and close your garage door. As implied in the name, they roll along the track and provide stable, secure locomotion to your garage door.  

Like most hardware that is under near-constant strain, rollers will degrade over time and will be in need of replacement. Rollers can fail in multiple ways – particularly brittle and weak rollers, for example, could altogether snap at the stem. However, with a high-quality roller, the most common form of failure is simply the natural wearing down of the wheel (generally made from steel or nylon) as a result of running along a hard, steel track. This is primarily what results in the aforementioned clicking, rattling, and shaking of your garage door.  

Are Garage Door Rollers Universal?

While all garage door rollers achieve the same function, they can vastly differ in quality and capability. The three main variables that affect the quality and durability of garage door rollers are: 

• An inner steel wheel (or lack thereof) 
• Number of ball bearings 
• Material of the outer wheel 
• Thickness of the outer wheel 

These factors affect the weight each roller can support, as well as the lifespan of your rollers.  

Take the number of ball bearings, for instance. Each ball bearing not only supports the rolling motion of the roller, but also helps distribute the weight of the garage door across the entirety of the roller rather than on a single, fixed point.  

Initially, the majority of residential garage door rollers came with 7 ball bearings, while Ideal Security has always offered rollers with 10 high-quality ball bearings. Eventually, the industry standard caught up, with garage door rollers now falling between ranges of 7 to 13 ball bearings.  

When selecting garage door rollers, keep these factors in mind in order to make an informed decision and pick the right rollers for your garage door.  

As a result of these variables, you can find three common types of rollers – Nylon Rollers, Steel Rollers, and Premium Nylon Rollers. Read on to learn more about the specifics of each type of roller! 

Nylon Rollers 

These rollers are made entirely of nylon (apart from the steel stem) and contain neither ball bearings nor an inner steel wheel. While this makes them the most inexpensive and easily accessible option, nylon rollers are also the most susceptible to wear-and-tear damage and feature a reduced lifespan.   

Ideal Security offers 2-Packs of 2” Nylon Garage Rollers. Note that 2” rollers will fit most residential garage door tracks. 

Steel Rollers 

Reliable, durable, and featuring a longer lifespan, steel rollers contain an inner steel wheel, an outer steel wheel, and steel ball bearings. As mentioned, the ball bearings help distribute garage door weight and increase the lifespan of the roller, and the inner steel wheel achieves a similar function and results in a smoother roll. Steel rollers last significantly longer than nylon rollers. However, because the steel wheel runs directly along a steel track, they are prone to make more noise than nylon and premium nylon garage door rollers. 

Made with commercial grade steel and featuring 10 steel ball bearings, our Steel Garage Door Rollers come in 2”, which will fit most residential garage door tracks, or 3” for garage doors that have 3″ tracks. Ideal Security offers 2” garage door rollers in 2-Packs or 10-Packs, and 3” rollers in 10-Packs.  

Premium Nylon Rollers 

Featuring the best of both worlds, our premium nylon rollers have both the smooth, sleek nylon coating of our regular nylon rollers, the load-bearing inner and outer steel wheels, and steel ball bearings of our heftier steel rollers. While our premium nylon rollers have a slightly lesser lifespan compared to our steel rollers, they offer silent operation of your garage door all throughout.  

Containing the same commercial grade steel as our steel rollers and a premium white nylon jacket on the outer wheel, Ideal Security’s Premium 2” Nylon rollers for garage doors come in 2-Packs and 10-Packs. 

How Long Do Garage Door Rollers Last?

Regardless of their make, all Ideal Security steel rollers are manufactured to run for 10,000 to 15,000 cycles, and have a 75lb duty rating. This traces back to our roots with garage door hardware, having always supplied commercial grade springs, rollers, hinges, and more to our residential customers.  

If you’re in need of a greater tier of rollers due to a heavier garage door, your safest option consists of rollers with 13 ball bearings. With the addition of three ball bearings, such rollers can support an additional row of garage door paneling generally reserved for 8’ tall garage doors. With these additional bearings and heavier steel gauge construction comes an increased roller lifespan of up to 20,000 cycles and improved load bearing capabilities. However, Ideal Security currently does not offer such rollers.

When Should I Replace My Garage Door Rollers?

There are multiple signs to look out for to determine if a garage door roller needs replacing or is on the verge of breaking. When your roller begins to audibly click and make noise, that usually indicates that the wheel and ball bearings are beginning to wear down and form dents – an issue that will only worsen with time.  

You can also keep an eye out for visible signs of wear and tear on your rollers. If your garage door roller looks like it’s at an angle, that could be an indicator of the stem weakening beneath the weight of the garage door. Signs of rust also indicate a weak and brittle stem that may snap over time. Be sure to inspect your garage door to ensure that it is aligned and that it has remained on the steel tracks, as signs of roller breakage can be subtle. 

If you find yourself replacing another key component of your garage door, such as your springs, that would also be an ideal opportunity to replace your garage door rollers. These components work in tandem to provide both smooth and safe operating conditions for your garage door, and a weak link can not only impact your garage door, but also the lifespan and durability of the other components.  

Where Can I Buy Garage Door Rollers?

Ideal Security’s garage door rollers are available on our website. We offer Nylon rollers, Steel rollers, and Premium Nylon rollers, all which suit standard 7’ tall residential garage doors. Our rollers, as well as other Ideal Security products, are also available on Amazon. We also offer high-quality garage door hardware such as hinges, brackets, springs, and more. Be sure to check out our full catalog to find the perfect hardware to revamp your garage door.