Before the clocks go back: 7 window and door security checks for your home
Advice & Guidance
Overview
With the UK clocks going back on Sunday 25 October 2026 and October marking National Home Security Month, now is a useful time to check your windows and doors.
This guide covers practical security checks, what to ask when choosing replacements, and how SEH BAC’s Kubu sensors and Wi-Fi-connected smart alarm can add reassurance.
Whether you need a simple adjustment or are considering an upgrade, improving your home’s security could be more affordable than you think
The key points of article:
- Check your locks: Make sure external doors and accessible windows close and lock correctly.
- Include every entrance: Give back doors, French doors, sliding patio doors and bifolds the same attention as your front door.
- Look for wear or damage: Inspect frames, hinges, handles and glazing.
- Review everyday habits: Keep keys and valuables away from openings, check lighting and secure outdoor access.
- Compare complete security specifications: Ask about locking systems, glazing, testing and accreditation when choosing replacements.
- Consider smart monitoring: Explore Kubu sensors and SEHBAC’s Wi-Fi-connected smart alarm for status checks and alerts.
- Keep emergency escape routes usable: Security measures must allow everyone to leave quickly in a fire.
A front door that needs a firm shove to close. A window handle that has become loose. Patio doors that no longer slide smoothly. Small problems are easy to put off, but autumn is a useful time to check whether your windows and doors are working as they should.
With the clocks going back on 25 October, this checklist will help you spot issues, improve your everyday locking routine and understand what to look for if an upgrade is needed.
You may only need an adjustment or repair. Where the door, window or frame is damaged or no longer secure, replacement may be worth considering.
1. Check that your front door locks fully
Close your front door and operate the lock as instructed by its manufacturer or installer. Does the door sit squarely in its frame? Does the handle feel secure? Can you operate the lock without forcing the key or pulling the door into position?
A closed door is not necessarily a fully locked door. Some multi-point systems need the handle to be lifted and the key turned; automatic systems operate differently. Make sure everyone in the household understands your particular mechanism.
If it has become difficult to lock, arrange an inspection rather than forcing it. Misalignment, worn components or damage may need professional attention.
SEHBAC offers Balmoral composite front doors, Meridian composite doors and Suffolk uPVC front doors, with multi-point locking across these ranges.
Selected doors also offer automatic “slam-shut” locking, which engages the locking points as the door closes, without needing to lift the handle. Our team will explain the options available and how to fully secure your chosen door.
2. Give your back and garden doors the same attention
Include every external entrance in your check, even if it is rarely used. A smart new front door does not address a rear door with a faulty lock.
For French doors, check that both leaves close correctly and that any fitted bolts and locks engage. For sliding patio doors, check the handle, lock and smooth movement along the track. For bifolds, follow the correct closing sequence and engage all the locking points required by your system.
Remove loose debris from tracks using the care instructions supplied with your doors. Have damaged hardware or stiff mechanisms assessed rather than attempting to alter the locking system yourself.
SEHBAC’s French doors include shoot bolts and key locks; our sliding patio doors feature multi-point locking; and our bifold doors include locking features such as drop bolts. Ask which specification applies to your chosen design.
3. Check accessible windows, including those upstairs
Work around the house and check that windows close properly and that their handles and locks operate as intended. Pay particular attention to ground-floor windows and upstairs windows that can be reached from a flat roof or other nearby structure.
Look for loose handles, damaged frames, cracked glazing or a sash that no longer closes evenly. A window that appears closed may still need its locking mechanism engaged.
When leaving the house, close and secure accessible windows. Do not assume that a ventilation position or restrictor provides the same protection as a fully closed and locked window.
Secured by Design’s window security advice highlights accessible windows, correct use of locks and the importance of maintaining a means of escape. Your security routine must allow everyone to get out quickly in a fire.
For added reassurance, Kubu sensors on eligible SEHBAC windows let you check their status through an app, helping you spot a window that needs attention before leaving home or going to bed. They can also form part of our Smart Security system, connecting through a Wi-Fi Hub to the SEHBAC Smart Alarm for alerts and perimeter protection. You still need to close and lock each window correctly.
4. Inspect frames, hinges and glazing
Security depends on the whole assembly: the door or window, its frame, glazing, hinges, hardware and installation.
Check for visible damage, loose fittings, deteriorating timber or movement around the frame. If you notice a problem, have it assessed by a suitable professional. Depending on the condition, an adjustment or replacement component may be sufficient.
How can laminated glass improve security?
Laminated glass contains layers of glass bonded together with a strong interlayer. If the glass breaks, this layer helps hold the fragments together, maintaining a barrier and making it harder to create an opening.
Toughened glass is stronger than ordinary glass, but breaks into small pieces when shattered. Laminated glass’s ability to remain held together after breaking can provide additional resistance to someone attempting to gain access. The level of protection depends on the glazing specification and how it is installed within the frame.
For homeowners considering an upgrade, ask our team about SEHBAC’s SunSecure EcoMAX laminated glass option and its suitability for your chosen windows or doors. It is worth discussing the glazing alongside the frame and locking system when comparing your security options.
SEH BAC’s door security guide and glazing options are useful starting points for discussing the locking and additional security options available with your chosen door.
5. Move keys and valuables away from entry points
Check what can be seen or reached through a window, letterbox or other opening. Keep house keys, car keys and valuables away from these areas, rather than leaving them on a nearby table or hook.
Store keys somewhere household members can access quickly in an emergency, while keeping them out of reach from outside. Review your evening routine too: secure doors and accessible windows before going to bed.
Where appropriate, ask a qualified professional about a compatible letterbox guard, door viewer or other security accessory. Suitability will depend on your door and its specification.
6. Check lighting and the approach to your home
Walk around your property as daylight fades. Are entrances clearly lit? Are side gates secure? Could an unsecured ladder or a conveniently positioned bin make an upstairs window easier to reach?
Maintain exterior lights, secure tools and ladders, and check access to the rear of your property. If you use an alarm, camera or video doorbell, check that it is working and that household members know how to use it.
Let smart security raise the alert
SEHBAC’s Smart Security system connects Kubu sensors on eligible windows and doors through a Wi-Fi Hub to the SEHBAC Smart Alarm. When tampering or attempted forced entry is detected, the system can sound the alarm and send an alert straight to your phone—even while you are away.
Through compatible smart-home platforms, you can also set up Alexa or Google Home routines to respond to a sensor alert. For example, a connected smart speaker could play a dog-barking sound when tampering is detected, adding an audible deterrent alongside the alarm. Ask our team about compatible devices and the setup required.
These features work alongside secure windows, doors and good locking habits. Include all of them in your autumn check, particularly before going away for a few days.
7. Ask the right questions before replacing a window or door
If replacement is appropriate, compare the complete product and installation rather than choosing on appearance or the number of locking points alone.
Ask your installer:
- What locking system and cylinder are included with this exact product?
- What enhanced security testing or accreditation applies to this configuration?
- Are any security features optional, and what do they add?
- What glazing is specified, including in sidelights where relevant?
- How will I operate, maintain and lock the product correctly?
PAS 24 is an enhanced security performance standard for windows and doorsets. Secured by Design is the official police security initiative. They are related terms, but should not be treated as interchangeable. Ask for evidence relevant to the product you are buying rather than assuming that a statement applies to every model in a range.
Our replacement door range includes composite, uPVC and aluminium options, alongside French, sliding patio and bifold designs. We can explain the specification available for your chosen door and how it will work in everyday use.
Add smart monitoring with Kubu sensors and a Wi-Fi-connected alarm
Have you ever left home and wondered whether you locked the back door? Smart monitoring can help you check.
SEHBAC’s Smart Security system uses Kubu sensors on eligible windows and doors to show their status in an app. Connected through the Wi-Fi Hub to the SEHBAC Smart Alarm, the system can provide phone alerts and trigger the alarm when forced entry or tampering is detected.
Ask our team about compatibility and the equipment required for your chosen products. Smart monitoring complements secure locks and a good locking routine; it does not physically lock your windows or doors for you.
It’s all more affordable than you think
Improving your home’s security can start with a simple repair, an adjustment or a better locking routine. If it is time for replacement windows or doors, our message this autumn is simple: it’s all more affordable than you think.
SEH BAC supplies and installs replacement windows and doors across the South East and East Anglia, including Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.
We can help you compare styles, security specifications and prices, so you can choose an option that suits your home and budget. You can also ask about adding smart security to eligible products as part of your project.
Frequently asked questions about window and door security
On a traditional handle-operated multi-point lock, lifting the handle engages the locking points, but you usually need to turn the key to secure the mechanism.
All SEH BAC composite doors and most of our uPVC doors feature automatic “slam-shut” locking, which engages the locking points when the door closes, without needing to lift the handle. This makes everyday locking simpler and helps avoid accidentally leaving the locking points disengaged.
Operation varies by system, so our team will explain how to fully secure your chosen door, including any key-turning required.
Composite doors can offer additional strength through their construction, and SEHBAC’s composite ranges have specific security benefits.
Our Balmoral composite doors feature a solid timber core rather than a foam-filled centre used in some composite doors, providing a dense, robust barrier designed to resist forced entry.
Our Meridian composite doors, use a fibreglass-reinforced monocoque structure, a strong, integrated shell designed to give the door exceptional rigidity and resistance to attack.
Combined with secure frames, automatic multi-point locking and suitable glazing, these constructions make both ranges strong choices for homeowners prioritising security. Modern uPVC doors can also provide excellent protection, so compare the specification and tested performance of the complete doorset when choosing.
Yes. Each style can incorporate security features appropriate to its design. Check the complete product’s specification and testing, and make sure you know how to engage all its locks correctly.
No. Kubu provides status monitoring and tampering alerts on compatible products. You still need to close and lock each window and door correctly.
Not necessarily. The cause may be misalignment or a worn component that can be addressed. Have it inspected before deciding. Replacement may be appropriate if the door or frame is damaged or its condition makes a reliable repair impractical.
