Window bars have been used for years in different countries around the world as a way to add extra security to their homes. Generally fixed around the windows of the first-floor window bars work well at preventing someone from entering the house. But how safe are windows bars for the occupants of the home?
There are a few downsides to installing window bars in your home. The main issue is the safety of those inside the house. For example, if there is an emergency such as a house fire, window bars would limit critical points of exit, making it much harder to get out of the building. It would also become a lot harder for the fire department to extinguish the fire if they could not gain access to it through windows.
Another disadvantage to having window bars in your home is if you decide to put the house on the market. Window bars may give a prospective buyer the idea that you live in a dangerous neighborhood, and this could decrease the value of your home.
If you would like to consider window bars as a security feature for your home, make sure that you choose ones equipped with a quick-release mechanism. This will enable the occupants of the home to easily escape through the windows in case of an emergency. If the quick release mechanism requires a key, it is very important to keep it in a location that is easy to access by everyone in the household.