The Window Security Feature You Might Have Missed

Summer usually means dealing with sweltering heat, but for many people, it's just not sustainable to run the air conditioning around the clock. An easy (and free!) alternative is to crack open a window to let some of the mugginess out, but that can pose a safety hurdle. Some people aren't comfortable keeping their windows wide open, whether that's throughout the night or when they step out of the house. However, that doesn't mean you're doomed to endure rising temperature levels inside your home. Instead, your window might have a security latch installed that you can use to open it a crack. There are safety benefits to installing casement windows, and one of the key ones is that many of them come with two vertical latches on either side of the pane, which are called vent latches. 

All you need to do is pop open these latches, and you can create a 4-inch vent in the room. When they are open, you can't push the window further up, barring anyone from climbing into the house. While this is a common feature, not everyone knows what those tabs do. Here is a closer look into the safety feature you might have overlooked.

One of the obvious benefits of using window vent latches is that they allow you to ventilate the space while minimizing the risk of someone coming in or out of the room. While most people might be worried about intruders, if you have a curious cat or an adventurous toddler, you know that the latter is just as important. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, a non-profit dedicated to preventing child-related injuries, 3,300 kids are injured annually in a window-related accident. However, 70% of parents interviewed in the survey admitted they had no child safety locks installed on their home's windows. Vent latches that are already installed in your window system make your home more kid-friendly.

They are also very easy to replace or upgrade. If your latch is chipped or you feel like it is made out of cheap plastic that isn't up to your standard of security, then you can easily replace it with a new one. It just needs to be the same size as the latch opening, but there is a wide selection available at places like Amazon. To remove the old one, simply grab a pair of blunt pliers and pull out the latch from its casement. You don't want to use sharp pliers as they might scratch your window's surrounding vinyl. Then, with your thumb, push the new latch into the hole. That's it! 

One of the main downsides to window vent latches is that they can break over time, especially if you use them frequently. The corners can chip, making them difficult to remove from their casing, or they can become stuck, making them particularly difficult to pop out. However, this is true with all window locks. In the event that they break, you can easily replace them with a new set. Just be aware they likely won't last you a lifetime.

Another downside is that they might offer a false sense of security. While they may be an inexpensive way to help protect your home from intruders, they aren't as secure as something like window key locks, which require a key to open or close them. Most of these latches are made from plastic, which can be easy to break if an intruder forcefully tries to shove open a window. To make them more secure, consider replacing your plastic version with a metal one, such as the First Watch Security Lock on Amazon, which costs $6 for two. If you are particularly concerned about crime, the safest way to ventilate your window is by installing window bars. That way, you can keep your window open without any fear of someone forcing their way inside.