Door Hinges

Most exterior doors open toward the inside of the house. That means the hinges, which hold the door in place, are located inside the house. But in areas prone to hurricanes, such as Louisiana, some exterior doors intentionally swing out, for safety reasons; high winds could blow in the door. That means the hinges have to be located outside, and if the proper hinges aren't used, your door could be a security risk.

An intruder can easily pop the pin from hinge and remove the door, even if it's locked. If you have exterior doors that swing out and don't have the right hinges, don't cringe. Here are some ways to make the situation safer:

• Safety hinges can be purchased at any hardware store or from a locksmith. They come with non-removable pins.
  
• Security locks can be retrofitted onto existing hinges to make them tamper- proof.
  
• And think about calling for help. Swapping out hinges on an exterior door isn't a job for one person.
  
• Exterior doors are heavy and hinges can be tricky to install, but definitely worth the effort.