Enjoying a cool breeze from an open window as you’re falling asleep on a hot night is one of life’s simple pleasures. Given how balmy our springs and summers are becoming here in the UK, keeping the window open at night to help ventilate a home is becoming more common than ever. While it’s great to cool down with an evening breeze as you doze off to sleep, leaving your window open at night does come with some obvious security risks, making your home more vulnerable to break-ins.
If you have sash windows, then leaving them open at night could be even riskier. These windows, while attractive, aren’t as secure as modern casement windows due to their basic locking systems. This means sash windows left ajar at night are likelier to be targeted by criminals looking for easy access to a property. Thankfully, you can still leave your windows partially open and enjoy late-night ventilation in your home by installing locking sash window locks!
We’ve spoken with Locks & Handles for some expert advice on how to use sash window locks and sash window restrictors for a safer night’s sleep with partially opened windows.
Why Leave Your Sash Window Open at Night?
Leaving your sash window open at night can offer many benefits, especially during the hot and humid weather. By leaving your window partially open at night, you can ventilate your room to increase air circulation, replacing warm and stale air with fresh, cool air from outside. This helps to improve air quality inside, resulting in a more restful sleep for many people.
Moreover, your room may feel exceedingly hot and sticky at night, making it very challenging to fall asleep. With a partially opened window near your bed, you can enjoy a cool, fresh breeze that helps you to fall asleep and reduce the chances of waking up in the middle of the night due to the heat and humidity. A temperature range of around 16-18°C is recommended for a good night’s sleep, so leaving your window open, especially during summer, can help achieve an ideal temperature for restful sleep.
Of course, leaving your sash windows open at night does have drawbacks when it comes to home security. Leaving windows open, even partially, will make it easier for criminals to gain access to your property, especially if the windows are on the ground floor. With the right sash locks for windows, you can alleviate these risks while still enjoying all the benefits of leaving windows open as you sleep.
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Partial-Opening Lock Features
If you’re looking to keep your sash windows partially opened at night without compromising home security, sash window restrictors are an excellent choice. When installed into the upper window frame, sash window restrictors will lock the window sash in place to prevent it from opening fully. Here in the UK, the standard setting for sash window restrictors is 100mm, meaning the opening is far too small for intruders to climb through.
This allows you to ventilate your rooms at night without any risk of someone climbing through. Sash window restrictors will also lower the risk of break-ins when leaving your windows open during the day, too. Even if your windows are closed and someone tries to force them open from the outside, the sash window restrictors will prevent the window from opening beyond a certain point, so they help to increase home security 24/7.
There are also locking sash window locks that can secure your windows in open positions as you sleep. Fitch fasteners are a popular sash window lock that are known for their traditional appearance, using a semi-circular pivot on a plate to shut and open the windows. The lock can be engaged at various positions, allowing you to open your window slightly for late-night ventilation. A burglar may still force the window open beyond its fixed point, so make sure to choose a lockable fitch fastener to keep it securely in place when partially opened.
Brighton sash window locks are also a good option for leaving your windows open at night. These window sash locks use a small screw mechanism to secure the window shut or open in set positions. The screw mechanism is robust, allowing the window to remain partially opened while preventing someone from climbing though.
Conclusion
Choosing suitable locking sash window locks lets you leave your windows partially opened at night without risking home security. Sash window restrictors are perfect for improving late-night ventilation. They’ll only let your window open beyond a set point, usually 100mm, allowing fresh air to flow through while being too narrow for a person to climb in or out. Other sash locks for windows, like fitch fasteners and Brighton Sash locks, can also lock your window open to a set point.
