Do Burglar Bars Affect Homeowners' Insurance?

Burglar bars, also known as security bars, can deter criminals from entering your home. Under certain circumstances, installing such devices can reduce your homeowners' insurance premium. If you use them along with other safety measures, such as burglar alarms or dead-bolt locks, your insurance company might offer you a discount of up to 15 percent. However, the burglar bars must include a quick release system. Otherwise, they're considered a fire trap and you might not qualify for home insurance. Such bars are likely illegal under your local building codes.

If you have an older set of burglar bars without a quick release system, you don't necessarily have to replace them. Contact a home security company to see if your burglar bars with a key mechanism can be retrofitted with a push button. Once you have your burglar bars retrofitted -- or new ones installed -- ensure that every member of the family knows how to operate the quick release in case of emergency. Provide your insurance company with proof of the quick-release system installation or the acquisition of new burglar bars.