A few years back, keyless locks were only available to the wealthy, and they were also very costly and complicated to install. A keyless door lock is a natural progression of home automation systems, with convenient alternatives for homeowner installation and seamless connection with smart home gadgets.
With a keyless lock, you may quickly regain access to your property using a keypad number, fingerprint, or a simple swipe on your phone. But how safe are they? Are they safer than standard locks? The answer is yes.
A keyless lock may be more secure if it encourages people to lock their doors whenever they leave, discourages them from hiding keys under doormats, or creates an excessive number of spare keys that they end up misplacing, it can be more secure.
On the other hand, keyless door lock have their limitations due to their reliance on technology, whereas conventional front door locks do provide some possibilities for upgrades that increase security. Depending on your routines and requirements, they may be an excellent choice.
Advantages of Using a Keypad Door Lock
● No Worries of Taking Keys
Homeowners can enter a code to unlock the door with keypad locks with an incorporated lighted 10-digit keypad. Assuming you change the code often to prevent the keys from wearing down and use codes you can remember, they are simple and easy to program. Using a simple, easily guessed code, such as a birthdate or phone number, renders all security measures useless.
There are a lot of advantages to using a keypad door lock with a secure code, though. Instead of carrying around multiple keys, users may share the code with their loved ones. Many keypad locks allow you to set a time limit on each code to offer temporary codes to people like babysitters, repairers, and dog walkers.
● Convenient Biometric Access
Keypad locks are convenient because they don’t require additional components and may be used continuously. The fingerprint reader is an extra piece of technology that is added to a keyless entry door lock. A fingerprint lock uses a tiny touchpad to read your fingerprint and unlocks the door if stored in the lock’s database.
The fingerprint scanner comes with a keypad that the homeowner can use as a backup and to provide to those whose fingerprints they don’t want to be stored in the system. Instead of a fingerprint reader, some modern locks use a facial recognition scanner, which works in tandem with a backup keypad.
● Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity
With a Bluetooth-enabled door lock, you may open the door with a linked keypad or a mobile app using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. A key fob is perfect for situations where you don’t have a lot of free hands because it can be inserted into a pocket, purse, or bag and will unlock the door without touching the lock.
Using an app, you can regulate who can access your home, even while you’re not there. It is made possible by the shared Bluetooth technology, which couples the fob with the lock and the lock with the home’s Wi-Fi system. Although Bluetooth locks have some connection and hacking-related issues, they can be remedied with diligent security measures.
● Easy Installation Without a Locksmith
Modern keyless locks must be a pain to install and cost a pretty penny. Not at all! A few tools are required to install one of these locks independently. Follow the instructions to remove the old lockset, make any needed modifications, and install the new keyless door lock.
Avoid the hassle and expense of hiring a locksmith by enlisting the aid of a handyperson for the installation; it won’t take long at all. A minor technological hurdle may arise if your preferred lock is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled; in this case, you must establish a connection to your home network.
Then, install the corresponding mobile app, register an account, and then configure the codes, fingerprints, or faces. Some configuration is required for programmable locks. However, most locks come with thorough instructions and internet connections to instructional videos; if you still have questions after reading them, customer care agents can assist you over the phone.
Compatible with a Smart Home System
These days, smart-home gadgets can automate and program almost every part of the house. A smart-home assistant or a few taps on a mobile device can control the lights, thermostat, HVAC, TVs, ovens, washing machines, alarm systems, and more. The same holds for keyless locks.
All of your smart-home controls are centrally located when you integrate with a smart-home system, making it easier to monitor and maintain the greatest level of security. Smart door locks have the reassuring ability to check if all of your doors are closed and locked.
It is great when you’re getting ready for bed and forget to lock the back door or when you’re halfway through a road trip and suddenly can’t find the muscle memory to turn a key. You can see that information in the app if the doors are closed and locked. If they aren’t, you can also lock them from there.
Drawbacks of a Keyless Door Lock
● Impact of Power Failure or Internet Issues
Power outages may compromise your home’s access, depending on the kind of keyless door lock you have. While some locks run on batteries, those that rely on an external power source or internet connectivity are vulnerable to power disruptions. Although the lock’s internal battery can keep it operational, bluetooth locks depend on the home’s Wi-Fi network.
Thus, if the router goes dark, the keyless lock will remain in the same position it was in before the power outage. While most can be unlocked manually from within the house if someone is there, a few lock themselves until the power comes back on, which is inconvenient and perhaps dangerous.
However, this is not an issue with locks that run on batteries or have battery backups. Just like with other products that aren’t used frequently, it’s simple to put off replacing the backup batteries. In such a situation, to avoid being locked out during a power outage, you should either get a lock with a low-battery indicator light or set up a reminder to replace the batteries.
● Lack of Compatibility with Deadbolts
The initial complaints about keyless locks were based on the fact that they could only be used with handle locks or latch locks, as the weaker versions couldn’t open or close a deadbolt. Therefore, the keyless lock would be inconvenient because homeowners would have to install an additional keyed deadbolt on each door to ensure the safety of their homes.
Fortunately, things have changed. There is a wide variety of keyless lock configurations, including door knob locks, handle sets with matching deadbolts, add-on deadbolts, and full-plate locks, which may be installed on modern and classic doors for an exquisite look.
Another option is to establish a controller box over the current switch on your existing deadbolt; this way, you may add a keyless function without replacing the handle, which is great if you value aesthetics.
Conclusion
To assist homeowners in selecting the optimal lock strength, Park Avenue Locks conducts intense testing and rating. The locks are put through a series of tests designed to replicate the most common entry tactics used by would-be burglars, including prying, hitting the door, hitting the lock, and more. You should select the most robust keyless door lock suitable for your door in terms of outside security.
