Did you know that Americans spend, on average, 2.5 days a year looking for lost items? That’s a lot of time wasted that could be spent working, spending time with family, or relaxing. One of the most commonly lost items is your set of house keys. Losing your keys is even more of a drag because now you can’t even get into your own home.
This is one of the many reasons people are starting to look to a keypad door lock as an alternative solution. When you lock your home with a keypad, you never have to remember where you left your keys.
But are these locks safe? Let’s take a closer look.
How Does a Keypad Door Lock Work?
First, let’s take a closer look at how keypad door locks actually work.
When you have a regular lock, your key operates a manual mechanism to move the bolt. With a keypad lock, a small electrical current operates the bolt instead.
Since these locks require power to operate, they are usually powered by a battery. It’s important to charge and periodically replace the battery so you don’t get locked out!
Keypad locks are typically equipped with a set of buttons labeled with numbers and/or letters. To open the lock, you must enter the correct numbers and letters in the correct order.
Some keypad locks can be installed by a novice, but if you’re not 100% sure you know how to, you should probably contact a professional.
Benefits of Keyless Locks
Now that you know how a keypad door lock works, let’s take a closer look at the benefits of having one.
No Keys
The clearest benefit is that you don’t have to carry keys with you. Not only does this mean you won’t get locked out, but it also means that you can make it easier for your keys, weekend guests, or housekeepers to get into your home. This is much safer than having a hideaway key stashed under the doormat.
This is also great if you have younger children or teenagers who get home from school before you do. With a keyless lock, you don’t have to worry about giving your fifth grader a key that they might lose.
Easy to Change
The code is also easy to change. If you have a bad breakup, you don’t need to rekey your locks. Simply change the passcode, and it’s like having a brand-new key.
Great for Renters
Keyless locks are also popular for landlords or folks who rent out properties on a short-term basis. With a keyless lock, your guests can get into the property with just the code. You don’t even need to be there to greet them!
Ease Your Anxiety
If you’re one of those people who constantly wonders, “Did I lock the door?” a keyless lock can be a great option for you. Many of these locks pair with phone apps.
These allow you to check that your home is locked wherever you are. In some cases, you may be able to unlock it remotely to let someone into your home.
Some locks even pair with your home security system. These will lock automatically after you leave your house, so you never have to worry. You might be able to set a locking and unlocking schedule that automatically locks your doors at certain times, such as while you are sleeping.
Resale Value
If you go to sell your home, the fact that you’ve installed keyless locks can help boost your home’s resale value.
The value isn’t necessarily in the lock itself, as most keyless locks cost less than $500. Rather, a keyless lock increases your home’s perceived value, as it makes the space feel modern and high-tech.
Considerations with Keyless Locks
While there are many benefits of keyless locks, there are some factors that you will want to take into consideration before getting one installed.
Power Outages
As stated above, you need to change the battery for your keyless lock about once per year. Otherwise, it will lose power, locking you out of your home. Many locks have a manual override feature to avoid this problem.
Some smart locks operate based on your home’s power system, rather than a battery. While this might seem more convenient, keep in mind that it will be rendered useless during a power outage. For this reason, battery-powered keypads are a better option.
Code Security
As with any password, you will want to make sure to choose something secure for your lock. For instance, setting your code as “1-2-3-4” is probably not the best idea. You should also avoid using the same code for your house as you do for say, your debit card pin.
It’s also advisable to change your code regularly. If you don’t the keys, you use to type in your code can become worn down. This makes it easier for someone to guess your passcode.
Can Smart Locks Be Hacked?
The answer to this one is it depends. If you have a smart lock that you open by pressing numbers on a keypad, then it probably cannot be hacked. However, if your lock uses a Bluetooth signal from a phone to open, then hacking might be a possibility. This is why some locks now require a WiFi connection, in addition to Bluetooth.
