Smart home locks are one of the best ways to go keyless while still safeguarding your property. They’re increasing in popularity with homeowners because of their convenience, utility, and ease of use, and have been going down in price to make them more accessible to most homeowners.
Here are a few of the most common questions about smart home locks covering what they are, how they can help protect you, and how easy they are to use.
HOW DO SMART HOME DOOR LOCKS WORK?
Instead of using a key to lock and unlock the door, a smart home lock requires a numerical code to unlock the door. In commercial settings, the smart home lock is positioned on the wall, but in residential homes the lock is positioned on the door, just above the handle where the deadbolt lock normally is. If the correct code is entered, the door lock or deadbolt releases, and there’s typically a single button to lock the door.
Most smart home locks use batteries that can be accessed and replaced from the interior of the lock, or they require a small amount of wiring to power the lock. Some smart home locks have a built-in security feature that keeps the door locked after multiple wrong attempts.
HOW SECURE ARE SMART HOME DOOR LOCKS?
Smart home door locks are more secure and reliable than traditional keyed deadbolt locks. Here are some of the additional benefits they can bring to your home.
KEYLESS SYSTEM
The convenience of a smart home lock means there’s no need to carry, manage, or keep copies of any keys to your door. A keyless system allows you to provide temporary codes to friends or guests.
The system makes changing access significantly easier. Rather than having to worry about hiring a professional, or trying to do it yourself with the hassle of removing and reinstalling new locks, it only takes the press of a few buttons. This makes it possible for you to change the code as frequently as you want.
EASY INSTALLATION
Most smart home locks don’t require any adjustments to your door or frame. They can easily be installed to any door just like a standard lock. If you are using a battery-powered lock, there is no additional wiring or connecting to a power source needed which makes installation that much easier.
ARE THERE ANY PROBLEMS WITH SMART HOME DOOR LOCKS?
Smart home locks do provide a wide range of benefits, but there is always risk or potential problems in any security system. With proper planning and preventative measures, it’s possible to not let these problems affect you.
HACKERS
It is possible to hack a smart home lock. It might not be as easy as what movies show, but it is possible for a hacker to unlock the door. The best way to protect yourself against hackers is to choose complex passwords that are not easy to guess and to rotate your passwords frequently. Some keyless lock systems are capable of sending you alerts if the wrong code has been entered too many times. Make sure you activate these systems to stop hackers and safeguard your home.
HUMAN ERROR
Just like you can forget your keys, or lock yourself out of your car, it’s possible to lock yourself out of your home if you forget your passcode. If you are prone to forgetting your code, you can actually set yourself up for more trouble in the future by giving yourself backups. You might think that it’s safe to write down your code on your phone or keep it on a slip of paper in your wallet or purse. This can create a problem if that reminder gets stolen. At that point, the criminal who has your wallet, purse, or phone also has the key to your home.
It’s also recommended that you don’t pick the last numbers of your phone number, social security number, or birthday as your code. You should never use a code that is related to anything personal about you. By using personal information as your code, you make it easier for people to guess or gather potential information and break the code.
Additionally, don’t choose codes that are overly simplistic. While they are easy for you to remember, they’re also easy for strangers to guess. Codes like 1111 or 1234 provide less security to your home.
If you’re struggling to remember your code, there are better ways to remember them than by using one of these risky strategies. A better way to select and remember your code is by thinking of a shape or a letter that you can draw on the keypad. Remembering the code 1793 might be difficult, but it’s easy to remember it as a square. The more creative and memorable the symbol is, the easier it can be to remember. 79426 is a smiley face, 1831 is a triangle, and 183791 is a star. Depending on your keypad and its layout, you can use your own creativity to help remember your code as a shape, symbol, or letter. And remember, you always have access to your lock with the ACS smart home app.
POWER FAILURE
Batteries don’t last forever, and if you’re not proactive in replacing them, your lock either won’t lock when you’re leaving or won’t unlock when you are coming back. Some locks do have a small backup power source, but it only lasts a certain timeframe, depending on your system.
Most systems can last multiple years on the same battery, so the easiest way to avoid power failure is to replace your batteries every year. Pick a memorable day like a birthday or holiday, and set it as the day you always replace your batteries.
ARE SMART HOME DOOR LOCKS SAFE?
Smart home door locks are safer than traditional deadbolt locks. Our smart home locks are incorporated with your smart home system, allowing you access to check your lock and home security in real-time anywhere in the world.
FIND OUT MORE
Smart home locks are a great tool to help improve your home security. Find out more today by contacting ACS Security. Our team is here to help and is available around the clock to help you with any questions you might have.