If you go the smart way, you’ll be able to lock and unlock it using your voice or remotely from your phone if you forget. You’ll also be able to give house guests and maintenance staff app-enabled access.
But where do you start? These are the things you need to consider when buying a smart lock for your door. If you take all of these things into consideration, you should be able to look beyond the jargon and buy the best smart lock for you.
1. ANSI/BHMA Lock Standard Ratings
Conventional or smart door lock build quality is not always equal. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BHMA) have established three standard lock quality designations for protection against picking, lock bumping, or other physical attacks, as well as the number of locks or unlocks.
According to the ANSI website, the ANSI considers the lock’s durability, resilience, and latch duration.
Grade 1 is the highest grade and most secure lock that is common for commercial requirements. Grade 2 is the most popular residential lock. Grade 3 is the lowest, least expensive, for non-high security considerations. The majority of smart locks are of ANSI grade 2.
The BHMA also awards separate A-B-C ratings based on performance for residential locks considering stability, longevity, power, and finish.
2. Door Lock Command Support
Yes, your smartphone is your smart lock key, but what if you misplace your phone? So, when looking at the smart door locks available, look for four-way access features, including password, RF card, cylinder key, or biometrics.
However, if you are tech-savvy with Z-Wave integration home network, you can implement cryptographic command verification on your smart lock.
3. Technology Interaction
Many smart locks have Bluetooth support to attach to your mobile, but they lack the functionality to connect to your smart home network.
A radio module is available as an add-on for smart locks to attach to your home network. When you have an existing hub at your home, such as Alexa, Apple TV, or Samsung SmartThings, look for the models that support ZigBee or Z-Wave technology.
4. Remote Access
You can have limited remote access with the locks using Bluetooth connectivity and Wi-Fi adapters. While you’re at home, it’s enough to monitor your safety; but, if you go too far out, you’ll lose the connection.
Smart locks that support Z-Wave technology allow you to integrate with home security networks. After that, the home network is wired to the internet, allowing users to monitor their door locks from anywhere. With these capabilities, you can remotely open your house, which means you won’t have to wait at home all morning for a courier.
Z-Wave locks do not link directly to your handset, unlike Bluetooth locks. They’ll have to associate to a Z-Wave network instead. The hub can transfer the Z-Wave signal from the lock to something your router can recognize, allowing you to access your lock remotely from any location.
5. Hands-Free Access
To set you free from manually locking and unlocking the door, some models come with hands-free access. When your phone leaves the area, a geofencing device locks the door and can be programmed to open automatically when it detects you’ve returned home.
6. Battery Life
Since batteries power smart locks, compare the estimated battery life of the various models you’re considering.
Also, look at features that show you how much battery life is left and come up with emergency power backup, so you don’t get frozen out due to a dying lock battery. Some models also keep the standard key cylinder for the backup, while others come up with solar power battery backup.
7. Lock Codes
The management of codes, the amount of information that a lock can incorporate, and the number of codes the lock can support vary from model to model. When considering your choices, remember how many different codes you’ll need at any given time.
Some devices need you to use an app to generate codes, while others let you use the keypad directly. What strategy do you want to take? Also, don’t forget to look at things such as setting expiry dates for passwords.
8. Customized Access
Of course, controlling access to your home remotely and separately isn’t the only way to deal with people who need to come in while you’re not there.
Custom entry codes are possible for some smart locks. It means you can give your children one code and the gardener or dog walker a different one.
Specified directives can be paired with codes depending on the model you choose. For example, you might build codes that only run at certain hours or periods for maintenance staff. The code will be inactive outside of these hours. It gives you more control over who gets access to your house and how.
In addition, you can get real-time alert notifications, both text and email, to notify you when the locks are unlocked and with which code. This handy feature lets parents know when their children have arrived home from school or who has arrived late.
9. Alarms
Consider looking for the features that include security alerts such as buzz alarms when the lock has been tampered with or when the door is left open.
Some models have features that automatically transform to ultra-sensitive mode after the first alarm has rung due to tampering, allowing them to detect the return of the intruder. The alarm can ring for a few seconds to a few minutes or with auto-off features included that you can enable.
While others come with motion sensors (a practical gadget that you can mount on cars, garden sheds, garages, fences, and other places) the built-in safety mechanism automatically triggers the alarm when an attacker tampers with the door, ensuring the security of your valuables.
Finding the Right Smart Lock for You
Smart door locks come with a host of benefits and seem to be the way of the future, providing more comfort and ease of use while also complementing other features of a smart home.
However, before deciding on which smart lock to buy, it’s worth considering what actual benefits they will add to your home.
