A Smart lock, who would have thought we would come to that 30 years ago? Smart locks have become an increasingly popular component of smart homes, even among those who have not gone as far as to automate their houses.
These Smart locks provide new levels of comfort and efficiency to a room in the house that has seen few significant modifications. If the introduction of smart locks has taught homeowners anything, it is that change may be difficult and time-consuming at times.
However, it may be worthwhile in certain circumstances. However, this can only happen if you are sufficiently prepared to make adjustments. Many homeowners purchase smart locks before learning anything about them.
They are just captivated by the prospect of owning a revolutionary lock. In certain circumstances, these homeowners are satisfied clients. They sometimes discover that owning a smart lock home is not always straightforward, particularly if you are not well-equipped to do so.
There are several Smart locks available that make it complex to choose the best one for your requirements and the sort of property you have. It is why homeowners must ensure that they understand what they are looking for in a Smart lock home system.
These aspects might vary from battery power to the security elements of the lock, and some are much more important than others. Let’s look at some of the essential Smart lock home system characteristics that homeowners should look for when shopping for a smart lock home system.
What is a smart lock?
Consider the standard lock on the front door of your house. Install a Wi-Fi connection, and you’ll be able to manage your lock from your vehicle outside, open the door for a friend from across the house, and provide an additional layer of protection to your home.
Smart locks link through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to your smartphone or smart speaker, allowing you to access the door with a few touches on the screen. You can even connect it to a smart speaker like the Amazon Echo and ask Alexa to do the easy task of opening or locking the door.
A Smart lock home system offers new alternatives by using this wireless connection, while still offering a basic key lock system as a backup solution.
Smart locks home system can connect with deadbolts or knob-style locks, as well as a smart doorbell. To get access, they employ highly encrypted communications and approved devices, such as voice activation or keypad contact.
Types Of Smart Locks:
There are many kinds of smart door locks on the market; thus, you will have to learn about the various Smart lock alternatives accessible to you and what they accomplish before deciding which one is best for you and your specific scenario.
So, the second thing you should do before purchasing a smart lock home system is, educate yourself on the various kinds of smart locks on the market and how they function.
1. Keypad & Combination Smart Locks
A keypad Smart lock requires you to enter a pin code to open the door. These are simple to set up and enable you to assign various pin codes to different persons so you always know who is coming and departing and when.
Keypad deadbolts with a lever or knob, and keypad deadbolts with a handle-set are all examples of combination keypad Smart locks.
Most of these models also have an optional linked feature, which allows you to connect them to other smart home devices, such as those with Z-Wave technology.
2. Keyless & Wireless Smart Locks
There are several keyless and remote smart locks available. That is, if you have a Wi-Fi connection, you may use it to link to your smart locks. You can also lock and unlock your doors wirelessly from anywhere in the universe if you have a wireless remote controller.
If you don’t already have a home security system, remember that most keyless and Wireless Smart locks don’t come with their app.
As a result, if you want to operate them from your smartphone using Alexa or another Smart home system, you’ll also need to purchase a smart home hub such as the Amazon Echo, Wink, or comparable Smart home technology.
If you have an Apple HomeKit-enabled smart lock, you don’t need to connect it to a Smart home network to use it on your mobile phone if it has a Bluetooth-enabled mobile application, which is the case for most of these devices.
Bluetooth, in essence, enables different locking features, and it works by detecting when you are within a certain distance of the device, at which point it will unlock itself automatically as you reach the door.
You may also open the lock by tapping it with your phone or a selected key-fob.
Some Smart lock home system manufacturers also provide generic bridge-like devices that allow you to link their locks to your Wi-Fi network. You will be able to remotely access, monitor, and control those locks due to this.
3. Fob Enabled Smart Lock
A fob-enabled smart lock home system does not need the use of a smartphone to operate. To use one of these, you’ll need a key-fob that you can carry with you wherever you go. When you reach the door, touch the lock to unlock it.
The lock will then unlock, but only if you have the associated fob on you. In most cases, a single key-fob can access several door locks.
In other words, as long as they are all part of the same associated system of Locks, a single key-fob may access your front door lock, rear door lock, side door lock, and so on.
4. Fingerprint & Biometric Smart Locks
A fingerprint or biometric smart lock home system operates using a fingerprint. Fingerprints are all one-of-a-kind and very impossible to imitate or modify. Furthermore, a fingerprint-enabled lock cannot be lost or misplaced, making it a strong security solution.
A fingerprint lock operates by scanning a fingerprint and translating it to a mathematical template. So, the first time you place your finger on the lock’s scanner, the data is collected and preserved using pre-saved identification values, allowing you to provide access to any person.
There are a few possible drawbacks with these sorts of locks; however, unlike a password, you cannot reset your fingerprint, which typically means you will have to update the locks in some circumstances.
Furthermore, injuries or scratches on your finger, as well as power interruptions, may result in you being locked out.
When purchasing this sort of lock, seek for one with a keypad or mechanical lock so that you can still get in even if it cannot read your fingerprint. You should investigate the false rejection rate (FRR).
If you come across a lock with a high rejection rate, don’t purchase it. Also, search for ones constructed of strong brass or steel rather than aluminium, since they are less likely to be damaged by a crowbar.
Finally, consider how many fingerprints can keep ensuring you have enough to meet your demands.
Things to consider before buying a smart Lock
Integration
If you have a smart speaker or a smart doorbell, you should link your smart lock with the rest of your home automation. Better integration with your current security network means less effort for you.
Examine the connection settings as well as first-hand reports from other users about their experiences integrating this into their house.
When reading customer reviews, remember one thing half of the problems individuals have with top-rated smart locks are directly related to their not reading the provided papers or knowing what they’re doing before installation.
Connectivity
No matter whether you’re using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, you’re looking for a system that’s easy to set up and works well with other programs, such as Alexa.
At the same time, you desire security, which is why you should take a moment to examine the encryption of these connections.
Insecure Smart locks may be hacked into through your phone’s connection or outbound signals from the lock itself, even if the lock isn’t physically tampered with.
Ease Of Access
Despite locking and unlocking your door with your phone being convenient, you’ll want a Smart lockhome system that provides you with choices for safeguarding your property.
Don’t get locked out if your phone dies or if you put off replacing the batteries in your lock. You don’t have to fear locking yourself out again with a touchpad or manually key backup.
Sharing access with visitors who come and leave is also simple when you can generate a personalized access code rather than buying an e-key or having them download an app.
Keyless Entry
Most Smartphones have numerous options enabled, and one of the most often used features is biometric access, which allows you to let people into your home or business using voice commands, touch or fingerprint identification, and so on.
If you have a smartphone, you can access your home and business. Remote management for unlocking with your smartphone is also a valuable function of Smart locks, as explained above. Security codes sometimes help to let visitors inside your house.
Automatic Lock Feature
Do you double-check your door as you leave the home to ensure it is locked? We’ve all been there, after all. We usually lock our front door before leaving the home, don’t we?
With a smart door lock, you never have to do that again. It automatically locks the door when you shut it, and you don’t have to double-check it since it does it for you.
Multiple Access Codes
There are several entry codes for smart door locks. It eliminates the need to store your extra lock behind your front door rug. Instead, you may offer your friends and family permanent or temporary access codes to your door whenever you are abroad or not at home.
You may also erase or update the current passcode on your door so you don’t have to worry if you allow a mechanic in.
Remote Management
A smart lock home system requires a functional and user-friendly management interface that allows users to remotely lock and unlock doors, set alerts, and change passcodes. Remote access is helpful in high-security workplaces and other industrial environments.
The ability to unlock a door fast in an emergency is a crucial benefit of remote connection, but you will also want low battery alerts, door forced alerts, door open too long notifications – and maybe integrating video monitoring if there’s a nearby video doorbell or CCTV camera.
Battery Life
Smart locks need a power source and are commonly powered by batteries – battery life must address while taking into consideration performance variables such as temperature, traffic flow, and the number of times the lock is accessed remotely.
Other factors to consider include whether background operations are active and the presence of a power-saving mode. The more battery life you have, the better. Locks that won’t open due to battery failure pose a safety concern as well as a disturbance in operations.
Conclusion
Electronic locks not only make your life simpler, but they also enhance security. With app-controlled locks, you can know when your children get home from school, and they may enter securely even if they forget their key.
If you operate a company, you’ll love the RFID-enabled locks, which allow you to keep critical areas safe while giving RFID fobs and cards for entrance. In the case of a robbery, you’ll also be able to determine who entered the company and when.
Keeping your doors safe is one of the most effective methods to keep your whole home secure, and our tips above will assist you in making the best selection.
