Deadbolt or smart lock: which one fits you?
Both put a solid bolt into the frame; the difference is how you open it. A plain deadbolt runs on keys you can count. A smart lock adds a keypad, an app or both, so a relative or a dog walker gets a code you can delete later without cutting anything.
If your locks are fine and you only want old keys to stop working, skip the new hardware: rekeying changes the key and keeps the lock.
What makes a deadbolt hold
A deadbolt is only as strong as the wood it locks into. Check these:
- The throw: locked, the bolt should reach a full inch into the frame.
- The strike screws: short screws that stop in the trim give way under a kick. Long ones that bite into the framing hold far better.
- The grade: many deadbolts are graded 1 to 3 on the box, and Grade 1 is the toughest.
- Single or double cylinder: a double cylinder needs a key inside too. It helps beside a glass panel but slows anyone escaping a fire, so check local rules first.
When we put in a deadbolt, we look at the strike side as closely as the lock. A strong lock in a weak frame doesn't hold much.
Smart lock questions to settle before you buy
- Keypad, app or both? A keypad needs no internet. Remote features usually need Wi-Fi, and some locks also need a hub.
- Is there a keyhole? Without one, the batteries are your only way in, so look for emergency battery contacts on the outside.
- Who gets a code? One per person, so you can delete one without changing everyone's.
- Where does the door face? Batteries weaken in the cold, so a door that takes the January wind may warn of low power sooner.
- Will it fit? Many smart deadbolts drop into the bore holes an ordinary deadbolt leaves. Check the box for the door thickness it supports.
How the installation goes
Already have the lock? Give us the make and model when you call; the price is explained before we head out. At the door, we check that the bolt lines up with the strike before mounting anything, because a dragging bolt drains a smart lock's batteries and wears a plain deadbolt out early.
Then the lock goes on, codes or app pairing get set up while you watch, and everything is tested from both sides with the door closed. If the door needs more, like a split frame or old holes that don't line up, you'll hear the new price before any extra work.
When a smart lock stops answering
Start with fresh batteries of the type the manual lists, all replaced at once. Outside with a dark keypad? Look for a keyhole behind a cover, or two contacts for a 9-volt battery that some models use to wake up long enough to take a code.
Still nothing? That's a house lockout, and we answer 24/7. A child or pet alone inside? Call 911 before you call us. Car fobs have their own backup trick, covered in our guide to a dead push-to-start fob.