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How to Fix Common Problems With a Smart Digital Door Lock

Smart Door Lock

smart digital door lock

How to Fix Common Problems With a Smart Digital Door Lock

Whether you want to double-check that you locked the door before leaving for work, or give a temporary code to your house cleaner, smart digital locks make it easy. They also help you feel more secure if you use your home as a short-term rental.

Many smart locks can be connected to a hub like Apple’s HomeKit, Google Home or Amazon Alexa. However, this is not a requirement and some people have experienced security issues with voice assisted technology or hubs that run on wifi.

Security

Smart locks are an excellent addition to any home, letting you let in workers, houseguests and pet sitters without needing to give them keys. They also prevent you from worrying that you forgot to lock up before running out the door (and are a godsend for those times when you’re halfway through an airplane ride and remember that you didn’t turn off the lights).

The best smart digital door locks allow you to share temporary access code with visitors by using smartphone apps. These apps can let a user enter your house during the day or night, and can be set to expire within an established timeframe. You can also use an app to view your lock’s history of unlocking and locking, so you can check whether someone has been coming and going while you’re away.

A good smart lock will connect to your Wi-Fi, allowing you to monitor it remotely and integrate it with your other smart home gadgets. It should also be able to work with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant so you can open and lock your door with a few quick commands.

Look for a model that is backed by an ANSI or BHMA rating for security and quality assurance testing. It should also have a standard keyhole as a backup, so you smart digital door lock can enter in case the smart lock’s batteries die.

Convenience

A smart door lock gives you access to your home without having to turn a key. It may allow you to unlock by entering a code on a keypad, remotely with your smartphone, or by voice commands. Some models even detect your proximity to the door and unlock as you approach. You can also view entry and exit logs in real time.

The best smart locks also integrate with your other home security devices and cameras to smart digital door lock give you a more complete picture of who is coming and going, and when. They’re great for vacation rental owners, people with cleaning and dog-walking services, or those who often have friends and family popping in. Some models let you create a number of temporary digital keys that work only during certain hours (such as Monday through Friday) to accommodate those types of users.

Some smart locks connect to your Wi-Fi and work with other connected devices through a hub or bridge, such as a Samsung SmartThings, Amazon Echo, or Apple HomeKit. We look at how easy it is to set up this aspect of the lock and determine whether you can control it with voice command using these systems. We also see how well a lock works in conjunction with other smart locks and light bulbs to make it easier to manage your entire home from one app.

Apps

One of the biggest draws of smart locks is that they allow homeowners to control access to their home without having to give out a physical key. Most models either have a keypad for coded entry or an electronic “key” that lives in the app and can be created, revoked, or limited to certain time periods with a few taps.

Some smart locks let you create temporary codes for houseguests, cleaning services, dog walkers, and other service providers to use. You can also set up alerts that notify you if someone tries to break in or tampers with the lock. Some even pair with a smart doorbell to show you who is at the door.

Many smart locks are compatible with voice assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple’s HomeKit. You can also integrate them into your smart-home system to make it easy for you and your family to lock the door from anywhere on your phone or tablet.

Some smart locks make a big splash with techy features such as light-up touchscreens and color-coded LED indicator lights, but others go out of their way to look similar to traditional deadbolts so they blend in. It’s a personal preference; some people like to be able to tell their smart lock apart from their normal keys, but others appreciate a less-obtrusive model.

Maintenance

Smart locks are a wonderful way to keep your guests safe and comfortable in your hotel rooms. But like any other device, they’re not without their own set of issues that can arise from time to time. Knowing how to fix common problems that can occur with these locks will allow your staff to help guests troubleshoot their own issues, and prevent them from being locked out of their room while you’re not available to assist them.

One of the most common issues with smart locks is a deadbolt that won’t lock. This typically happens when the latch or deadbolt is positioned incorrectly against the strike plate. This can cause the latch to strike against metal or the deadbolt to strike against metal in the wrong spot, leaving permanent marks on the surface of the strike plate. This can also happen if the handle of the doorknob is hitting the deadbolt or latch at an angle, so it’s important to check the position of the knob and door lock often.

Other common issues with smart locks include the lock not responding to a key code and battery-operated digital locks that are running low on batteries. If this is the case, it’s important to replace the batteries with fresh ones and re-enter the security code through the app. This should resolve the issue.

Smart Digital Door Locks

Smart Door Lock

Smart Digital Door Locks

Smart digital door locks are a simple and affordable way to upgrade your home security. They offer several keyless entry options, including remote unlocking from your phone, and can be integrated with a smart-home system.

Some models show off their tech-minded features with light-up touchscreens, while others try to blend in and look like traditional deadbolts from the outside.

Security

Adding a smart digital door lock lets residents keep tabs on who comes and goes at home. Users can check entry and exit logs in real time and get alerts if smart digital door lock anyone tries to break in. Many smart locks also work with a video doorbell to see who’s at the door and provide an extra layer of security.

A paired smartphone or other device acts as a digital key to open the smart lock, eliminating the need for keys or code numbers. Some smart locks use Bluetooth to detect a paired phone in the vicinity and unlock when it’s within range, while others require the user to physically touch the fob or the lock with their hand to trigger the opening mechanism. This feature helps prevent users from unintentionally locking themselves out while grabbing a package or the mail, and it’s especially useful for those who frequently leave their keys in a pocket or other hard-to-reach place.

Smart locks that integrate into a larger smart-home system let residents set access limitations for cleaning services, dog walkers and repair services without having to give them a permanent password or swap out their code every time a visitor comes to the house. They can also set their lock to automatically lock after a preset amount of time or when they’ve left the house for an extended period.

Convenience

A smart lock lets you unlock your door remotely with an app on a mobile phone. Some models also let you set temporary passwords for guests or short-term tenants to use in addition to your permanent access code. This can be useful for Airbnb or other rental properties. You can also program your smart lock to send a virtual key to delivery drivers or dog walkers to let them in. This feature works best if you can link it to a doorbell camera so you can see who’s coming before you open the door.

Most smart locks have a slot for a standard key so you can continue to use it if the batteries run out, or if your phone connection fails. Some of them also have solar-powered battery backup. We test how easy it is to use a smart lock in daily operation, and look for other convenience features such as geofencing to automatically unlock your door when you get close (August), and auto-locking so that you never forget to lock the door on your way out (Kwikset).

We also consider how well a smart lock integrates with other smart home devices. Most of the models we tested work with Alexa and Google Assistant, and some of them work with Apple’s HomeKit as well. We prefer the ones that work with multiple platforms, so you can automate them to perform routine actions when you say things like “goodnight” or “I’m leaving”. Some models require a Wi-Fi bridge, but others work directly with your home hub.

Apps

The best smart locks use an app to connect to your home Wi-Fi, allowing them to be operated and monitored remotely. Some have Bluetooth built in, which works with an app on your smartphone, while others work with a hub like a Z-Wave or Zigbee bridge, a security system, or one of the best smart home systems such as Apple HomeKit or Google Assistant.

Some apps can even identify who’s coming and going, which could help you spot suspicious activity, such as someone trying to enter after the kids get home from school or when the dog walker is late. Customize push notifications to alert you when specific codes are used, or set up a schedule to automatically lock your door after a pre-set delay.

For convenience, consider a model that works with smart digital door lock your voice assistant. Some of the latest smart locks have built-in microphones, letting you unlock your door hands-free by saying “Open” or “Let me in.” Others use the technology of a doorbell camera to show who’s at the door, which can be helpful for forgetful homeowners who often miss delivery or service personnel.

Installation

If you’re considering a smart digital door lock, there are many factors to consider. The first is connectivity, which can take the form of a wireless radio built into the lock such as Z-Wave, Zigbee, or Bluetooth or a hub/bridge that connects to your home Wi-Fi network. The best models will use encryption to keep your information safe over the radio. You should also look for a lock with two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized logins, as well as options to integrate it with your existing security systems or cameras.

Many smart locks also let you set up temporary entry codes for cleaning services, dog walkers, repair people, or any other type of service person. These codes run alongside your permanent password and can be revoked as soon as they’re used up. If you’re renting out your home, this feature makes it easy to grant access while protecting yourself from unauthorized entries.

You can also find a smart lock that allows you to use your phone to open the door if you’re too far away to unlock it physically. Some models work with a doorbell to let you see who’s at the door, and some even offer fingerprint recognition that uses your unique physical characteristics to unlock instead of a passcode or key.