Why you should consider an electronic door lock for your home
With the increasing security concerns in today’s world, having an electronic door lock for home is important. Electric door locks offer a new and better way to remotely lock and unlock your doors, as well as monitor who enters and leaves. If you’re thinking of installing an electronic door lock for home, read on to discover its key benefits, buying considerations, and more.
Overview
Main Benefits of an Electronic Door Lock for Home
Along with other modern security devices, electric door locks provide an additional layer of protection by controlling access to and monitoring your home. Here are other reasons why upgrading to an electric door lock for home is a good idea:
Upgraded Security Features
Keyless Entry
Electronic door locks don’t have the same issues that plague physical locks, such as leaving or losing keys. In place of traditional keys, most modern electronic locks keep doors open or closed by using a keypad, magnetic card, passcodes, or smartphone application.
Advanced Authentication Methods
These locks offer a wide range of access methods, including Bluetooth connectivity, RFID cards, and fingerprint recognition. The SwitchBot Lock Pro, for instance, has 15 unlocking methods to ensure that you’ll always have a convenient and secure way to get into your home. Other products may use facial recognition, iris scanning, and other advanced methods.
Tamper-Proof Design
Electronic door locks are usually made from a combination of different sturdy materials to ensure they’re not easy to tamper with. At present, most of these locks use zinc alloy due to its hardness and strength. Other materials manufacturers use are aluminum, solid brass, stainless steel, and impact-resistant plastic.
But no lock is completely resistant to tampering. Fortunately, some models have built-in alarms to scare off potential intruders. They could also send notifications to your phone when they detect tampering.
Some electronic door locks have an auto-lock feature. This means they’ll automatically lock your door after a set amount of time (let’s say 30 minutes maximum) has passed. This reduces the risk of leaving your door unlocked, which intruders could take advantage of.
Remote Access and Monitoring
Stay Informed with Real-Time Notifications
Electronic door locks are capable of sending real-time notifications to your smartphone or other smart devices for all door activities. This feature keeps you aware of who comes and goes, so you can quickly respond to any emergency or suspicious activity.
Remote Locking and Unlocking
Having the option to lock or unlock doors remotely is one of the best selling points of an electric door lock for home. This function is specifically useful when you can’t be at home to let guests, family members, or service providers come inside your home. But it’s important to note that you can’t access this function without an internet connection.
Activity Monitoring
Some electronic door locks are able to monitor and remember all of the activities and access attempts. The SwitchBot Lock Pro, for instance, can store up to 30,000 logs before deleting the oldest logs. In addition, the access control feature of these locks allows you to issue or revoke access permissions remotely using your phone or computer for added security and control.
Integration with Smart Home Systems and Platforms
Look for electronic door locks that can easily connect with other smart devices and platforms. Many of these innovative locks also work with popular voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. This integration feature ultimately helps your smart home system work smoothly and is customized to your specific needs.
Things to Consider Before Buying an Electronic Door Lock
When shopping for an electronic door lock for home, it’s important to set aside time to think about different buying considerations. This is to ensure that the lock you end up buying fits your security requirements and personal preferences. Let’s go through some of these considerations below.
Installation and Compatibility
Before you rush into buying an electronic door lock for your home, think about how you’re going to install it first. There are locks that you can easily install yourself. (They’re called retrofit smart locks.) Others will require a professional to install them because they might not work with your current door and lock setup.
Most manufacturers provide detailed information on how to check if your door is compatible with their locks. It’s also important to remember that compatibility doesn’t only refer to your door’s current lock type. It also means compatibility with other smart home devices and platforms you already use in your home, such as doorbells, home hubs, security cameras, cloud-based voice services, and more.
Power Source Options (Battery vs. Hardwired)
At present, there are two ways you can power electronic door locks: with batteries or by connecting them directly to your home’s electrical system. So, which is the best option?
Hardwired Electronic Door Locks
Like the name suggests, this type of electronic door lock for home can directly connect to your home’s electrical system. The upside to these locks is that you don’t need to spend money on replacement batteries, and the lock will continue to operate as long as there’s a constant supply of electricity.
But there are a few downsides to hardwired electronic locks. For instance, you need a licensed electrician to install them. Also, when there’s a power outage, they’re going to stop working—unless they come with a backup power source.
Battery-Operated Electronic Door Locks
Battery-operated locks are a more attractive option for those who live in apartments or don’t have the budget for professional installation. While you might need to replace their batteries every few months, you don’t need to worry that they'll stop working during a power outage.
Like hardwired locks, they have their downsides. They require regular battery changes or recharges. This isn’t only inconvenient, but there’s also a possibility you’ll get locked out of your home if the batteries run out.
Fortunately, there are electronic door locks that have a backup power source and will notify you when the batteries are running out of power.
SwitchBot Lock Pro runs on four AA batteries, which could last for six to nine months under ideal conditions. The great thing about the Lock Pro is that it notifies you when the other batteries are empty. In that way, you don’t ever have to experience standing in front of a locked door.
Brand Reputation, Warranty, and Customer Support
Most people often look past this crucial step. Researching the brand’s reputation through reviews and ratings from legitimate customers can provide valuable insights into different things, such as:
- The quality of the electronic door locks.
- How the company handles customer concerns.
- See if the company honors their product warranty or issues refunds (if the claim is valid).
When it comes to warranties, most manufacturers back up their locks with a warranty period ranging from one to three years. Most high-end models or those with more advanced features usually offer longer warranties. Make sure to check what the warranty covers and for how long.
Electronic Door Lock for Home | Takeaways
There’s always going to be a threat to our home's safety. However, staying proactive and installing a reliable electronic door lock at home can greatly reduce this risk and protect our loved ones from potential intruders. In order to reap its full benefits, it’s important to always do thorough research and choose reliable brands, such as SwitchBot, to ensure reliability, quality, and peace of mind.
