Good tip about the 9V emergency terminal—didn't even know some locks had that. Mine definitely doesn't, unfortunately. Learned that the hard way when I had to shimmy through a half-open basement window at midnight. Not my proudest DIY moment, haha.
But swapping batteries every three months seems a bit excessive to me. Most smart locks I've dealt with usually give a low-battery warning well in advance. Maybe your lock doesn't have that feature? Or did you just miss the notification? I've found that using good lithium batteries instead of regular alkaline ones makes a huge difference in battery life. They hold up better in extreme temperatures too, which is handy if your door faces direct sun or harsh winters.
Speaking of backups, does anyone use those keypad locks with physical keys as a backup? I've been thinking of switching over to one of those hybrid models—seems like the best of both worlds. Curious if they're actually reliable or if the key mechanism tends to jam up after a while...
I've been using one of those keypad locks with a physical key backup for about two years now, and honestly, the key mechanism hasn't jammed yet. But I do find myself misplacing the physical keys more often than I'd like to admit... kinda defeats the purpose, right? 😂 Has anyone tried hiding a spare key outside as a backup, or is that just asking for trouble these days?
I've had one of those keypad locks too, and honestly, hiding a key outside always felt sketchy to me. I tried the classic "fake rock" method once, but after helping my neighbor hunt through his garden for his own spare key (he'd forgotten where he hid it), I decided against it. Instead, I got a small lockbox mounted discreetly in the backyard—feels more secure and way less stressful than playing hide-and-seek with myself...
I feel you on the fake rock thing—I tried that once too, and it lasted about three weeks before my dog decided it was his new chew toy. 🙄 I ended up switching to a keypad lock, but I also keep a spare key in a lockbox tucked away behind some shrubs. Honestly, it's a lifesaver—especially after that one time the keypad battery died and left me stuck outside in the rain. Lesson learned: backups are always a good idea...
"Lesson learned: backups are always a good idea..."
Haha, totally relate to this. I went all-in on smart locks during my reno, thinking it'd simplify life—until the Wi-Fi glitched and locked me out mid-grocery run. Ended up sitting on my porch eating melting ice cream while waiting for tech support. Your lockbox idea sounds like a solid backup plan, might have to borrow that one...