Haha, I get the frustration, but honestly, smart locks aren't all that bad once you get past the initial hiccups. Had a similar experience at first—locked myself out when the battery died unexpectedly (rookie mistake, I know). But after swapping batteries and setting up a keypad backup, it's been smooth sailing ever since.
The convenience factor is huge for me. No more fumbling around with keys when my hands are full or worrying about losing them on vacation. Plus, being able to remotely unlock the door for family or friends has saved me more than once.
I agree tech can be flaky sometimes, but traditional locks have their own issues too—like getting jammed or keys snapping off inside (been there...). Maybe the trick is just finding a balance: smart lock with a keypad backup or even keeping an old-school key handy as a failsafe.
I totally get the appeal of smart locks, especially the convenience factor you mentioned. But honestly, I've been hesitant to fully jump on board because of budget concerns. A while ago, I was looking into upgrading my front door lock and got tempted by those sleek smart locks...until I saw the price tags. Ouch.
Instead, I ended up going with a simple keypad deadbolt—no app or Wi-Fi needed, just punch in the code and you're good. Installation was straightforward too: remove the old lock, pop in the new one, and set your code. Took me maybe 30 minutes tops, and I'm no handyman.
It's not as fancy as unlocking remotely for friends or family, but it's still way better than carrying keys around everywhere. Plus, batteries last forever since there's no constant Wi-Fi connection draining them. Maybe someday I'll upgrade to a full-on smart lock system, but for now, this has been a solid compromise between convenience and cost.
I see your point about the keypad deadbolt being a good middle ground, especially budget-wise. But have you thought about the environmental angle at all? I mean, batteries lasting forever sounds great, but eventually they do run out...and then what? Most keypad locks I've seen still use disposable batteries, which can pile up over time. Rechargeables might help, but not all locks play nice with them.
When I was remodeling my place, I went with a mechanical push-button lock—no batteries, no Wi-Fi, nothing electronic at all. It's not as sleek or high-tech as a smart lock or even your keypad version, but it's super reliable and zero waste. Installation was pretty similar to yours—just swapped it in myself in under an hour.
Sure, I can't remotely unlock for guests either, but honestly, how often do we really need that feature? For me, the peace of mind knowing I'm not tossing batteries every year was worth the trade-off. Just something else to consider if you're ever looking to upgrade again down the line.
Good points about the battery waste—I hadn't really thought about that angle. Honestly, I went keypad mostly for convenience (and avoiding lockouts, lol). Mechanical sounds tempting though...maybe next reno I'll give it a shot.
I've gotta say, mechanical locks have saved me more than once. Batteries dying at the worst possible moment is exactly why I stick to old-school keys—plus, fewer headaches when tech inevitably glitches. But I get the convenience angle for sure. Curious though, has anyone had issues with weather affecting their keypad locks? I've heard moisture or freezing temps can mess with them, but maybe that's just my paranoia talking...