Heated keypads, huh? Never even knew those existed. Are they reliable enough long-term, or do you end up replacing them more often? I mean, sounds cozy for your fingers at least, haha...
The angled canopy idea makes a lot of sense too, especially if your door faces the wind direction. I remember one winter, the snow drifted so badly against my smart lock that it actually froze solid. Had to stand out there with a hairdryer like some kind of desperate burglar just to get into my own house. Neighbors got a good laugh at least.
Maybe combining both would be overkill, but hey, when you're locked out in freezing weather, there's probably no such thing as too many precautions. Has anyone tried weatherproofing sprays or coatings on their keypad? Wonder if that'd help keep ice buildup down...
I've never tried heated keypads myself, but honestly, after my own lock-out fiasco last winter, I'd consider anything. I ended up pouring hot water over the keypad—big mistake. It thawed it alright, but refroze even worse ten minutes later. Lesson learned the hard way. The angled canopy sounds practical though, might give that a shot first. Weatherproofing sprays could help too, but I'd worry they'd wear off quickly with constant use...
"Weatherproofing sprays could help too, but I'd worry they'd wear off quickly with constant use..."
Honestly, weatherproofing sprays can be surprisingly durable if you choose the right kind. I've used silicone-based sprays on outdoor electronics before, and they've held up pretty well—even through frequent handling. But instead of heated keypads or canopies, have you considered just installing a mechanical backup lock? Old-school, sure, but it's saved me more than once when tech decided to go on winter vacation...
I've used silicone-based sprays on outdoor electronics before, and they've held up pretty well—even through frequent handling.
Mechanical backups are solid advice, but honestly, silicone sprays haven't really impressed me. Tried one last winter, and it worked great at first but wore off quicker than I'd hoped. Maybe I just picked the wrong brand...? Any recommendations for something more durable?
I've never been a big fan of silicone sprays either—had similar issues with durability. Switched to dielectric grease last year on my keypad lock, and it's held up way better through rain and freezing temps. Might be worth giving that a shot?
