Ugh, that sounds miserable. I'm about to install a smart lock myself, and now you're making me reconsider... Maybe I'll stick with a hybrid setup—techy convenience but still a trusty old key hidden somewhere, just in case. Thanks for the heads-up!
"Maybe I'll stick with a hybrid setup—techy convenience but still a trusty old key hidden somewhere, just in case."
Definitely go hybrid. Installed a smart lock last month and already had two mini heart attacks when the app glitched. Luckily, I kept a spare key hidden (old-school flowerpot trick still works). Tech is great until it isn't... Learned that the hard way. Just make sure your hiding spot isn't too obvious—no fake rocks, please.
Hybrid is definitely the safest bet. I installed a smart lock about a year ago, and while it works smoothly most of the time, I've had a couple of frustrating moments when firmware updates caused temporary lockouts. Thankfully, I'd anticipated this and stashed a physical key in an inconspicuous spot (hint: avoid common hiding places like doormats or flowerpots). Tech is convenient, but redundancy is key—literally.
Had a similar issue once—battery died unexpectedly, and I hadn't checked it in months. Ended up climbing through a window (thankfully unlocked). Learned my lesson quick. Curious, anyone here tried hooking their smart lock up to a wired power source to avoid battery hassles? Seems doable, but haven't gotten around to testing it myself yet.
Had the exact same thought a while back, since dealing with dead batteries can be such a hassle. Did some digging into it, and technically speaking, wiring your smart lock directly to a power source is doable. The main challenge is ensuring you have a reliable backup (like a small battery pack) in case of power outages. Otherwise, you'd just swap one problem for another.
Personally, I've settled on setting regular calendar reminders every three months to check battery levels—simple but effective so far. But if you're comfortable doing some minor electrical work and have a secure way to route wiring to your door, it could be worth exploring. Just make sure you're mindful of local building codes and safety standards if you decide to go that route. Good luck either way... getting locked out is never fun.
