Had a similar scenario myself last winter when a power surge knocked out my router. It was frustrating, but I ended up installing a small UPS (uninterruptible power supply) to keep the Wi-Fi running during short outages. It's been pretty reliable so far—runs for about an hour, which covers most brief interruptions. Might be worth considering something similar, especially if your area sees frequent storms or outages... beats dealing with spiderweb-covered keys again, that's for sure.
"I ended up installing a small UPS (uninterruptible power supply) to keep the Wi-Fi running during short outages."
That's a solid approach, especially if your smart lock relies heavily on Wi-Fi. But I'm curious—does your lock have any built-in backup features? Mine has Bluetooth fallback, so even if the Wi-Fi goes down, I can usually still get in with my phone as long as I'm nearby. I learned this the hard way after a thunderstorm knocked out my router and left me fumbling around in the dark, trying to reset everything from outside... not fun.
If anyone's considering a UPS setup like Home Flipper mentioned, I'd suggest checking your router's power specs first (usually printed on the back or underside). That way you can match it with the right UPS capacity—no point in overspending on something huge if you're just powering basic gear.
Mine does have Bluetooth fallback, thankfully... but honestly, I trust the UPS more. Bluetooth can be finicky at the worst times (like when you're standing in the rain, phone in hand, cursing quietly). The UPS setup was pretty straightforward once I matched the router specs—nothing fancy or expensive. Just enough juice to keep things running smoothly during those short outages. Totally worth it for peace of mind alone.
Interesting you mention the UPS setup—I usually recommend something similar to clients who are nervous about smart locks. Bluetooth is definitely handy, but like you said, it can be unreliable at the worst possible moment. I've had clients call me in a panic because their Bluetooth lock decided to go on vacation right when they needed it most (usually during a thunderstorm or when they're late for work).
Personally, I'm a big fan of redundancy when it comes to home tech. A small UPS dedicated just for your router and smart home hub is a pretty inexpensive insurance policy. I mean, if you're already investing in smart home gear, why not spend that little extra to protect your investment? It doesn't have to be anything massive—just enough to bridge those short outages or power blips.
One thing I'm curious about though: have you considered adding a keypad backup option as well? I know some folks don't like the aesthetics of keypads, but they're pretty foolproof. Batteries last forever, and it doesn't rely on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth signals at all. I've installed a few of these for clients who were skeptical at first, and now they swear by them. Plus, it's great for temporary access—like when you've got contractors or guests coming by.
I guess my point is, tech is awesome until it isn't... and having multiple layers of backup can save you from standing in the rain, cursing at your phone. Speaking from experience here.
Totally relate to the keypad suggestion—I was hesitant at first too because of looks, but honestly, peace of mind beats aesthetics any day. Learned that lesson after my smart lock glitched mid-storm... redundancy is definitely your friend here.
