Totally agree with having a manual backup—saved me more than once. Another thing I'd suggest is setting calendar reminders every few months to swap out batteries. Takes two minutes and beats getting stuck outside in the rain...trust me on that one.
Manual backups are definitely a lifesaver, no argument there. Curious though, have you ever had issues with the manual lock itself? I ask because I had one installed a while back, and after about a year, it started sticking randomly. Nothing worse than confidently reaching for your trusty backup only to find it's decided to take the day off...
Also, good call on the battery reminders. But I'm wondering—do you swap them out proactively even if they're still working fine, or do you wait until they're showing signs of weakness? I've always been the "wait until it beeps at me" type, but your rainy-day scenario has me reconsidering my approach.
Speaking of rain, I once got locked out during a thunderstorm because my keypad decided to short-circuit (lesson learned: waterproofing matters). Ended up climbing through a half-open basement window—definitely not my proudest DIY moment. Ever since then, I've been a bit paranoid about electronic locks in general. Do you guys think it's worth investing in higher-end models, or is it more about regular maintenance and backups?
Anyway, appreciate the tips—it's reassuring to know I'm not the only one who's had these little dramas.
"Ended up climbing through a half-open basement window—definitely not my proudest DIY moment."
Haha, been there. Nothing like a spontaneous ninja move to remind you that home security has its quirks.
About your manual lock sticking issue—yeah, I've noticed that too. Usually, it's just dust or grime building up inside the mechanism. I started giving mine a quick spray of graphite lubricant every six months or so, and it's been smooth sailing ever since. WD-40 might seem tempting, but trust me, graphite powder works better long-term without attracting more dirt.
As for batteries, I used to be a "wait for the beep" type myself, but after one late-night lockout scare, I switched to proactively swapping them out every year—usually when daylight saving rolls around (easy reminder). Feels wasteful at first, but peace of mind is worth it.
Regarding high-end electronic locks, honestly, regular maintenance and proper installation matter more than price tag. I've installed both budget and premium models, and the key difference usually comes down to features rather than reliability. Waterproofing and build quality do count, though, especially if you're somewhere rainy.
Funny you mention graphite powder—I used to swear by it too, but honestly, I've had better luck with silicone spray lately. Graphite worked great at first, but after a while, I noticed it leaving dark smudges around the lock area (not ideal on a freshly painted door...). Silicone spray seems cleaner and hasn't attracted dirt for me yet.
Also, about the battery thing—totally get the peace-of-mind angle, but tossing batteries every year feels kinda wasteful to me. I've switched over to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries instead. They hold charge longer and I just recharge them annually around daylight saving time. Feels like a good compromise between reliability and eco-friendliness.
And yeah, climbing through windows... been there more times than I'd like to admit. Last time was after installing my fancy new keypad lock—forgot the code within a week. Talk about irony.
I've had similar graphite smudge issues—definitely not fun on white trim. Silicone spray's been solid for me too, but lately I've been testing dry PTFE lubricant. Seems even cleaner and smoother... might be worth a shot if silicone ever lets you down.
