Curious though, has anyone tried those keypad locks? Seems like a decent investment, but I'm skeptical about battery life and reliability...
I've had a keypad lock for about two years now, and honestly, battery life's been surprisingly decent—only changed it once. But reliability...well, let's just say punching in the code at midnight in freezing temps with numb fingers isn't exactly fun. Maybe your grill lid trick is safer after all...
I've been using keypad locks on my historic place for years, and honestly, they're not as scary as they seem. Battery life is usually solid—mine lasts about a year, give or take—and there's always a low-battery warning way ahead of time. Reliability-wise, yeah, cold fingers aren't fun...been there. Quick tip: set a simple but secure code that's easy to punch in fast. Don't stress too much, you'll probably be glad you made the switch once you get used to it.
Battery life's decent, agreed. But honestly, I keep a spare physical key hidden outside just in case—old habits die hard. Saved me once when the keypad froze solid in January...
Battery backups are handy, but I agree they're not foolproof. Last winter, during that brutal cold snap, my electronic lock completely gave up—battery was fine, but the mechanism itself froze solid. Luckily, I still had the original skeleton key (my place is from 1895, so we're talking old-school hardware). Took some gentle persuasion and a bit of WD-40 to coax it open, but it worked. Ever since then, I've made it a habit to periodically check and lubricate the locks before winter hits. Modern tech is great, but sometimes the simplest solutions are still the most reliable...
Interesting point about the skeleton key, but do you ever worry about security with those older locks? I mean, they're charming and all, but aren't they easier to pick or force open compared to modern ones? I've got a similar setup at my place (built in 1910), and I've been debating whether to upgrade or just keep the vintage hardware. Curious if you've had any concerns or experiences with that...
