Totally get what you mean about those old doors—sometimes it feels like every “universal” lock is made for post-1950s houses. I’ve seen a few of the eco-friendly smart locks, but honestly, I’m a bit skeptical about how much greener they really are. They still use batteries, right? On the insulation front, as long as your retrofit isn’t leaving gaps around the lock, you should be fine. It’s always a balance with these older homes... nothing’s ever quite standard!
I hear you on the battery thing—my “eco-friendly” lock still chews through AAs faster than I expected. Honestly, I’m not convinced it’s any greener than a regular deadbolt, but at least I’m not losing keys every other week now. My door’s from the 1920s and nothing lined up right… had to chisel out a bit just to get the plate flush. Didn’t notice any drafts, though, so fingers crossed it stays that way. These old houses really do keep you guessing.
That’s a common issue with older doors—nothing’s ever quite square, and retrofitting modern hardware can get tricky fast. I’ve seen a few folks try to add weatherstripping after chiseling, just in case, but if you’re not feeling a draft, you might be in the clear. Out of curiosity, did you have to adjust the strike plate or hinges at all, or was it mostly just the lock area giving you trouble? Sometimes those old frames shift over the years and throw everything off...
Sometimes those old frames shift over the years and throw everything off...
That’s exactly what happened with mine—turns out the top hinge was just a hair out of alignment, probably from decades of settling. Had to shim it a bit before the new deadbolt would even think about lining up. Didn’t bother with extra weatherstripping since, like you said, no draft yet, but I’m keeping an eye on it as the seasons change.
That’s a classic issue with older doors—settling just shifts everything out of true over time. I’ve found that sometimes a small hinge tweak makes a world of difference for those new locks. If you ever notice sticking as humidity changes, a quick adjustment usually does the trick. I’d just keep an eye on the paint or finish too; sometimes shimming can leave tiny gaps that show up later.
