Not everyone needs their front door talking to their phone, honestly.
Couldn’t agree more. I went with a basic keypad too—no app, no Wi-Fi, just punch in the code and go. It’s been rock solid. And yeah, the backup key is a must... learned that after my kid tried every button combo possible and locked us out for half a day.
I hear you on the backup key—kids have a knack for finding every possible way to test a lock’s patience. I went with a keypad too, mostly because I didn’t want my door depending on my phone’s battery life or the Wi-Fi behaving itself. Honestly, less tech sometimes means fewer headaches. Only downside? Remembering to change the code after my neighbor watched me punch it in while chatting about compost bins...
Had a similar moment last fall—neighbor’s kid watched me type in my code while they were selling cookies. Didn’t think much of it until I realized she’s got a memory like a steel trap. Ended up swapping the code twice in one week just to be safe. Ever run into any issues with the buttons wearing down or getting shiny? I’ve seen some older keypads where you could almost guess the code by the wear pattern, which kinda defeats the purpose...
Yeah, that’s a real thing—those shiny buttons are basically a dead giveaway if someone’s paying attention. I’ve had a couple of rental properties where the keypad was so worn you could narrow it down to four numbers just by looking at it. Not exactly high security.
- I try to swap out codes every few months, but honestly, if the keypad’s cheap plastic, the wear shows up fast anyway.
- Some newer models randomize the number layout each time, which helps, but they’re pricier and not always as durable.
- For higher turnover units, I’ve started using smart locks with app-based access. No physical buttons, no wear patterns. Downside is you’re relying on batteries and WiFi, which can be a pain if tenants aren’t tech-savvy.
Funny thing—one time a tenant actually guessed the code just by looking at the smudges. After that, I switched to touchscreens for my own place. Not perfect, but at least there’s no obvious “hot spot” on the pad...
Yeah, those worn-out keypads are basically an open invitation if someone’s looking for an easy way in. I’ve noticed the same thing with my old Schlage lock—after a year, you could practically read the code off the buttons. Swapping codes helps a bit, but like you said, cheap plastic just doesn’t hold up.
- I’ve tried the randomizing keypad models too. They’re cool in theory, but mine started glitching after a few months—numbers would stick or not register. Not sure if it was just a dud or if they’re all like that.
- Smart locks with app access are definitely a step up for security, but yeah, batteries dying at the worst time is a real headache. Had one lock out a guest once because the WiFi dropped and the backup code pad had the same smudge problem.
- For my own place, I went with a touchscreen model that wipes clean easily. No physical buttons, and it’s easy to reset codes. Only downside is fingerprints, but at least you can clean those off.
Honestly, I’m still waiting for someone to invent a lock that’s both idiot-proof and hacker-proof... seems like there’s always a tradeoff somewhere.
