Honestly, I used to feel the same way about keyless—thought it was just another thing to break or need batteries. But after swapping out a few for friends and family (and let’s be real, getting tired of losing my keys in the bottom of the toolbox), I started to come around. The battery issue is real, but most of the new ones have a backup key slot hidden somewhere, or even a way to jumpstart the lock with a 9V battery if you’re in a pinch. Not perfect, but better than nothing.
The sticky keypad thing cracks me up—my nephew managed to get peanut butter in ours. Took me forever to clean it out, so yeah, I get that. I do wish someone would invent a hybrid: regular key backup, weatherproof, and maybe a keypad that doesn’t attract every smudge in the house. Until then, I’ll keep some batteries stashed in the junk drawer and hope for the best... I guess it’s all just picking your battles at this point.
Totally get where you’re coming from on the battery thing—honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks get nervous about that. But you’re right, most of the newer models have a mechanical backup, so worst case, you’re not locked out. The smudgy keypad drives me nuts, too. I’ve had to swap out a few after someone’s kid got jelly fingerprints all over the numbers... seems like that’s just part of the deal. Still, it’s nice not having to dig through pockets for keys every day. Picking your battles is about right.
I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of these keyless systems for a while, so reading about the battery backup issue is actually reassuring. The idea of being locked out because a battery dies was a major concern for me, but it seems like manufacturers have mostly figured that out with the mechanical override. I do wonder how often people actually use that backup, though—maybe only when someone forgets to swap out batteries for a year or two? Guess it’s one of those things you don’t think about until it happens.
The smudgy keypad is something I hadn’t really considered before reading these posts, but now that you mention it, I can see how it’d be a pain. I have a toddler with sticky hands and a love for pressing buttons, so I’m already imagining the fingerprints... and probably some mystery food residue. I’ve heard a few people mention that certain finishes are better than others for hiding smudges, though. Matte seems to do better than glossy, at least in my experience with kitchen appliances. Maybe that applies here too?
Not having to dig around for keys is honestly the biggest draw for me. I’m always juggling groceries or trying to get my kid out of the car seat, so being able to punch in a code sounds way easier. That said, I do have this nagging thought about wear patterns on the buttons—like if you’re using the same code all the time, does it become obvious which numbers you use? Probably not a huge deal for most homes, but still something I’m thinking about.
All in all, it feels like one of those upgrades where the convenience outweighs most of the minor annoyances. Just need to remember to wipe down the keypad every now and then... or maybe train my kid to use a napkin first.
I had the exact same worry about getting locked out when I first looked into these. The idea of standing on my porch with a dead battery and a bag of groceries was not appealing. But like you said, the mechanical override is a lifesaver. I’ve only had to use it once, and that was after a particularly long winter where I just completely forgot about the batteries. It’s not something you think about until you’re standing there, cursing yourself for ignoring the low battery beep for weeks.
“I have a toddler with sticky hands and a love for pressing buttons, so I’m already imagining the fingerprints... and probably some mystery food residue.”
This made me laugh because it’s way too real. My nephew visited last month and within five minutes, the keypad looked like it had been through a jelly donut factory. I went with a brushed nickel finish, which hides smudges better than the shiny ones, but nothing’s really toddler-proof. I keep a pack of wipes by the door now—honestly, it’s just part of the routine at this point.
About the wear patterns on the buttons: I worried about that too, especially after seeing some horror stories online. But after a year, I haven’t noticed any obvious marks. Maybe if you use the same code for years it’ll show, but most locks let you change codes pretty easily. I swap mine every few months, partly for security and partly because I can never remember which code I gave to the dog walker.
The convenience is hard to beat, though. Not having to dig for keys when your hands are full is a game changer. The only downside is now I have no excuse when I forget to lock up—I can’t blame lost keys anymore. And yeah, teaching kids to wipe their hands before pressing buttons... that’s still a work in progress.
Couldn’t agree more about the brushed nickel—saves you from seeing every single fingerprint, but nothing stands up to a determined toddler. I’ve seen locks after a few years in busy homes and honestly, the buttons hold up better than I expected. Biggest issue I run into is folks forgetting to swap batteries until it’s too late... but at least the override key keeps you from camping on your own porch. Convenience wins, even if you’re stuck wiping jelly off the keypad every other day.
