"Still beats fumbling for keys while juggling groceries..."
Haha, totally relate to this! We switched to keyless entry about two years ago, and honestly, it's been a lifesaver. I remember one night coming home late from a client meeting, arms full of fabric samples and paint swatches, and of course, it was pouring rain. Standing there digging through my purse for keys was the last straw. Next weekend, we installed a keypad lock.
About the noise issue though, that's interesting. We also went fiberglass (smooth finish, painted it ourselves), and I haven't noticed much difference in sound compared to our old wooden door. Maybe it's the texture or thickness of the specific model? Or possibly the weatherstripping around the frame? Might be worth checking out if the noise gets too annoying.
Battery-wise, ours lasts around 8 months, but we splurged a bit on a mid-range brand. Still, even changing batteries twice a year beats getting locked out in the rain again...
We went keyless last year too, and honestly, it's been great. I was hesitant at first because our house is older (built in the 1920s), and I worried a modern keypad would look out of place. Surprisingly, it blends pretty well with the vintage hardware we kept on the door. Haven't noticed noise issues either—maybe it's more about installation quality or insulation around the frame? Battery life's been decent, around 6 months or so...but yeah, still beats standing outside in the cold trying to find keys.
Battery life around 6 months sounds about right—depends a bit on usage and weather. If you want to stretch it further, lithium batteries usually perform better in colder temps. Also, totally agree on installation quality affecting noise. Proper alignment and insulation around the latch area makes a huge difference...especially in older doors that have settled over time. Glad it's working out well for you!
"Proper alignment and insulation around the latch area makes a huge difference...especially in older doors that have settled over time."
Couldn't agree more about older doors—I live in a historic home myself, and the settling issue is no joke. Had to spend quite some time shimming and adjusting to get my keyless lock aligned just right. Curious if anyone's noticed a difference in battery life between touchscreen models and button-style keypads? I've heard touchscreens might drain faster, but haven't tested it myself yet.
I've had a touchscreen keypad for about two years now, and honestly, battery life hasn't been much of an issue. I swap them out maybe once a year, tops. But my neighbor swears his button-style keypad lasts way longer. Could just be brand differences or usage habits though...hard to say. Now you've got me wondering if I should've gone old-school buttons instead, haha.