Convenience is nice, sure, but honestly I still prefer the reliability of a good old-fashioned key. Had a keyless system installed during my reno and ended up switching back after a year—battery issues and laggy responses drove me nuts. Maybe I'm just old-school, but sometimes simpler really is better...especially when you're standing in freezing rain waiting for tech to cooperate.
Totally get where you're coming from—standing in the rain waiting for a laggy keypad would drive me nuts too. But honestly, not all keyless systems are created equal. I've installed a bunch of these over the past few years, and here's what I've noticed:
- Battery life and responsiveness vary a lot by brand. The cheaper ones tend to lag or drain batteries quickly, but some of the newer models have really improved on this. I've had clients who switched brands and found it made a huge difference.
- Placement matters big-time. Sometimes it's just a matter of how exposed your keypad is to weather or interference. A small adjustment in location or adding a protective cover can solve a lot of those frustration points.
- Backup options are key (no pun intended...). Some newer setups have emergency power ports or even mechanical backup keys hidden discreetly, so you’re never truly locked out if tech decides to misbehave.
I totally respect the simplicity argument—there’s definitely something reassuring about a physical key—but I wouldn’t write off keyless completely. Maybe you just haven't found the right system yet?
Yeah, I've been there—standing in the rain, cursing at a keypad that seems to take forever to respond. Honestly, you're spot on about placement. I moved mine under a small porch awning and it went from total frustration to smooth sailing. Still miss the simplicity of keys sometimes, but a good keyless setup can make life pretty convenient...hang in there, you'll find a setup that clicks eventually.
Have you tried switching to a keypad with physical buttons instead of touchscreen? I had a similar issue with rain and responsiveness, and honestly, physical buttons made a huge difference. Placement definitely matters, but sometimes the tech itself can be finicky. Took me a couple tries to find the sweet spot between convenience and reliability...but once you do, you'll wonder how you ever managed without it. Hang in there, you're on the right track.
"you'll wonder how you ever managed without it"
Ha, I wish that were true for me! Went full keypad once, but turns out my old Victorian door frame had other plans—ended up looking like a sci-fi prop glued onto a museum piece. Back to the drawing board...
