Funny, I remember those rubber caps too—mine always cracked right where the key ring went through. Switching to keyless was a game-changer for me, especially during remodels when my hands are full or dirty. Not having to fumble with keys is underrated. Did you install it yourself or have someone do it? I’ve noticed some brands are easier for DIY than others... Curious if you ran into any hiccups making the switch.
I totally get what you mean about the rubber caps—mine always seemed to split after a few months, especially in winter. I went with a Schlage keypad and did the install myself. Honestly, it was way easier than I expected, just had to swap out the old deadbolt and follow the instructions. The only hiccup was lining up the latch, but nothing a little patience couldn’t fix. I can’t imagine going back to regular keys now, especially when I’m lugging groceries or tools.
I get the appeal of keyless, especially when your hands are full, but I’m still on the fence about ditching regular keys altogether. I’ve had friends with keypad locks run into battery issues at the worst times—like, locked out in the rain kind of situations. Plus, those things aren’t exactly cheap upfront. I just stick with a basic deadbolt and hide a spare key (yeah, I know, not the safest, but it’s worked so far). Maybe I’m just old school, but I kinda like not having to worry about electronics failing on me.
I just stick with a basic deadbolt and hide a spare key (yeah, I know, not the safest, but it’s worked so far). Maybe I’m just old school, but I kinda like not having to worry about electronics failing on me.
Totally get where you’re coming from. There’s something reassuring about a good old-fashioned deadbolt—no batteries to die, no software updates, just solid metal. I was hesitant for ages too, especially after hearing horror stories about folks getting locked out mid-storm because their keypad died. That said, if you ever do decide to try keyless, there are a few tricks to make it less stressful. For example, most models have a low-battery warning that gives you weeks of heads-up (though I admit, easy to ignore if you’re busy). Some even have backup key slots or can be powered temporarily with a 9V battery from the outside.
But honestly, if what you’ve got works and gives you peace of mind, that’s hard to beat. Sometimes simple is best. I still keep a spare key hidden too—old habits die hard...
I kinda like not having to worry about electronics failing on me.
Honestly, I was in the same camp until my old deadbolt started sticking during winter—nothing like wrestling your own front door with groceries in hand. If you ever get curious about keyless, here’s what I’d suggest: pick one with a backup key slot (just in case) and stash a 9V battery by the door for emergencies. Also, I found that swapping out the batteries is way less annoying than I expected. Still, hiding a spare key… yeah, I still do that too, just can’t let go of the classics.
