The Ultimate Smart Door Lock Guide
For most people, their main concern above all else in life is protecting and keeping their family safe from anything that could cause harm. So knowing how to effectively protect your home and everything in it should be your top priority. But exactly how do you go about doing that?To get more news about fingerprint smart lock, you can visit securamsys.com official website.
The best way to protect your home and everything in it is by installing smart locks. OK, you are probably thinking that you already have a security system and that’s great, but having the right locks will add a layer of security that you don’t have if you currently have traditional locks that use keys to open them.
Why…you might ask? Well, have you ever heard of Bump Keys?
Most people haven’t, but they are a very real thing and easily obtained on the internet for about $10-$50. So what is a bump key? A bump key can be inserted into any traditional lock that uses a pin tumbler mechanism for inserting a key to unlock the door. That means anyone with a set of bump keys (also known as rapping keys or 999 keys) can insert one into a traditional tumbler lock and unlock that door very easily. In fact, a bump key can open a door more easily than the actual key itself.
According to Wikipedia, a criminal, or anyone with a set of ten rapping keys, is capable of opening about 90% of the most common pin tumbler locks. And just about all tumbler locks are vulnerable to some extent of being bumped using a bump key to get them open.
Now that’s some pretty scary stuff!
So now that you know about bump keys and how easy they are to use and how cheaply they can be purchased, what are you going to do about it?Well, you have to find locks that can’t be opened using a bump key. And fortunately, most smart locks can’t be opened using a bump key. So let’s take a look at smart locks and what you need to know to make an educated decision about buying the best smart locks for your money.
Home Ownership
Protecting your home and family is at the top of the list of important things when it comes to your home. However, whether you own your home or rent your home will determine to what extent you are able (or unable) to go about protecting your family from harm.
So the first thing you need to know before you proceed is whether you will have to obtain special permission to install smart locks which would be the case if you lived in a rental home.
If You Own Your Home
If you own your home, you have no worries about which locks you can put on your doors. Because if you own that home, you can do whatever you want to it and there’s no one to tell you you can’t, which is a common roadblock for those who live in a rental home.
If You Rent Your Home
If you live in a rental home, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t install smart locks on that rental, it just means you will have to go through a little more hassle before doing so.
Most rental home landlords will require that you provide them with a key to that home should you decide to change the locks. Therefore, if you decide to install smart locks on your rental home, you should contact your landlord and inquire about what he/she requires before you do.
You might want to back up your reasons for wanting to install smart locks such as the bump lock issue we discussed above. Then, if the landlord gives you permission to install smart locks on that rental home, make sure you get that permission in writing. This will protect you from having to pay for any perceived damages when you move out.
Types of Smart Door Locks
There are several different types of smart door locks on the market; therefore, you will need to learn the different smart lock options available to you and what they do before you can decide which one is right for you and your particular situation.So the second thing you need to do before buying a smart lock is to learn about the different types of smart locks on the market and how they work.
Keypad & Combination Smart Locks
A keypad smart lock is one that will require you to have a pin code to unlock the door. These are extremely easy to install and they allow you to set up different pin codes for different people so you know who is coming, going, and when, at all times. Most keypad smart locks use a touchscreen; however, there are a few out there that still have physical buttons you have to press for it to work.
There are also combination keypad smart locks such as keypad deadbolts, keypad deadbolts that also have a lever or knob, and keypad deadbolts with a handle-set. And most of these models also come with an optional connected feature, meaning you can connect them to your other smart home equipment like those with Z-Wave functionality, etc.
Keyless & Wireless Smart Locks
There are a wide variety of smart locks that are keyless and wireless. That means if you have a Wi-Fi connection you can connect to your smart locks using that Wi-Fi connection. And, if you have a Wi-Fi remote you can lock and unlock your doors remotely from anywhere in the world.
One thing to keep in mind about keyless and/or wireless smart locks is that unless you buy them as part of a home security package, most of them don’t come with a dedicated app. Therefore, if you want to be able to control them from your smartphone using Alexa or some other smart home system, you will also have to buy a smart home hub like the Amazon Echo, Wink, or similar smart home technology.
In addition, smart locks that are capable of connecting to an Apple HomeKit actually use Bluetooth to communicate with the Apple smart home system, and most of these have their own app which means you don’t have to connect them with a smart home system to get them to work on your smartphone if it uses Bluetooth technology.
Essentially, Bluetooth will enable multiple locking functions and it works by sensing when you are within a set distance from the device, then it will unlock itself automatically as you approach the door. You can also tap your phone or a designated key-fob to the lock and that will unlock it as well.
There are also some smart lock brands that offer generic bridge-like accessories so-to-speak that will enable you to connect their locks to your Wi-Fi network. This will allow you to remotely access, monitor, and control those locks.