Is There a Right or Wrong Smart Home Lock?

 
Home security is nothing to mess with, so picking the right smart home lock is critical. But how will you know which one to choose when there are so many options—full replacement deadbolts, adapters for existing deadbolts, doorknob replacements, and various trigger options such as fingerprints and geofencing?

Wait! Back up. Why even consider a smart home lock? “The biggest benefit of electronic entry systems is that they are highly configurable. Digital locks can be changed on demand and the property owner has an electronic record of when each door was opened…different keys can be generated for the same lock so the homeowner can actually tell when each member of the family enter,” explains Tod Caflisch, Smart Solutions SME of Lumen Technologies.

So, what’s out there? The most basic smart home locks don’t pair with a smart home app, and one step up is Bluetooth-only locks like the Wyze lock. Others use smart home hubs like Samsung SmartThings, and need Z Wave– or Zigbee-compatible locks.

For the forgetful ones, there are locks out there that can automatically lock the door when the phone has left the vicinity. There are even locks that enable erasable key codes for guests with time restrictions.

Which smart home lock is best for your personal needs? While there might not be one answer, Tod Caflisch, Smart Solutions SME of Lumen Technologies, provides insight to help you sort through some of the basic and more complex options available in the smart home lock market.

Article written by Cara Schildmeyer