By By Angie’s List
Movie heroes and villains alike have used keyless locks and keypads for decades to protect their secret lairs. Once a gadget only seen on the big screen, these keyless systems are now widely available for the average consumer. If your key ring is beginning to look like it belongs to a janitor, consider transitioning to a keyless system.
However, before you make the change, you need to weigh the pros and cons of these keyless locks. Two highly rated locksmiths pick through the good and the bad, unlocking the mysteries of the keyless locking system.
Pros of keyless locks
1. No key required
Pat Bell, owner of Bell’s Lock & Key Service in Glen, Ellyn, Illinois, says people like keyless locks because they’re convenient. “The main pro is you don’t need a key,” Bell says. He adds that most keyless systems have a key cylinder override, so the lock will still function if the battery dies.
2. Share the code to the abode
Scott Stoddart, owner of Stoddart’s Lock and Safe in Surprise, Arizona, says a big advantage of keyless systems is the ability to let someone in when you’re away. “If you have a relative who you want to be able to give the code to on a moment’s notice, you can give them the code,” Stoddart says. He adds that if you experience a compromise in code security, it’s easy to program a new code in the keyless system.
3. No lost or found
Bell says some parents give keys to children as they age, but now have the option to give them a code, instead. “If they have kids going into high school and don’t want them to lose keys, a lot of times they’ll upgrade to a keyless entry,” Bell says.
Stoddart says there’s no need to hide keys outside the home. “You don’t have to hide a key,” he says. “You don’t have a risk of someone checking under your doormat or under a planter and finding a key.”
Pros of keyless locks
1. No key required
Pat Bell, owner of Bell’s Lock & Key Service in Glen, Ellyn, Illinois, says people like keyless locks because they’re convenient. “The main pro is you don’t need a key,” Bell says. He adds that most keyless systems have a key cylinder override, so the lock will still function if the battery dies.
2. Share the code to the abode
Scott Stoddart, owner of Stoddart’s Lock and Safe in Surprise, Arizona, says a big advantage of keyless systems is the ability to let someone in when you’re away. “If you have a relative who you want to be able to give the code to on a moment’s notice, you can give them the code,” Stoddart says. He adds that if you experience a compromise in code security, it’s easy to program a new code in the keyless system.
3. No lost or found
Bell says some parents give keys to children as they age, but now have the option to give them a code, instead. “If they have kids going into high school and don’t want them to lose keys, a lot of times they’ll upgrade to a keyless entry,” Bell says.
Stoddart says there’s no need to hide keys outside the home. “You don’t have to hide a key,” he says. “You don’t have a risk of someone checking under your doormat or under a planter and finding a key.”
Ask us today if you need to upgrade to keyless locks and keypads.