What Is A Smart Lock? And Should You Consider One?

In this digital age it appears everything is getting the “smart” treatment. From TV’s and your car right through to fridges, there’s not an awful lot, it would appear, that can’t be made “smart”. One thing you might not have seen to much of however are “smart locks” and perhaps for good reason.

Whilst we are somewhat comfortable with our TV’s running like computers or letting our phones control the lighting in the house, the take up to extend this to our locks has been a little slower.

Sure, there may be an element of “if it’s not broke don’t fix it” but there is undoubtedly an element of hesitation (dare we scepticism?) in leaving the security of your home and all your worldly possessions in the hands of a computer. There is of course the chance that maybe people just don’t know enough about them and so in this blog we’ll run through what exactly a smart lock is and why you might want to consider one for your home.

What is a “Smart Lock” and how do they work?

It goes without saying that a “smart lock” means “keyless” and if you decide to install one in your home the ability to lock and unlock your front door will be determined entirely by your proximity to said lock. The way this operates in most circumstances is through Bluetooth supported by an internet connection. Simply put your phone will have a “key” that is unique to a specific lock. Once you are within range the app will send a signal through the internet to a “hub” (more on that in a second) which in turn sends a signal to the lock to well…unlock. If your sitting there scratching your head, don’t worry you’re not alone. The magic ingredient in all of this is the “Hub” an internet connected box that acts as a middle man between your phone and the lock as well as an important layer of security.

This sounds confusing…are they useful?

In short, yes, smart locks provide a modern approach to securing your home as well as flexibility when it comes to determining who has access. For example, the Yale Smart Lock range and accompanying app allows you to send family members “keys” for access as well as providing you with real-time alerts as to when a lock has been tampered with or an unauthorised breach has occurred. So, in many ways the smart lock does things a traditional system simply can’t. Don’t let the mechanics behind how a smart lock works put you off, the installation process is typically a straightforward affair and once you are up and running they do have distinct plus points over the standard lock and key.

What about security though? And what if I lose my phone?

Home security is of course paramount and with smart locks this a top priority. Most come with a fail-safe system such that if you do lose your phone you can still gain access through either a traditional key hole or card or tag that can trigger the lock. In many ways however, a smart lock can afford greater control and alerts on security with systems like the one developed by Yale coming with tamper alerts as standard, meaning you can always be sure who has – or is trying to! – gain access to your property.

If you’d like advice on smart locks and compatibility with doors and entrance systems please get in touch with one of our team today.