Smart locks get pitched as a straight upgrade from a traditional deadbolt, and for a lot of households they are. But they solve specific problems and introduce a few new ones, so it's worth knowing which is which before you spend the money.
What a traditional deadbolt still does better
- No batteries, ever. A mechanical deadbolt works in a power outage, a dead battery, or a Vancouver winter storm that knocks out wifi for two days.
- Simplicity. There's no app to update, no bluetooth pairing to troubleshoot, no firmware.
- Cost. A quality Grade 1 deadbolt is usually less than half the price of a comparable smart lock.
What a smart lock actually solves
- No more spare keys under the mat. Temporary codes for a dog walker, contractor, or short-term guest, revoked the moment they're done.
- Remote access. Let someone in without being home — genuinely useful for rentals, aging parents, or package deliveries.
- Access history. Know when the door was actually opened, useful for rental properties and shared households.
What to check before installing one
- Does it have a mechanical key override? Some do, some don't — if the battery dies and there's no backup, you're locked out of your own house.
- Is your door and frame in good shape? A smart lock installed on a door that's out of square will jam the same way a cheap deadbolt would — the electronics don't fix bad alignment.
- Who controls the data? Some smart locks route access logs through a manufacturer's cloud service. If that matters to you, check before buying, not after installation.
The honest middle ground
Plenty of homes end up with a smart lock on the front door — where the convenience of codes and remote access pays off daily — and a solid mechanical deadbolt on secondary entries. It's not an all-or-nothing decision, and a locksmith can tell you during a home visit which door actually benefits from the upgrade.