Kwikset Smartkey - yay or nay?
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Anonymous
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Just moved into a new (to us) house, and want to re-key all the locks. In several cases, the hardware itself needs replacement (old knobs, not working, etc). I was considering just replacing all with Kwikset Smartkey locks, so that I can key them all myself and not pay a locksmith to do every one.
I found two things that make me pause: 1) reports of failures of the lock and 2) reports (youtube video) of showing how easy it is to break into. Anyone have experience with them? |
Anonymous
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We got the Smartkey locks on our doors quite a few years ago and have had no problems with any of the locks. Fortunately, we've never had to rekey them, but I like knowing that we could if necessary.
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Anonymous
| When I bought I put Smartkeys on. I have rekeyed once and it was dead easy. Those locks are really deterrents anyhow -- if anyone wants into your house, they can get in. |
Anonymous
| I didn't hear good things about Kwikset - we went with Schlage. It's only $5 per lock to rekey at home depot, if you can manage to be in the store at the same time as the locksmith (a really hard feat!). We got one free, by accident, I think. |
Anonymous
| We had schlage in our last house and it was super easy to re key. Never had issues with the keys not working. |
Anonymous
| I read good reviews of the smartkey system. I have not be impressed with the finish on Kwikset knobs in my house (the finish comes off very easily), but you can also get smartkey in Baldwin locks, which have a nicer finish. |
Anonymous
| No potential burgler is going to know which brand of locks you have on your house until they're at your door ready to break in, and at that point, they're getting in no matter what kind of locks you have. If you like the smart key feature, I say you should choose it. |
Anonymous
| Our smartkey failed (lock was stuck, no key would work) and I called kwikset and had them send me a new cylinder. Considering that you really shouldn't need to do that for something like a key, I wouldn't buy again. |
Anonymous
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We've had them for about 18 months and like them.
And, the reality is that unless you go with really high-end locks, door locks & deadbolts are just to keep out the unmotivated, to deter those who are looking for easy hits. Any lock you can buy at Home Depot can be picked or broken pretty quickly, but that's okay because most criminals are just looking for easy hits and will move on. If someone wants to get into your house and is skilled/determined, no Home Depot level lock is stopping them. |
Anonymous
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Nay.
Google kwikset smartkey problems. It's a garbage system that can allow any schmuck to brake in in no time. Honestly though, you probably want deadbolts on exterior doors anyway, but it was THE deciding factor on schlage vs. baldwin hardware for me. Baldwin is owned by same company as quickset, and has started using the garbage smartkey system. |
Anonymous
| ^Oops I forgot deadbolts use the same lock mechanism so that won't matter. I would definitely avoid kwikset/baldwin and won't even use it on our rental home. |
Anonymous
Any Schmuck can break into any mass-retail sub-$200 lock in no time. |
Anonymous
But can you do it in 10 seconds with an off the shelf tool? lol http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR-h64WwfW8 |
Anonymous
OP here. That's the video that freaked me out. Turns out the off-the-shelf tool is not as easy to get as the guy makes it out to be (ie: you can't go buy it from eBay). To an earlier PP's point about not knowing its that kind of lock - there is a tell tale small hole next to the lock that makes it obvious it is. No one's going to see it walking down the street, but for someone casing your house, they could. Where I'm sitting is weighing the convenience of all smartkey locks with an alarm system vs. a schlage maybe-easy DIY option (+ alarm system) vs. locksmith rekeying at $65/pop. |