Smart Sense is an easy install and provides added security to your home.
Several years ago, my fiance and I moved into a new house. The first thing I wanted to do was install a keypad door lock rather than the old, busted door knob. I immediately turned to Schlage for my door knob needs. I’ve worked with locksmiths in the past and know that other brands are substandard and easily broken. So, I went for the brand that I knew was strong and well made — not to mention, much harder to break into. After all, this is my home we are talking about. It’s sacred and I want the best to protect my belongings and loved ones. This was also the thinking I had when I finally installed a deadbolt into the heavy wooden door. I just had a simple, basic deadbolt at the time as I was using it with a smart lock of a different brand. Again, the lock mechanism was amazing and definitely the right choice for my home. I recently decided to upgrade the deadbolt to the Schlage Smart Sense deadbolt, which is not only a HomeKit compatible smart lock, but it’s also a keypad entry for your deadbolt.
Installation
For starters, you will have to replace the deadbolt mechanism completely when you begin the process — even if you have a Schlage deadbolt. Now, I was able to skip the step with replacing the strike plate, but that’s because I already had a Schlage in place and the sizes were exactly the same. The instructions for installation can be a little hard to follow simply because there are so many variable and Schlage tried to make sure all of them were covered in the written instructions. The first thing you should do is download the Schlage Sense app for your phone. There is an installation video included there that is a nice visual representation of what your process should look like.
After checking out the video, I removed the older deadbolt and started with the new install. To be honest, the most ‘difficult’ part is putting the actual mechanism in and that’s only because you have to make sure all the parts align properly. Once you have the lock installed, then you add the keypad (on the outside of the door) and the connect it to the door alarm (on the interior of the door). A couple of screws later and you are ready to start programming the lock with your codes.
Smart Set-up
Some smart products have a clunky set-up with the mobile device, but the Schlage Sense did not give me any issues at all. Once I opened the app and tapped on “Add a Lock”. The lock and the app paired within about 30 seconds and I was able to connect it to HomeKit within about 2 minutes. It was a very painless process. Programming codes were even easier. You have a couple of options. You can program the lock codes from the keypad or once it’s connected to your phone, you can program codes directly from the app. I did it both ways and definitely found the app way a lot easier.
Use
One of the things I like about this type of lock is that I don’t have to worry about keeping track of keys. All of the family members of the house can select their own specific code and have full access to the house. I also really like that I can get a history on my phone of when codes were used. For example, my fiance unlocked the deadbolt with her code around 8:00 a.m. this morning after a quick trip to the store and that information is shown on my phone. This is particularly useful if you set a temporary code for a friend or family member that is house sitting, or for a service person who has regular visits to your home.
Even though I’ve only had the lock installed for a couple of days at this point, I’m very happy with it. It’s been incredibly responsive with the app and voice controls through Siri, plus I love having the security of knowing my door is locked even when I’m across the country.
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For more information, visit schlage.com/sense.
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