Keyless and smart locks replace a mechanical key with a code, fob or phone, so access can be given and withdrawn without cutting keys. Accurate Security & Lock supplies, fits and services keypad deadbolts, fob-operated locks and app-controlled entry for homes and businesses across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin.
Smart locks remove the two problems every property eventually has: keys that get lost and keys that get copied. They also introduce a third if they are fitted badly, which is a lock made to work harder than the door allows and failing early as a result.
We supply, fit and service keyless entry for homes and businesses across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin, and we fit it properly: on a door that is square, in a bore that is correctly sized, with the strike aligned so the bolt does not bind.
| Type | Opens with | Needs power | Best for | Main weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical push-button | Shared code | No | Rental, utility door, garage entry | Code is shared and changed rarely |
| Keypad deadbolt | Individual codes | Yes, batteries | Family homes, cleaners, dog walkers | Needs a battery routine |
| Fob or card | Credential | Yes | Small businesses, staff doors | Credentials get lent |
| App-controlled | Phone, code or fob | Yes, plus network | Remote access, temporary guests | Depends on cloud service and firmware |
| Access control system | Centrally managed credential | Wired | Multiple doors, audit trail needed | Cost and installation |
Keyless or smart: what each category means
"Smart lock" is used to cover everything from a four-digit push-button deadbolt to a door that talks to your phone. The categories differ enormously in cost, reliability and what they actually solve.
Related:Wikipedia: smart lock
Why most smart lock failures are mechanical
When we are called to a "broken" smart lock, the fault is usually mechanical and predictable.
- The door moved and the bolt is dragging. A bolt that has to force itself into the strike draws more current every cycle. The motor burns out or the batteries flatten in weeks. The lock gets blamed; the door is the cause.
- The bore is out of square. A retrofit on an old door often inherits a bore that is not perpendicular. The mechanism binds against the edge of the hole and wears prematurely.
- No key override. A lock that can only be opened electronically has a single point of failure, which is power. For a front door this is not acceptable, and every lock we fit has a mechanical key override.
- Firmware and app abandonment. Budget brands stop updating. A lock whose app no longer works on a current phone is a lock you cannot manage, which is worth checking before buying rather than after.
The door has to work before the lock will
The most common failure we are called to is not the electronics. It is a smart lock fitted to a door that has swollen with the seasons, so the bolt drags and the motor eventually burns out trying to throw it.
We check the door, the strike and the frame first, because a lock that has to force itself closed is on a countdown regardless of what it cost. Any smart lock should throw freely by hand before the motor is asked to do it.
Getting the security right, not just the convenience
Convenience is the easy part of a smart lock, and the settings are what decide whether it improves your security or only moves the problem.
- Unique codes per person. A shared code tells you nothing and gets passed on.
- Delete access the day someone leaves. The point of codes is that they are revocable, so use that.
- Two-factor authentication on the account, where the app supports it.
- Keep firmware current. Most real-world attacks target known issues that have already been patched.
- Do not put the app account on a shared or reused password.
- Set a low-battery routine. Change batteries on the same schedule as your smoke alarms.
Where a smart lock is the wrong purchase
On a rental you do not control, on a door exposed to driving rain, or where the priority is resistance to forced entry rather than convenience, a quality mechanical lock is the better spend, and we will say so.
We also service and rekey smart locks we did not install, and we will not recommend an app-locked system with no key override for a front door.
Will it fit the door you already have?
Most standard residential doors with a 2-3/8 inch or 2-3/4 inch backset are a direct fit. We check the bore diameter, backset, door thickness and whether the frame is square before quoting. If a wrap plate or a small modification is needed, we say so upfront rather than on the day.
Battery life in a cold climate
Manufacturers quote six to twelve months. In practice, four to nine is realistic on a front door in a cold climate. Two things shorten it sharply: a bolt that binds against the strike, which makes the motor work harder every cycle, and low temperatures, which reduce battery output. If yours lasts weeks rather than months, the lock is not the problem and the alignment is.
Keyless entry for businesses
For businesses we add audit trails and time-limited credentials so a departing employee loses access the moment they leave. Codes are set up so that a cleaner, a dog walker or a contractor can have their own entry that you can delete in seconds.
What happens when a smart lock battery dies
Every lock we fit has a mechanical key override, so you are never locked out. Most units also give weeks of warning with an audible alert and a low-battery notification in the app, and we recommend a battery change on the same schedule as your smoke alarms.
Service areas for keyless & smart locks
We cover every town on our list across Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. These are a few of them.
- Keyless & Smart Locks in Burlington, WI
- Keyless & Smart Locks in Campton Hills, IL
- Keyless & Smart Locks in Carpentersville, IL
- Keyless & Smart Locks in Cary, IL
- Keyless & Smart Locks in Crystal Lake, IL
- Keyless & Smart Locks in Delavan, WI
Frequently asked questions
What happens when the batteries run out?
Every lock we fit has a mechanical key override, so you are never locked out. Most units also give weeks of warning with an audible alert and a low-battery notification in the app. We recommend a battery change on the same schedule as your smoke alarms.
Can a smart lock be hacked or opened remotely?
The realistic risks are a shared code and a weak account password, not remote cracking. We set up unique codes per user, enable two-factor authentication where the app supports it, and keep firmware current. For higher-risk doors we fit systems that communicate locally rather than over the open internet.
Will a smart lock fit my existing door?
Most standard residential doors with a 2-3/8 inch or 2-3/4 inch backset are a direct fit. We check the bore diameter, backset, door thickness and whether the frame is square before quoting. If a wrap plate or a small modification is needed, we say so upfront.
How long do smart lock batteries actually last?
Manufacturers quote six to twelve months; in practice, four to nine is realistic on a front door in a cold climate. A bolt that binds against the strike makes the motor work harder every cycle, and low temperatures reduce battery output. If yours lasts weeks rather than months, the alignment is the problem, not the lock.