Keypad Deadbolts on House or Garage?

ndbwhunter

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I'm trying to determine the best location for the keypad entry deadbolt to access either the garage or the house. Ideally, I would put one on every exterior door, but those damn things aren't cheap. I'm only going to get one right now, and I can't decide if it should go on the main door or the side entry garage door.

If I put a lock on the interior garage to house door, than anyone accessing the garage with the keypad would still need a key to get into the house. On the flip side, I could put it on the main entry door, but that thing will almost never get used and it seems like a waste of money.

What are your thoughts?
 


KDM

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I'd run some extra wire and put the keypad someplace NOT in plain sight. I would also have a code that uses ALL the numbers. If a guy doesn't use all the keys in their code, there are several methods to figure out a code on a keypad that don't take very long or need complicated technology. Sometimes convenience puts a guy at more risk. Those are my thoughts. Now you owe me a penny.
 

johnr

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I have a key pad for the overhead garage door, its nice for the kids. As letting them be responsible for a key is a poor idea.

They cost about $40.00. Pretty cheap.
 

Kickemup

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I have one on the house and am going to get another one for the garage. I like not having to deal with keys.
 

Whisky

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I would put it on the side entry garage door, the one used the most....and leave the house door in the garage unlocked. If they kick in an exterior deadbolt door, the door going into the house in the garage isn't going to stop them.

I have two walk in garage doors and a main entry house door that has them. I use the garage door leading to the driveway 20 to 1 over the others. In fact the main entry house door is used the least.
 


ndbwhunter

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The garage door openers will have the keypads, but I'm talking about the walk-in door deadbolts. They won't get used often, but it's better than handing out keys to people that are watching the house, pets, etc.

- - - Updated - - -

I would put it on the side entry garage door, the one used the most....and leave the house door in the garage unlocked. If they kick in an exterior deadbolt door, the door going into the house in the garage isn't going to stop them.

I have two walk in garage doors and a main entry house door that has them. I use the garage door leading to the driveway 20 to 1 over the others. In fact the main entry house door is used the least.

This is the way that I was leaning. I also have two walk in garage doors, and will likely only use one leading to the driveway.
 

Captain Ahab

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I have been looking at the biometric locks. They can save a bunch of different thumb prints and avoids others from gaining access via stolen combo.
 

Whisky

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The garage door openers will have the keypads, but I'm talking about the walk-in door deadbolts. They won't get used often, but it's better than handing out keys to people that are watching the house, pets, etc.

- - - Updated - - -



This is the way that I was leaning. I also have two walk in garage doors, and will likely only use one leading to the driveway.

You'd be surprised how many times you could be in the back yard without a key and want to go through the back garage walk in instead of walking all the way around. Like you said, in time do them all. But start with the most used one.
 

Allen

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I have used a couple different ones over the years. The place I have now had them installed on the shop and house, these were the mechanical ones. They seemed to be pretty durable, but a few years ago I put the new equivalents on at my parents' place and I had to replace them after about a year as they got too stiff for them to unlock. Still don't know what the issue is/was with them, they were the KABA brand.

I had to replace one of the mechanicals at my house and both of the ones I put in at my parents' place and I went with the electric (internal 9V battery) version. Did that in 2012 and had mine fail on me just a few months ago, I replaced it with another electric one. The Schlage version costs about $120 from Menards.

Personally, I love the things for their convenience. The down side is as KDM noted is that an experienced burglar will eventually be able to see which numbers have the most wear and tear, so if it's a 4 digit code, the crook only has to see which four numbers are worn to make guessing an easier task. The way to prevent uneven wearing of the digits which I have NOT seen is to issue a separate 4 digit code to every person who you want to have access (you can have several active codes on the electric versions). That way you can use all the numbers on the keypad and they each get some wear. Or, you can just change your code every year, or so.

Next bad thing about the electric version is that they require a 9V battery. When the battery goes dead...you can figure that one out for yourself. So I have my keypads on the same replacement schedule as I do my fire/smoke detectors. That is once a year. Standard 9V batteries don't do so well in the cold, so I use lithium, but the manufacturer says to not use lithium because they don't give any warning before going bad, like a standard 9V does. Mehh, hasn't been a problem so long as I replace them annually, I had one go almost two years before the battery went out.

The other thing is to decide if you want the deadbolt to be the combination, or the door handle itself. I prefer the door lock over the deadbolt. The deadbolt seems to be a bit more finicky for the kids to operate than the electric door lock.

For the house, I recommend electric pads. For external shops, I would go with mechanical.

The above doesn't help with you determining which door to put it on, personally...I'd suggest the one you use the most. But, it may help you choose which style you want to use.
 
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ndbwhunter

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Thanks for the information, guys! I've got some thinking to do.

- - - Updated - - -

Damnit, Allen! Now I can't decide between the electronic deadbolt or the handle.
 


Sluggo

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I would put it on the side entry garage door, the one used the most....and leave the house door in the garage unlocked.

I agree with this. I have a similar setup and we always leave the house doors (I have 2) unlocked. Funny thing is I lock the main level door at night but don't bother with the mud room entry. Just makes me sleep better.
 

aron

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I hate keys and have a Schlage one on my front door. I programmed a different code for myself and my wife where each code used 4 distinct digits so as key print gets worn out, 8 of the 10 keys are worn out and not just 4. It has an internal 9v battery with two tabs to touch a 9v on if the internal battery does die on you.

Put it on the door you will use the most and standard keyed deadbolts on the other doors for now. They keyless feature is handy and you'll find out you end up using it more than you think.
 

Magpie

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FYI, if you put one of these on an unheated building they tend not to work when it gets below -10 F. Also remember where you put the key when this happens or when the battery craps out.
 

Ericb

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Ive been thinking about putting one on the door to the house inside the garage. That way all doors to the house can be locked but I can use the button in my truck to access the garage and then the keypad to access the house.
 

BDub

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I have dead bolts on all exterior doors. Two lap dogs bark like hell when they hear most anything. The loaded 12 gauge is real handy if all else fails.
 


BrokenBackJack

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Had one installed on the front door with our security system and it has worked great. Key pad is nice or use our cell phone to unlock it for us, the neighbor who checks on our house, or our kids when they show up and we are gone. We also can open and close our garage doors and set either thermostat from our cell phone too.
Our security system was installed by TS Security in Mandan and works by cell coverage and not landline. Here is his contact if interested.
Terry Walch
TS Security
701.667.7008
We bought our system from him and pay about 28 bucks a month for monitoring and such. Tell you what the siren is loud when something is tripped. Found this out one night when someone pried open our walkin door to our garage at 2 a.m. Peel yourself off the ceiling fan!!!!! Have sensors on all walkin/out doors and glass breakage sensors, along with smoke and fire sensors.
Works super and Terry is great to work with. Goes all over the State installing his systems.
 

Muzzytipped

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Had one installed on the front door with our security system and it has worked great. Key pad is nice or use our cell phone to unlock it for us, the neighbor who checks on our house, or our kids when they show up and we are gone. We also can open and close our garage doors and set either thermostat from our cell phone too.
Our security system was installed by TS Security in Mandan and works by cell coverage and not landline. Here is his contact if interested.
Terry Walch
TS Security
701.667.7008
We bought our system from him and pay about 28 bucks a month for monitoring and such. Tell you what the siren is loud when something is tripped. Found this out one night when someone pried open our walkin door to our garage at 2 a.m. Peel yourself off the ceiling fan!!!!! Have sensors on all walkin/out doors and glass breakage sensors, along with smoke and fire sensors.
Works super and Terry is great to work with. Goes all over the State installing his systems.

I sell the same system at Premier Audio in Bismarck.
www.premieraudio.biz or facebook us.
701-223-2067 ask for Lyle who is my security speacialist.
1921 E Bismarck Expressway NEXT TO DAKOTA TACKLE
Bismarck ND 58504



You can also have window sensors, freezer sensors, water/humidity sensors garage door ect. You can add motion detection, and glass break sensors also. Options are almost endless. Monthly rate stay the same for monitoring and service no matter what sensors you add.
 

ndbwhunter

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How does this system compare to the other big names like vivint, ADT, etc.?
 

BrokenBackJack

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The price per month is much lower. With our system that we have you buy your system and pay them for monitoring. Some you rent their system and guessing on some you can buy their system too. Most charge 50-100 bucks a month monitoring.
Also if you move you can take it with you and there is no long term contract that you are tied up with.
 


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