With the current technological development, there has been a rapid rise in the use of smart locks. Most owners prefer to use smart locks to enhance the security of their homes, as they offer the appropriate security features. However, it’ll be vital to consider if they are weatherproof when choosing your smart locks to enhance their durability and functionality.
Checking if the locks are weatherproof will be essential to enhance your home’s security in adverse water conditions, such as extreme humidity and rain. It’ll be necessary to consider if your smart lock is waterproof to ensure it offers the appropriate security and can easily use it. This article provides a comprehensive guide on whether smart locks are waterproof.
Most smart locks have water-resistant properties that help them withstand normal rainfall or water drops. However, the water-resistant features won’t be effective if you submerge the lock in water. The smart locks come with different levels of water-resistant properties that you need to consider when choosing the one suiting your needs. Lastly, most smart locks are water-resistant only on the exterior section of your door, not the interior areas.
What are Smart Locks?
Smart locks are special locks that offer your home security by using technological features, where you can lock and unlock them wirelessly and digitally. We’ve got numerous types that come with different features to digitally enhance your door’s security. Most of them have special mechanisms that allow you to secure your home or door. For instance, you can lock and unlock some using a key fob, mobile application, website, keypad, or a combination of the above features. Notably, some locks can allow you to use both a physical key and digital features to secure your doors.
What Makes Smart Locks Waterproof?
Choosing a waterproof lock will be essential to enhance your house’s security despite the weather conditions at your location. Nevertheless, most individuals find it challenging to understand how an electronic device becomes water-resistant. With the exposure of your house exterior to different conditions, like rainfall, most manufacturers consider having waterproof properties on the locks. These features are essential to enhance their durability and functionality.
Manufacturers produce smart locks with various inbuilt features essential for enhancing the waterproof property. These inbuilt features help the device remain waterproof when it comes in contact with some water levels. In addition, others install a cover on the system’s exterior surface to prevent water from reaching the components. When choosing the locks, most individuals consider these waterproof features.
These locks are vital on your door to enhance security and durability, thus preventing any damages or faults on the system. However, if you expose your system to more water or rain, the locks damage as they can’t have appropriate waterproofing abilities to prevent higher water volumes.
Do the Locks Offer Waterproof Properties on All Sides?
When installing the system on your door or outdoor entryway exposed to water on both sides, it’ll be imperative to consider whether all the sides are waterproof. An outdoor entrance with all sides exposed may receive water on both sides. Importantly, it’ll be good if you consider a digital security system that offers waterproof properties on all sides.
Choosing a system with these features will be essential to ensure that they work appropriately to guarantee your security. Most smart locks aren’t waterproof on the interior sections; thus, the deadbolt lever easily breaks once they contact water. While producing the locks, manufacturers design them to resist any water hitting the outer part of the system with the keyhole or numeral pad.
Therefore, the interior sections with wireless connectivity, batteries, and other system components are usually not waterproof. Experts advise that you consider an alternative when having an outdoor entryway that requires a system offering waterproof services on both ends. It’ll be good to consider traditional security systems to ensure your door is secure without worrying about the impact of water on it.
Why are Waterproof Security Systems Expensive?
It’s usually hard and time-consuming to manufacture any waterproof electric device, especially those having replaceable batteries. Apart from having replaceable batteries, smart locks have different mounts that make it challenging to incorporate waterproof features. The tiresome and time-consuming process makes most of these systems costly.
Despite the complex process, some manufacturers create waterproof systems, which offer water-resistant properties that aren’t perfect. They’ll provide water resistance to small water amounts but find it challenging to withstand large volumes of water. The inbuilt rechargeable batteries in the system make it hard for the manufacturers to achieve suitable exterior and interior waterproofing abilities.
Apart from the inbuilt rechargeable battery, the devices also restrict getting to the access panels. The limited access to the device’s access panels causes most devices to fail as the water may run into some sensitive parts of the locks. This limitation makes most manufacturers create these devices to handle small water volumes.
Importantly, to achieve the appropriate waterproofing features on your smart lock, it’s vital to have access to all ports. In addition, it’d be essential if you considered having replaceable batteries on the system. These batteries allow your lock to have an access port vital to ensure a waterproof interior. A water-resistant interior helps prevent water from moving in the device, destroying the electronics and corroding batteries.
Waterproofing your lock’s exterior is much easier than its interior, as you’ll only need to install a touchpad. After installing the touchpad, you’re going to seal it well and only have insulated wires running from the door to the device’s opposite side. You don’t need to worry more about the electronics on the door’s exterior as they don’t have many computations.
Most of the power, components, and systems are inside the device; thus, you don’t have to consider them too much. Ultimately, the waterproofing part of the device, especially the exterior, is less costly than the entire system. Despite offering durable and enhanced functionality, you’ll have to pay more money to get the suitable one for your needs.
Best Solutions for Interior Waterproof Smart Locks
Finding an appropriate smart lock with an interior waterproof is usually daunting as we’ve limited options in the market. However, with the increased demands for these digital security devices, it’ll be essential to consider choosing an appropriate alternative. Below are the suitable solutions for the interior waterproof smart lock:
1.Consider providing a roof for your lock
You can consider a basic home solution to achieve your interior lock waterproofing. The solution involves using a roof under your lock to provide the appropriate shelter. Having the cover above your digital security system will be essential for diverting rainwater into the drainage systems. You can choose any material like metal or wood to cover your lock and prevent running water from reaching your device. Providing a roof for your smart lock is the cheapest solution for your internal waterproof digital security system.
2.Seal the lock with silicon and Vaseline
Silicon is a vital component for sealing your smart lock entirely well and preventing water from penetrating its parts. Complete sealing is crucial to resist water or fluid from penetrating the smart lock and your door. The silicon on the lock plays an essential role in retaining the water that could have ruined the interior section of your device.
Additionally, most manufacturers use Vaseline as a great way to keep these devices waterproof by preventing water from getting into the system or interior components. While using Vaseline, experts advise that you disassemble the entire lock and fill all the parts, including the battery compartment, with it. Using Vaseline doesn’t offer a long-term solution, but you can use it for your short-term needs. Importantly, ensure that you cover all the parts and visible cracks to get the appropriate results.
3.Using plastic bags
Using plastic bags to cover your digital security system is one of the ugliest solutions but offers the best results. Choose strong plastic materials and wrap your entire lock appropriately when considering this option. Then screw it tightly to prevent any spaces that’ll allow water to get into the locking device.
Nevertheless, wrapping the lock tightly in the solid plastic bag limits your physical access to the device’s locking mechanism. Despite finding it hard to unlock the system physically, you can use digital methods, like using your phone. It’s the most trashy, ugly solution but offers a cheaper and effective alternative to make your smart lock’s interior waterproof.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking of protecting your house or home, it’ll be essential to consider a waterproof smart lock. Despite the adverse weather condition, especially rain or water, this lock offers the best security features for your entryway. Most smart locks are waterproof to prevent water from penetrating the system and damaging it.
The waterproof properties on most locks enhance their durability and functionality after installing them on your doors. Nevertheless, you’ll have to seek the right solutions if you need a lock offering interior or exterior waterproof property, as most of them are only waterproof on the outside. The alternatives may range from using plastic bags, iron sheets, or other materials for covering the system to applying silicone and Vaseline on the parts.