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  • How to Prep Your Home or Business for New Keyless Locks

    Man installing door lock with screwdriver

    Making the decision to upgrade your home or business with keyless locks not only provides you with a greater level of security than traditional keys and locks, but it also affords you far more convenience and ease of use. As you prepare to change out the locks at your home or business, there are a few things to keep in mind in order to make the transition as smooth and easy as possible. Although the finer details may vary based on which model of keyless lock you choose, below is a general series of steps you can take to properly prepare your home or office so that you can carry out a successful installation.

    1. Make the proper preparations.

    If you’re installing the locks yourself, make sure that you have all of the tools you’ll need to accomplish the job. Most keyless locks are relatively easy to install, requiring only basic tools such as a screwdriver and/or power drill to accomplish.

    Whether you hire a locksmith or you’re going to install the locks yourself, be sure to schedule the installation during a convenient time window where the doors won’t be in frequent use. For example, if you’re installing keyless locks at your business, it wouldn’t be a good idea to schedule the installation near the time where your employees would be going to lunch or getting off work for the day. You also wouldn’t want to schedule the installation during any time where you may be called away from the site, as this could create a security breach. Make sure that you carefully plan your installation time well in advance, and be sure to communicate what’s going on with all affected parties (e.g., family members or co-workers).

    2. Determine your lock code in advance.

    One of the things you can do to prepare for your installation is to determine your lock code in advance, and then go ahead and key that code into your new lock. Before you go through with the installation, make sure that your code works, and that the lock will both lock and unlock properly. Should you run into any difficulties, double-check the instructions for the lock and, if necessary, create a new key code.

    3. Remove the old door lock.

    Out with the old, and in with the new! Be sure to remove the old door lock hardware that was previously installed. If you’re going to install a keyless lock that includes the lever and lock in one unit, such as the Schlage FE575, then you’ll need to remove the doorknob and the deadbolt lock. If you have opted for just a keyless deadbolt lock, such as the Schlage BE365, then you’ll only need to remove the old deadbolt.

    4. Confirm the proper position for your keyless lock.

    Utilize the template that comes with your keyless lock in order to properly line up the unit on your door. Use a pencil to mark an outline of the lock, as well as the places where the screw holes will be. In addition, if you’re installing a one-piece unit, you will need to determine whether you want the handle to open to the left or to the right.

    5. Install the keypad.

    Make sure that the battery has been connected and snapped into place, and also double-check to confirm that the keypad and interior plate are level. You can then attach the exterior plate, but be very careful not to accidentally pinch the battery cable. In addition, make sure that the entire unit is flush with the door.

    6. Test it out.

    Give it a quick test to make sure that the unit locks and unlocks properly based on the code that you’ve already programmed into it. If you run into any difficulties, consult the instruction manual and follow the steps to locate the master code in order to reset your user code.

    Now that your new unit is installed, you can begin enjoying all of the benefits of a keyless entry system. You won’t have to worry about rummaging around for your keys, and you’ll be able to experience a much higher level of security, as keyless locks are bump-proof and pick-proof. So not only will you have convenient and easy entry into your home or business, but you’ll also be able to experience perhaps the most outstanding benefit that keyless locks offer – peace of mind.

    SCHLAGE FE575 Plymouth Keypad Lock, Elan Lever

    SCHLAGE BE365 Keypad Deadbolt – Satin Nickel