Smart Lock Installation in Memphis, TN

Whether a Memphis door suits a smart lock

The door decides. Only 14.0 percent of Memphis housing dates from 2000 or later, and older doors may carry mortise locks. A smart deadbolt made for a standard bore may not suit one, so check the model you are considering against the lock now in the door.

If the house is in one of the city's 19 local historic districts, check that district's design guidelines before choosing hardware that shows from the street.

Rentals and apartments

If you rent, and in Memphis more than half of households do, get the landlord's approval in writing before replacing a lock. In Poplar Avenue's 1920s apartment buildings, the street entrance and a unit door can answer to different people. A smart lock on the unit door does not open the street entrance, so ask who controls it and how visitors will get in.

Batteries, weather and a backup key

NOAA describes Tennessee as having abundant precipitation, so a keypad on an exposed door meets rain. Cold weakens batteries too, so a lock that worked in the afternoon may struggle on a frozen morning. Replace the batteries at the first low-battery warning, and keep a working mechanical key with a family member or a neighbor. A lock that depends on a phone app or Wi-Fi is one more thing that can fail, so learn how it behaves when offline.

What to include

Include photos of the door and its edge, its thickness if you have measured it, the brand of the current lock, and the model of any smart lock you have already bought. Say whether you own or rent. Tennessee Locksmith Pros takes service requests from homes, businesses and drivers in Memphis. See smart lock installation service, lock replacement if the old hardware has to go, and the Memphis page.