Smart Lock Installation in West Valley City, UT

Will your door take a smart lock?

Most smart deadbolts replace an ordinary deadbolt in a door already drilled for one. Houses in Woodhaven and West Hunter, mostly planned developments from the 1990s and 2000s, are likely to have that setup. The brick ranch homes from the 1960s and 1970s that fill much of Granger and Hunter may have only a knob lock on some doors, and adding a smart deadbolt there means boring a new hole. Also check the door's thickness and whether a storm door leaves room for an exterior keypad.

Apartments and rented space

In an apartment, including the newer buildings at Fairbourne Station near City Hall, get written approval from management before changing the lock on your unit. The building entry is not yours to change.

For a rented house, Section 57-22-4 of the Utah Code requires the owner to give at least a day's notice before entering unless the rental agreement says otherwise. Settle in writing how the owner will get in after giving notice, by code or by key, before the new lock goes on.

Where a house has an internal accessory dwelling unit, Section 7-7-115.5 of the city's zoning ordinance requires the owner to live there. A keypad on the unit's entrance then lets the owner change the code between tenants instead of collecting keys. This is general information, not legal advice.

Cold nights and batteries

Batteries deliver less power in the cold, and the Western Regional Climate Center notes that Utah cools rapidly after dark. A smart lock on an exterior door may therefore show its first low-battery warning on a winter morning. Replace batteries at that first warning with the type the manufacturer lists, and if the keypad faces the weather, choose a model built for outdoor temperatures. Keep a working mechanical key, or learn where the lock's emergency power contacts are, so a dead battery does not turn into a house lockout.

Details to include

• The lock model, if you have already bought one.
• Photos of the door edge and the existing lock, and whether there is a storm door.
• Whether you rent, and whether you have written approval.

Each housing type mentioned above is described on the West Valley City overview.