Not trying to be too critical of your situation, so please take don’t take this post personally.
It strikes me that you’re sacrificing a lot of security for convenience, and unnecessarily so.
For starters, having dumb locks with 2 different keys is just inherently inconvenient. Even having dumb locks with the same key is a PITA.
Replacing your dumb locks with a smart deadbolt (and lockless handle) CAN give you the best of both worlds. You can program codes with all sorts of rules.
Just a few examples of things you can do:
Usercode modes:
- Schedule based – Housekeeper’s code only works on Tuesdays between noon-4pm
- Temporary codes – Housesitter’s code will only work from tomorrow through Sunday when you come home from your trip.
- One time use – Buddy needs to borrow a hammer, so you give him a code to the garage man door that only works once.
- Mode based – Codes can be enabled/disabled based on mode – Create a privacy mode (triggered by a routine) and it can disable the codes of anyone who doesn’t have critical access.
Extended convenience:
- Lock codes trigger custom routines. You come home after dark, and the doorlock turns on interior lights.
- Arm/Disarm your security system or SHM
- Autolocking options – Set your door lock to lock after x amount of time when unlocked, so your house is always secure.
- Trigger custom actions – Create a user code that doesn’t unlock the door, but opens your garage door
- Notifications if lock jams or is tampered with
Etc. This is a pretty broad overview, but gives a good idea of how you can overcome your issue with a smart deadbolt, as well as gaining a TON of other useful convenience.
For about $200-250 you can buy a smart deadbolt, no-lock handleset, hide-a-key/lockbox for a physical key (just in case – I have one physically mounted on my garage man door just in case I ever get locked out), and a door/window sensor, and unlock an absurd amount of automation options, as well as resolving every issue you mentioned in this thread.
By contrast, most of the Smart Handlesets I’ve seen are at least that expensive just for the handleset, and leave you with obstacles to overcome (like carrying a key for the deadbolt).
My personal recommendation is the Schlage Connect deadbolt. It’ll be on sale for $150 on Black Friday (not a doorbuster AFAIK, so the price should be good all week). I’ve bought about 6 of them and never had an issue with any of them, and you can find them significantly cheaper than HD”s price (I’ve bought a few refurbished or used for $80-110 – again, no issues ever).
Mine have been so bulletproof that I’ve created a new issue for myself – I’ve lost the physical key to 2 of them and at some point need to figure out how to re-key them so I have physical access just in case there’s ever an issue with the smart functionality.
