4 Steps To Choose A Digital Door Lock For My Home

As a homeowner, you want to do everything you can to keep your family safe. One way to do that is by installing a digital door lock. But with so many options available, how do you know which one is right for you? 

That’s why we at HOZ created this blog post to help with your decision. We'll outline 4 quick steps to choosing a digital door lock, so that you can select the one best suited for your needs.

1. Choose Between A Door And Gate Lock

When it comes to securing your home, there are a lot of different options on the market. Two of the most popular choices are gate locks and digital door locks. Gate locks are designed to secure external gates and the gates of an HDB flat’s main door. They can come in the form of a traditional metal padlock, but digital door locks for gates are also gaining in popularity amongst homeowners. Digital door locks, on the other hand, are always electronic. There are many ways to open a digital door lock, like a fingerprint, RFID card, or PIN code. 

2. Identify The Type Of Door And Select A Suitable Digital Door Lock Type

A digital lock comes in several types, such as the smart lock for mortise doors, the rim-latch lock, and the smart deadbolt lock. There is also a push pull lock which is basically a mortise without the handles. With all these options available, how do you choose?

It would be best to pick a lock after identifying the type of door you already have. For example, if you have a mortise lock, you could go with a digital push pull or smart lock for mortise doors. 

However, if your door already has a deadbolt, you can install a smart deadbolt lock instead. 

3. Decide On Your Preferred Unlocking Method

All digital door locks have multiple ways to open them. The most common methods are fingerprint, RFID, and PIN code access.

Fingerprint - The easiest and fastest way of unlocking. Many love fingerprint access because you won’t need a physical key or a PIN code. In addition, a fingerprint lock is more secure as compared to intruders copying a key. It’s also convenient. You simply place your finger on the sensor, and the door opens. This makes them ideal for use when you want to maintain a high-security level without compromising convenience. However, if you chronically have sweaty palms or trouble using your fingerprints, you might want to try a backup alternative. 

RFID - Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are small devices that emit radio waves that an RFID reader can detect. Digital door locks using RFID open when radio waves are emitted from a tapped card placed onto an RFID reader. As RFID technology continues to evolve, we will likely see even more uses for these versatile little devices.

PIN code access - A common, secure way to access many things, including bank accounts and safes. You’ll simply need to key in your PIN code, typically made up of 4 or 6 numbers, on the panel of the digital door lock for the door to unlock. 

4. Factor In Any Other Considerations

In addition to the main considerations of a digital door lock, you’ll have to note the nitty-gritty, like whether the lock will fit in the gate. Many older HDB flats have the metal gate installed very close to the main door, which prevents some locks from fitting, in which case, you’ll need a thinner one. 

Check with a reliable digital door lock retailer such as HOZ on the type of lock compatible with your door. Not all locks will fit your door, so you can safely eliminate certain models based on the dimensions of your main door. 

Choose The Best Lock For Your Home With Hoz

At HOZ, we make it our mission to keep homes in Singapore safe with our broad range of digital door locks. Browse our extensive range of locks and call us for a chat about how we can make your home safer!