This is usually framed as old versus new, which is the wrong comparison. A smart lock is still a deadbolt with a motor attached. Consequently the real question is what the motor buys you and what it costs you.
What a smart lock genuinely solves
The obvious win is that there is no key to leave inside, which removes the single most common cause of residential lockouts. Furthermore, temporary codes let you admit a cleaner, a dog walker or a contractor without handing over anything physical. Additionally, most models log who entered and when. Consequently the benefit is control and convenience rather than raw security.
What it costs you
Batteries. Every smart lock runs on them and they eventually die, usually with weeks of warning that people ignore. Moreover cold reduces battery performance noticeably, so an Ottawa winter shortens the interval. Therefore we only fit models with a mechanical key override. Consequently a flat battery becomes an annoyance rather than a callout.
The alignment problem nobody mentions
A door that binds forces the motor to work harder and drains cells much faster. Consequently the strike should be adjusted before a smart lock goes on, not after the batteries start failing.
Security: honestly compared
A good smart lock is as secure as the deadbolt it contains, which is the point. Consequently the underlying grade and the strike screws matter exactly as much as before. However, cheap smart locks exist and some have genuinely poor mechanical hardware behind the electronics. Therefore judge the bolt first and the app second.
Who should choose which
Households that get locked out, or that regularly admit others, benefit clearly from a keypad. By contrast, a household that has never lost a key gains convenience rather than solving a problem. Meanwhile a rental property benefits enormously, because codes retire without rekeying. Consequently the decision follows how the door actually gets used.
Questions we get about this
What happens when the battery dies?
With an override model, you use the key. Consequently it is an inconvenience rather than a lockout.
Do smart locks work in Ottawa winters?
Yes, though cold shortens battery life. Therefore change them annually.
Are they less secure than a normal deadbolt?
Not inherently. The bolt and the strike still determine that.
Do they need wifi?
Keypad models do not. However, app control and remote access do.
Can I give a cleaner a code?
Yes, and remove it afterwards. Moreover many models log usage.
