I get asked about smart locks almost every week — usually from someone who read a "top 10" list written for a house in Ohio. The problem is, that advice doesn't hold up down here. South Florida has three things most reviews never account for: salt air, brutal humidity, and hurricane season. A lock that's rated great in a climate-controlled lab in another state can start sticking, corroding, or losing connectivity within a year on a place near the coast.
Here's what I actually tell customers when they ask me to install a smart lock — what to look for, and which models hold up.
What actually matters here (that most reviews skip)
- Corrosion-resistant hardware. Cheap zinc-alloy internals will pit and seize within a couple of years near the coast. Look for solid brass or stainless steel components, not just a coated finish.
- A real mechanical key override. If the power goes out or the app glitches during a storm, you need a physical key that works — no exceptions. Every lock I install has one.
- Battery performance in heat. Lithium batteries drain faster in a hot garage or an un-shaded exterior door. Look for a lock with a battery-low warning that actually gives you a few weeks of notice, not a few days.
- Weatherproofing rating. If the lock is going on an exterior door exposed to rain, check for an IP rating or the manufacturer's own weather-resistance spec — not just "outdoor-rated" marketing language.
- Keypad readability at night. Backlit, physical buttons hold up better here than touchscreens, which can get finicky with humidity and sun glare.
Models I trust for this climate
Schlage Encode Plus
Solid all-metal construction and one of the better warranties in the business. Built-in WiFi means no separate hub, and the physical keypad has held up well on exterior doors I've installed it on in Boca and Delray.
Kwikset Halo Touch
A good mid-range option with a fingerprint reader in addition to the keypad — handy when your hands are full of groceries. Keep it out of direct, all-day sun exposure if you can; the touchscreen performs best on covered entries.
Yale Assure Lock 2
My go-to when a customer wants a clean, no-visible-keypad look. Interchangeable module design means you can swap between keypad, touchscreen, or key-only fronts without replacing the whole lock later.
I generally steer people away from ultra-budget smart locks with plastic internal components — they're the ones I get called back out for within a year or two, usually because the mechanism corroded or the keypad stopped responding after a rainy season.
Hurricane season: don't skip this part
Before storm season, do a quick check on any smart lock: confirm the mechanical key still turns smoothly, replace the batteries even if they're not flashing low yet, and make sure at least one household member knows how to operate the manual override without the app. If you lose power for days, that lock still needs to open and lock like a normal deadbolt.
Get it installed right
A smart lock is only as good as its installation — a misaligned strike plate or a rushed job is the #1 reason people end up calling a locksmith a few months later. I install and set up smart locks throughout Palm Beach and Broward, walk you through the app setup on the spot, and make sure the mechanical override actually works before I leave.