What does smart lock installation involve for a Glendale home?
A smart lock is an ordinary lock with a small motor, a circuit board, and a way to take instructions from a keypad, a phone, or a home network. The bolt still has to travel cleanly into the frame, and the door still has to close square. In our experience, most smart lock trouble is mechanical rather than digital: a door that rubs, a strike plate set slightly off, a bore hole cut for a different lock. The electronics get the attention, but the fit decides whether the lock works every day.
Smart lock installation at Wilshire Lock & Key covers both halves of the job. First comes the hardware: measuring the door, fitting the lock, and aligning the bolt and strike. Then comes the setup: pairing the lock with an app, creating codes, setting auto-lock, and connecting to Wi-Fi if the lock supports it. You finish with a lock that works and with a clear idea of how to run it.
People call these locks many things: keyless entry, keypad deadbolts, electronic door locks, digital locks, app-controlled locks. The terms overlap, and you do not need the right vocabulary to call us. Tell us which door it is and what you want it to do, and we will sort out the rest.
Which kind of keyless door lock fits your door?
There is no single best smart lock. The right one depends on the door, on who uses it, and on how much you want to depend on your phone and your router. These are the main types we install and set up:
- Keypad-only electronic deadbolt: you enter a code on the door. There is no wireless connection and no app, so there is less to go wrong. It suits people who just want to stop carrying keys.
- Bluetooth lock: your phone talks to the lock when you are close. It needs no home network, which makes setup simpler, but you cannot control it from across town.
- Wi-Fi lock: you can lock, unlock, and check status from anywhere. It uses more battery and depends on your network, and some models need a small plug-in bridge to connect.
- Keypad plus app hybrid: the most common choice. You get a code for the door and phone control for sharing access and seeing activity.
- Fingerprint lock: opens with a stored print. Handy for households that do not want to remember codes, though a keypad or key backup is still wise.
- Retrofit smart module: a unit that mounts on the inside of your existing deadbolt and leaves the outside hardware and your existing key as they are. It is often the right fit for apartments, condos, and anywhere you cannot change the exterior.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How do we install and set up a smart lock, step by step?
Every door is a little different, but the sequence stays the same. This is how a smart lock installation goes with us:
- We talk it through by phone: which door, what kind of lock you have in mind, who needs access, and whether you already own the lock.
- We inspect the door and frame: thickness, bore holes, backset, latch, strike plate, and how the door swings and closes. A door that sticks will wear out a smart lock motor, so we look at this first.
- We confirm the hardware. If you bought a lock already, we install it, and we tell you plainly if it is a poor match for your door. If you want a recommendation, we explain the trade-offs between keypad, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi models.
- We prepare the door. That can mean enlarging or correcting a bore, adjusting or relocating the strike, or easing a binding latch so the bolt moves freely.
- We mount the lock body, keypad, and batteries, then test the bolt by hand with the door open and again with it closed before any electronics are involved.
- We do the digital setup: pair the lock with the app, set the master code and user codes, set auto-lock and any alerts, and connect Wi-Fi or a bridge where the model uses one.
- We walk you through everything: how to add and delete codes, how to use the physical key override if there is one, what the low-battery warning looks like, and where the reset steps are kept.
What affects the cost of smart lock installation?
We will not quote a number on this page, because the honest answer depends on your door and your lock. Here is what moves the cost up or down:
- The lock itself. Keypad-only models are usually the lighter-cost option. Wi-Fi, fingerprint, and hybrid models cost more, and brand and finish matter too.
- Who supplies the lock. If you bring your own, you are only paying for the labor and setup. If we supply it, the hardware is part of the job.
- Door condition. A pre-bored, well-aligned door is a quick swap. A door that needs boring, strike relocation, or frame repair takes longer.
- Door type. Solid wood, metal, glass-panel, and older doors with mortise locks all call for different handling.
- Number of doors, and whether you want several locks to share codes or work from one app.
- Extras such as a Wi-Fi bridge, linking the lock to a home system, or setting up many user codes for a household or rental.
- Timing and distance. A scheduled visit and an after-hours call are different things, and Glendale is about 18 miles from our Westwood storefront.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What affects cost over time, not just on day one?
The usually more economical route is a lock that suits your door and your habits, not the most feature-heavy model. A Wi-Fi lock on a door that rubs the frame will chew through batteries and motors. A simple keypad deadbolt on a well-aligned door can run for a long time with only battery changes.
Ask what the lock needs from you after installation. Does it require a subscription for remote features? How are batteries replaced? Is there a physical key backup? These questions matter more to your long-term cost than a small difference in the hardware.
Smart lock repair, replacement, and troubleshooting
Smart locks fail in a few predictable ways, and many problems have simple fixes. Before replacing anything, we check the common causes:
- Low or mismatched batteries, which can make a lock act strangely before it fully dies.
- A door that has shifted, so the bolt rubs the strike and the motor strains or stops partway.
- A new router, a changed Wi-Fi password, or a moved bridge that dropped the lock off your network.
- Keypad wear or a damaged ribbon connection where the exterior and interior halves meet.
- App or firmware problems, where the lock itself is fine but pairing needs to be redone.
- A lock that has never been aligned properly, which only shows up after weeks of use.
When should you repair a smart lock and when should you replace it?
If the trouble is mechanical, such as alignment, a worn latch, or a loose mounting, we can often correct it and keep your existing lock. For conventional hardware problems around the same door, our lock repair service covers the non-electronic side.
Some failures are inside the electronics of the lock itself, and those units are often not worth opening up. In those cases we will say so and recommend smart lock replacement with a model that suits the door better. If you need a locksmith for smart locks you did not buy from us, call anyway. We will troubleshoot what is in front of us.
How do smart locks work in Glendale homes, condos, and hillside houses?
Glendale's housing is varied enough that the same lock can behave very differently from one address to the next. Our service covers the ZIP codes 91201 through 91208 and 91020, and the door in front of us matters more than the ZIP code.
1920s Spanish and Tudor revival homes in Rossmoyne and Adams Hill often have heavy, older entry doors with existing deadbolts and decorative hardware. A smart deadbolt can go onto those doors, but the bore and the strike sometimes need attention first. When we are already at a home like that, it makes sense to look at the other locks too. If you want the keys to match the new setup, our lock rekeying service handles the rest of the doors, and if the entry door needs a new deadbolt altogether, see deadbolt installation.
Mid-century hillside houses in Glenoaks Canyon and Chevy Chase Canyon face a different problem. Santa Ana winds and strong canyon sun dry out wood doors, and a door that has dried and shifted can bind against its frame. That matters for a smart lock because the motor has to push the bolt every time, and it will struggle if the door is not square. We check alignment and fit the lock to how the door actually sits. If your hillside property also has a driveway gate or a garage entry that needs attention, gate lock repair is a separate service we can pair with the visit.
In the dense apartment and condo core south of downtown and in the high-rise and podium buildings near The Americana at Brand, the details are different again. Many of those buildings have controlled-access lobbies, and the unit door is often subject to building rules, so check with your management before changing exterior hardware. A retrofit smart module that sits on the inside of your existing deadbolt is often the easier route, because it leaves the outside of the door alone. Building-wide entry systems are a separate job from a unit door lock; for those, see access control installation.
The smaller 1920s to 1950s cottages in Montrose and Sparr Heights usually have simpler entry doors, often a single deadbolt, and a smart lock fits in readily when the door is in good shape. In the flatland neighborhoods, wear tends to come from daily use rather than weather. Because our mobile locksmith vans come to you, none of this requires you to carry a door anywhere.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Smart locks for rentals, landlords, and short-term stays
Code-based access is popular with people who rent out a unit because it removes the key handoff. You can create a code for a guest or a contractor and delete it afterward, without calling anyone for a new key. That is especially useful when different people need access at different times.
There are still things to settle first. Check your lease and your building rules before changing hardware, and decide who controls the master code. If you manage several doors or units, our page on locksmith services for landlords goes into the wider picture. For short-term rentals and guest turnover, see vacation rental locksmith service.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a smart lock?
We have been in business since 1987, and a smart lock is still a lock: door fitting, bolt travel, and strike alignment come first, and we have been doing that work a long time. We run a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans that cover 140 cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, Glendale included.
You are dealing with one company. There is no dispatch middleman passing your job to whoever is free, and David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work. Our phone line, (213) 577-1366, is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. If a smart lock has locked you out or stopped working at night, you can call right away.
How do you check that a locksmith is legitimate?
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, which is issued through the state's Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Ask any locksmith for that license number before work begins, whether it is us or someone else. A company that hesitates to give it to you is not one to hire.
Beyond that, expect a locksmith to ask about your door, to explain what they plan to do before they do it, and to be upfront about when a lock is a poor fit. Be wary of anyone who recommends a lock without looking at the door.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a smart lock I already bought?
Yes. Bring the lock or tell us the model when you call. We check that it fits your door, install it, and set it up. If it is a poor match for the door, we will tell you plainly, which beats finding out after it is mounted.
Will a smart lock work on an older wood door?
Often, yes. Older and hillside doors can shift with the seasons, so we check alignment and the bore before installing. If the door needs adjusting so the bolt moves freely, we do that first, because a smart lock motor cannot overcome a door that binds.
What happens when the batteries die or the Wi-Fi goes down?
Most smart locks warn you before the batteries are fully drained. If they die anyway, many models have a physical key override or a way to power the keypad temporarily. A Wi-Fi outage generally stops remote control but not the code on the keypad. We go over the specifics for your model at handover.
Is a keypad lock or a Wi-Fi lock better?
It depends on what you want. A keypad lock is simpler and has less that can fail. A Wi-Fi lock lets you control and share access remotely, but depends on your network and uses more battery. Many people choose a hybrid with both a keypad and an app.
How long does a smart lock installation take?
It depends on the door. A well-aligned door with a bore that already fits is a shorter visit. A door that needs boring, strike work, or frame repair takes longer, and so does setting up many user codes or several doors. We can give you a better sense once we know the door.
Can I keep using my regular key?
With some types, yes. A retrofit module keeps your existing exterior lock and key, and many smart deadbolts include a keyed override. Some models are key-free. Tell us whether you want a physical backup and we will choose accordingly.
Do you repair smart locks you did not install?
Yes. We troubleshoot locks regardless of where they came from. We check batteries, alignment, network settings, and pairing first. If the electronics inside the lock have failed, we will say so and discuss replacement.
Can I put a smart lock on my condo or apartment door?
Often you can, but check your lease or building rules first, since some buildings regulate exterior door hardware. A retrofit smart module that mounts on the inside of your existing deadbolt is often the easiest option because it leaves the outside of the door alone.
More locksmith help in Glendale
Smart Lock Installation near Glendale
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.