Why are Westmont households switching to smart locks?
Most people who call us about a smart lock are not chasing gadgets. They have a practical problem. A key went missing with a former roommate. A relative needs to get in while everyone is at work. A kid comes home from school before a parent does. Or the old deadbolt has been sticking for a year and replacing it with something that opens from a keypad seems like a reasonable upgrade.
Smart locks solve those problems well when they are chosen and installed correctly. A keypad lets you give someone a code instead of cutting a key, and take that code away later without changing the cylinder. An app-controlled lock lets you check whether the door is locked from across town. A Bluetooth lock lets your phone act as the key when you walk up to the door.
They also fail in predictable ways when the wrong lock is put on the wrong door, when the door does not close squarely, or when the Wi-Fi setup is rushed. That is the part we care about. Smart lock installation is a hardware job first and a software job second. If the bolt does not throw cleanly into the strike every time, no app will fix it.
Wilshire Lock & Key has been a working locksmith company since 1987, with a storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood and mobile service vans that cover Westmont and 139 other cities across Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Smart locks are one part of what we do, and we treat them like any other lock: fit the door, set it up properly, show you how it works, and leave it working.
What kinds of smart locks can we install?
Smart lock is a loose term, and it helps to know which kind you are actually asking for. We install and configure all of the common types, and we will tell you plainly when a simpler option suits your door better than a connected one.
Here is how the main categories break down:
- Keypad lock installation: a deadbolt or handleset with a numeric keypad, often with a physical key override. These do not need Wi-Fi, and many people find them the most dependable choice for a front or back door.
- Bluetooth lock installation: the lock talks to your phone over short range. It is simple to set up, works without a home network, and is good for people who mostly want hands-free entry.
- Wi-Fi lock installation: the lock connects to your home network, or through a small bridge, so you can lock, unlock and check status when you are away. This type depends on your router, so we test it with your actual network.
- Smart deadbolt installation: a retrofit unit that replaces only the interior thumb-turn on your existing deadbolt, or a full replacement deadbolt with electronics built in.
- Electronic and digital door lock installation: keypad, card, fingerprint or code-based hardware for a home entry, side gate door, or detached unit.
- App-controlled lock installation: any of the above paired with a manufacturer or smart-home app, including shared codes and guest access.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366How does a smart lock installation work, step by step?
Every installation is a little different, but the sequence below is how we run a standard smart lock setup. Nothing in it is complicated, and you are welcome to watch.
- Talk through what you need. We ask who uses the door, whether you want remote access, whether you rent or own, and what phone and home network you use. This decides the lock type.
- Inspect the door. We check the thickness, the bore holes, the edge preparation, the strike plate, and whether the door swings and latches without rubbing. A smart lock on a door that binds is a smart lock that will jam.
- Fix what the door needs first. If the strike is misaligned or the latch drags, we correct that before mounting any electronics. Sometimes this is a small adjustment; sometimes it means a new strike or reinforcement.
- Install the hardware. We remove the old lock, fit the new deadbolt or retrofit unit, mount the keypad or interior assembly, and check that the bolt extends fully and retracts freely by hand before power is involved.
- Power and pair. We install the batteries, connect the lock to your phone through the manufacturer app, and, if it is a Wi-Fi model, join it to your network and test the connection from the door itself.
- Set codes and users. We help you create your own code, any additional user codes, and the settings you want, such as auto-lock. You choose the codes; we do not keep them.
- Test and walk you through it. We run the lock through repeated cycles with the door open and closed, test the physical key override if the lock has one, and show you how to recover access if a battery runs low.
Will a smart lock work on an older Westmont door?
Often yes, but older doors need a closer look. Westmont is densely built, and a lot of the housing is older: 1920s to 1940s bungalows and Spanish-style cottages, small postwar homes, and two-story apartment buildings, especially along the Vermont Avenue corridor, the Western Avenue corridor and the Normandie Avenue corridor. Many of those doors have been painted, planed, re-hung and re-drilled over the decades.
On a bungalow door, the usual issues are old bore holes that do not match a modern lock, thin or worn wood around the latch, and a strike plate screwed into a frame that has softened. A smart deadbolt only works as well as the wood holding it. We often reinforce the strike area and use longer screws into the framing, and that is part of the job, not an upsell.
Climate matters a little here. Westmont sits on a flat inland coastal plain with regular morning marine layer and mild temperatures. Corrosion is minor, which is good news for electronics. But damp winter mornings can swell older wood doors and frames, and a door that sticks slightly in January can strain a motorized deadbolt. If your door is tight in the frame on damp mornings, tell us. We may adjust the fit or choose a lock with a stronger motor, or suggest a keypad model with a simpler mechanism.
Security screen doors are also common around here, along with window bars. If you have a security door in front of your main door, the smart lock goes on the main door, and we check that the screen door does not block the keypad, the latch, or the swing. We also look at the security door hardware itself, because a good smart lock behind a weak screen door latch leaves a gap. If the screen door needs work, we can look at it at the same visit.
In practical terms, a homeowner near Jesse Owens Park area, in ZIP code 90044 or 90047, who wants to move from a worn deadbolt and a key under the planter to a keypad deadbolt is a straightforward case. We confirm the door, install the lock, and set the codes. If the old deadbolt is simply failing, our deadbolt installation service covers the traditional version of the same upgrade, and we can talk through which direction makes sense.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What about renters and small multifamily buildings in Westmont?
Renters make up a large share of Westmont households, and that changes how smart lock work gets done. If you rent, check your lease and talk to your landlord before changing a lock. Some landlords allow a retrofit smart deadbolt that leaves the original cylinder in place, so the unit can be removed when you move. Others want a specific setup or want to keep control of the keys. We can work with whichever is permitted.
For landlords and property managers, smart locks have a real use in small multifamily buildings, such as the two-story apartment buildings near Vermont Avenue and Western Avenue. Rental turnover is the obvious case. With a traditional lock, every new tenant means a rekey. With a keypad or app-managed lock, the previous tenant code can be deleted and a new one set, which saves the trip. We still recommend a physical rekey when keys have been handed out freely, and our lock rekey service is the right tool for that. For owners managing several units, our page for locksmiths for landlords explains how we handle that kind of work.
One point matters for apartments: a smart lock does not remove the chance of getting locked out. Batteries die, phones die, and people forget codes. If you ever end up outside your door, our apartment lockout service is there, and we can come from our mobile vans. Our base is about 14 miles from Westmont, but our vans work across the area rather than waiting at the storefront.
For buildings that need to control many doors, shared entrances or tenant access, a single smart lock is not the right answer. That is a different category of equipment, and we point people toward access control installation instead.
How much does smart lock installation cost in Westmont?
We do not quote numbers on a web page, because the number depends on facts we have not seen yet. Here is what actually moves the cost up or down so you can think about it before you call.
The lock itself is the first factor. A basic keypad deadbolt and a Wi-Fi lock with fingerprint reading are very different products. Hardware quality matters too, since cheap electronics use cheap motors, and replacement costs more over time than a sound unit would have at the start.
The condition of the door is second. A square, solid door that latches cleanly needs only the lock installed. A door that needs new bore holes, reinforcement, a new strike or frame work takes more time and materials.
Third is whether you already bought the lock. If you have a lock in a box, we can install it, and we will tell you before starting if it is a poor fit for your door. If you want us to supply one, we can recommend options based on your door and how you use it.
Fourth is scope. One door is one job. Front, back and side doors, plus a garage entry, add up, though doing them together saves repeat setup time. Network setup, multiple users, and training for a household all take some time too.
Finally, timing. Work scheduled during the day costs a different amount than an urgent late-night call. If you can wait, a scheduled visit is usually the more economical route. When you call (213) 577-1366, we ask the right questions about the door and lock and give you a clear explanation of the work before we begin.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366Smart lock troubleshooting, repair and replacement
Not every smart lock call is a new install. Many are people with a lock that has stopped behaving. We handle smart lock troubleshooting, and when it is the lock rather than the setup, we move to smart lock repair or smart lock replacement.
The most common problems are simple. Batteries are weak and the lock responds slowly or not at all. The lock lost its connection after a router change or a new internet provider. The keypad is worn or unresponsive. The motor strains because the door has shifted or swelled, and the bolt no longer lines up with the strike. Or the lock was installed with the wrong backset or slightly off-center, and has been fighting the door ever since.
We start with the door, because a mechanical problem looks like an electronic one. Then we check power, pairing, and settings. If the lock is repairable, we repair it. If the lock is failing, or the manufacturer has stopped supporting the app, replacement is the honest answer, and we will explain why. For cases where the problem is the mechanical hardware rather than the electronics, our lock repair service covers it.
If you are locked out because of a dead smart lock, call anytime. Our 24-hour locksmith line is answered day and night, every day of the year.
Why call Wilshire Lock & Key for a smart lock?
There are plenty of ways to buy a smart lock and plenty of people who will install one. Here is what we can honestly offer.
We have been in business since 1987. That is long enough to have installed mechanical locks, early electronic ones, and the current connected ones, and to know where each type fails. We have a real storefront at 10740 Wilshire Blvd in Westwood, plus mobile vans, so you are not dealing with a call center that sends whoever is nearby.
We are one company, with no dispatch middlemen. The person who answers the phone works for the same business as the technician who shows up. David, the owner and lead technician, oversees the work, which means that questions about a specific door or lock have a real person behind them.
California requires locksmith companies to hold a BSIS LCO license, and you should ask any locksmith for it before they start work, including us. It is a fair question. A locksmith who is working on your front door should be willing to answer it.
We also tell you when a smart lock is not the answer. If your door is too damaged, if a simple keyed deadbolt would serve you better, or if you need something stronger than a consumer smart lock, we say so. For higher-security needs, our high-security locks page explains the alternatives.
Locked out or need a locksmith now?
We answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Call (213) 577-1366What should you have ready before you call?
A few details make the call faster and the visit more useful. You do not need all of them.
Tell us which door or doors you want to upgrade, and whether it is wood, metal, or has a security screen door in front. Tell us if you already have a lock and what brand and model it is. Tell us what you want it to do: keypad only, phone control, remote access, guest codes. Tell us what phone you use, and whether you have home Wi-Fi that reaches the door.
If you rent, mention it and we will talk about what is practical. If you are near the Century Boulevard corridor or Manchester Avenue corridor and your question concerns a shop door rather than a house, that is a different job, and our commercial locksmith team handles it. For a home in Westmont, near Vermont Knolls or near Morningside Park, or anywhere in ZIP 90044 or 90047, call (213) 577-1366 and we will find a time that works.
Frequently asked questions
Can you install a smart lock I already bought?
Yes, in most cases. We check that the lock suits your door thickness, bore size and latch type before we start. If it is a poor fit, we tell you before drilling anything, and explain what would work better.
Do smart locks need Wi-Fi?
Not all of them. Keypad locks and many Bluetooth locks work without any home network. Wi-Fi locks need a connection to be controlled remotely. If your router does not reach the front door well, we test that during setup and suggest options.
Will a smart lock work with my security screen door?
Usually yes, because the lock goes on the main door. We check that the screen door does not block the keypad or the swing, and that its latch is solid. Security screen doors and window bars are common in Westmont, so this comes up often.
What happens if the batteries die?
Most smart locks warn you when the batteries are low, and many have a backup way in, such as a physical key or a temporary power contact. We show you how yours works during setup so you know what to do before it happens.
Can I use a smart lock in a rental?
Check your lease and ask your landlord first. Some landlords allow retrofit smart deadbolts that keep the original cylinder, so it can be restored when you move out. We can install whatever setup your landlord approves.
Is a smart lock more secure than a regular deadbolt?
Not automatically. Security depends on the bolt, the strike, the door and the frame as much as on the electronics. A well-installed smart lock on a solid door is a good upgrade. A poorly installed one on a weak door is not. We look at the whole door.
Can you fix or replace a smart lock that stopped working?
Yes. We check the door fit, the power and the pairing first, since many problems start there. If the lock itself has failed, we explain whether repair or replacement makes more sense and what the options are.
Do you come out at night or on weekends for smart lock problems?
Yes. Our phone line at (213) 577-1366 is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Urgent calls, like a lock that will not open, get handled right away. New installations can usually be scheduled at a time that suits you.
Do you install smart locks on landlord or multi-unit properties?
We do. For small multifamily buildings, smart locks can make tenant turnover simpler. For larger buildings with shared entrances, we may suggest a different system. Our contact page is the easiest way to describe your property.
More locksmith help in Westmont
Smart Lock Installation near Westmont
Reviewed by David, Owner & Lead Technician, Wilshire Lock & Key — in the locksmith trade since 1987.
Last updated 2026-10-11.