Did you know that according to the FBI, one burglary happens every 22.6 seconds.?
And sliding doors are very vulnerable to such an event.
So installing a smart lock will help you better protect your home.
Research says that more than 9 million homes have a smart lock installed.
And it’s time to add yours to the list.
So let’s get to it.
Read on to find out:
- The 7 best smart locks for sliding doors.
- Whether they add to your existing home value.
- How much a smart lock costs and must-know factors when choosing one.
- And so much more…
Can I put a smart lock on a sliding door?
You can put a smart lock on a sliding door. There are a lot of brands that you can choose from, such as Autoslide, Lingle, and Yale. And they vary according to costs, range of features, and more.
7 best smart locks for sliding doors
#1: Autoslide
One of the best keyless smart locks you can get for your sliding doors is…
The Autoslide.
This keyless smart lock contains an iLock automatic door system.
“What does it do?”
It gives your sliding door the dynamic capacity to lock and unlock through a braking system.
It does this through electricity. So when you want to open the door…
You just activate Autoslide, the current breaks, and your door can be opened.
When you close it, the current will flow again, and your door will be locked.
What if you lose power, you say?
You won’t need to worry, because Autoslide is designed to be a fail-safe system.
What this means is that when there’s a power interruption, the lock will deactivate and you can use it manually.
Also, Autoslide enables hands-free exit and entry.
But you know what the best part is?
If you have a pet, this lock system has a Pet Mode.
When it’s on, your door will open only when your pet activates it.
And only big enough for your pet to pass through.
“So does that mean it’s perfect?”
Well, almost.
The only downside that Autoslide has is that it’s a little difficult to set up.
You may need professional assistance to make sure it’s properly installed.
Watch how it works here:
#2: Command Lock
Another smart lock that you may want to consider is the Command Lock from Lingle Technologies.
It’s similar to the Autoslide in that it’ll also work even when electricity fails.
And it doesn’t require getting rid of your existing lock.
There are 3 ways to lock and unlock your sliding doors with Command Lock. You can use:
- An exit switch.
- Your smartphone.
- A wireless lock switch.
“How do I use my smartphone to control it?”
Command Lock is enabled to work with Zigbee technology, and this protocol is what you use in your smart home networks.
Let’s say you have an Amazon Echo and a smart light bulb…
If you want to use an Alexa command to turn on the light bulb, you’re using Zigbee.
And this cool piece of tech is available in a Command Lock, which you can connect to your smartphone.
“Sounds cool, is there any drawback?”
The Command Lock comes with a lot of components. Such as:
- Screws.
- 2 cord covers.
- A power source.
- A smart power plug.
- A button for emergency exit.
- A switch for a wireless wall mount.
- A power cord that connects to the wall.
- A cord that connects your power source to the deadbolt.
- An electric deadbolt to attach to the top of your sliding door.
The good thing is you’ll also get a very detailed guide with your purchase.
But you may need help in installing the system to make sure it works well.
You may also like: Do You Need To Have a Smart Home for Alexa?
#3: Gateman G-Swipe
“Is there something that’s easier to install?”
The Gateman G-Swipe may be for you.
A Korean product, it features interlocking bolts for your sliding doors.
These bolts also come with a vertical clamp so you can be assured of safety.
If there are a lot of you in the house…
This smart lock can store up to 20 fingerprints.
But you can set it to Master Mode so only you can change lock settings.
“What are its cons?”
If you’re interested in getting one for your home, you’ll have to remove your existing lock.
Also, it can’t connect to WiFi so it doesn’t have a mobile app that you can use.
#4: Yale YDR41
What if you can have something like the G-Swipe except with a mobile app?
Then the Yale YDR41 was made exactly for you.
It’s just like the Gateman smart lock, so it has interlocking bolts and can save up to 20 fingerprints.
But it’s designed to connect to WiFi so it has the Yale Link app.
Note: You need to purchase add-ons to get the Yale Link app.
So essentially, this smart lock is just a more expensive Gateman G-Swipe.
But if you can afford it, you can also use it for your swing doors.
#5: Yale Assure Lock for Andersen Patio Doors
Here’s another one from Yale.
And it’s especially great for you if you already have Andersen patio doors.
The Yale Assure lock can be used in three ways: touchscreen, Bluetooth/WiFi, and Z-Wave Plus.
Z-Wave Plus is another wireless communication protocol, like Zigbee.
So this means that with this smart lock, you get an app to control your sliding doors.
It also comes with a battery backup, so even if you lose power, you can still use its 9V battery.
But as its name implies, it only works with Andersen doors and you can’t buy it as a standalone product.
Or you can retrofit it into existing Andersen doors.
“Which type of Andersen doors?”
These are:
- Entranceway Doors.
- A-Series Hinged Patio Doors.
- E-Series Hinged Patio Doors.
- Complementary Curved Top Patio Doors.
#6: Ozone RFID Sliding Door Digital Lock
Everything that we’ve covered so far are for sliding glass or metal doors.
But what if you have wooden sliding doors?
The Ozone RFID Sliding Door Digital Lock is perfect for that.
Made in India, this lock can be used with a passcode or RFID. Or both.
It runs on 4 AA batteries and comes with an emergency backup feature.
Speaking of emergencies…
This smart lock will automatically open your sliding doors…
When it detects that your room is too hot.
It comes in with built-in sensors that will activate a fire alarm to ensure your safety.
The downside is that you won’t be able to integrate it into your smart home network.
The Ozone digital lock doesn’t have a phone application.
Also, the manufacturer doesn’t offer it as an add-on.
#7: SmartDL 5-in-1 Slim Smart Sliding Door Lock
What about a lock that’s weatherproof?
Is there anything like that you can buy for your sliding doors?
Definitely. You can opt for the SmartDL 5-in-1 Slim smart sliding door lock.
It’s made from 304 stainless steel, which makes it perfect for weathering external elements.
Also, there are various ways to lock and unlock your door with this product:
- PIN.
- Code.
- Key fob.
- Smartphone app.
Additionally, it has anti-peep functionality.
So if someone’s trying to watch you open your door…
You can punch in any random string of numbers as long as within that string, you entered your PIN or passcode.
And its battery life can last up to 10 months.
The one sad thing about it, though…
The manufacturer ships it only within Australia.
Can smart door locks be hacked?
Smart door locks can be hacked.
The following are some of the ways a smart lock can be hacked.
#1: Password hijack
A password hijack happens when someone else gains access to your password.
This usually happens when your phone gets stolen, or your files get hacked.
To ensure that your password doesn’t get hijacked:
- Change your password regularly.
- Make a note of it on a piece of paper and not on a digital file, if possible.
- Don’t share your password with people you don’t trust.
#2: WiFi breach
This happens when someone hacks into your home’s WiFi network.
From there, they can force their way into saved credentials on your network.
Similarly, hackers may try to enter your home’s smart hub.
To protect your WiFi network from a potential breach:
- Change your WiFi password every so often.
- Invest in a smarthub that offers enhanced security.
#3: Voice command hack
Finally, your smart lock may be opened by an authorized user with a voice command.
“How does that happen?”
Let’s say you’ve created an Alexa voice command for opening your sliding doors.
And that you’ve specifically turned off extra authentication required, like asking for a PIN.
With these 2 things, other people may be able to open your doors.
To prevent this from happening, set your doors to always ask for a PIN or a code when receiving voice commands.