Consider Installing a Biometric Fingerprint Lock

Tired of having to fumble with your keys before you can get into your house? Hate the idea of needing to hide a spare key outside where anyone might find it? If so, a biometric fingerprint lock could be your solution. These locks may sound fancy and high tech, but they're simple to install, even simpler to use, and reasonably priced. High quality models are now on the market for less than $400.

Extra security
Enhanced home security is the main reason to install a biometric fingerprint lock. One benefit is that you won't have to worry about carrying keys that someone could steal-or simply find if you happen to lose them-and use to let themselves into your home. If you have household help, you won't need to risk giving them a key they could have copied for later unauthorized use. Just enter their fingerprint into the lock's memory and delete it whenever you need to.

Convenience
Another reason biometric fingerprint locks are popular is that they're even easier to use than mechanical key locks. All you have to do is place your finger on the optical sensor and wait a second or two for the door to unlock itself. Most sensors can read a fingerprint no matter which way it's positioned. This way if you're carrying something and can't manage to get your finger on straight, the lock will still work. This feature is also helpful for young children who may not be concerned with exactly how they place their finger.

If you have guests staying for more than a few days, you won't have to bother having spare keys made for them. Just take a few minutes to enter their fingerprints into the lock's memory and they can let themselves in and out. Most biometric fingerprint locks can store between 10 to over 100 different fingerprints, so you can add not only family members, but friends and neighbors, too.

Reliability
One of the most common worries people have about biometric fingerprint locks is that if something goes wrong with the optical sensor or the electronics, they'll be locked out of the house. In reality, this is extremely unlikely to happen. First of all, on most locks the "false rejection rate" of fingerprints is less than 1%. While these locks do run on batteries, the lock will let you know when the batteries need to be replaced. Even so, almost all locks are made with over-ride features. If the fingerprint sensor fails, you can override it with a PIN. If that fails, you can use a mechanical key.

In most climates, weather won't affect a biometric fingerprint lock. They're made to stand up to the elements and can work just fine in temperatures as low as 15 ° F below freezing to as high as the mid hundreds.

Of course, like any other security device, biometric fingerprint locks can fail to do their job. That is, it is possible to trick the optical sensor into opening the lock when it shouldn't. In fact, Adam Savage of the Discovery Channel's Mythbusters program proved this. He successfully used a fingerprint copied onto a piece of latex to trick a fingerprint lock. The same thing happened when the fingerprint was copied onto ballistics gel and even plain paper. Of course, if someone wanted to use this trick to break into your house, they'd have to get a copy of your fingerprint. Although a usable copy can be obtained from fingerprints on things you've touched, this is too much trouble for the ordinary burglar. Most burglars look for easy pickings, which is why even a strong door with a deadbolt will dissuade them.

Aesthetics
If you think biometric fingerprint locks are all ugly, bulky devices, you'll be pleasantly surprised by some of the modern designs. Many fingerprint locks, even the larger deadbolt models, strike a good balance between elegant design and physical strength. They also come in attractive colors, so you can find one that suites the color scheme of your home. Typically, biometric fingerprint locks are made of polished brass or brushed/satin chrome. Most models are designed with a sliding cover for the optical sensor so you won't have a funny-looking "eye" marring the look of your front door.

Ease of installation
Installing a fingerprint door lock is a simple do-it-yourself job. These locks can replace most tubular locks without the need to drill a new hole in the door. Keep in mind, though, that biometric fingerprint locks can be installed only on solid-core wood doors. For security reasons, this is the only type of door that should be on a main entrance. Hollow-core, glass and metal doors just aren't as secure.

Install a biometric fingerprint lock on your front door and you can enjoy both enhanced security and the convenience that comes from not having to carry keys around. While many quality locks do come with extra features, don't be taken in by the whistles and bells. There are some nice-looking, but unreliable biometric fingerprint locks on the market, so take some time to find a brand and model you can trust.