We install and set up smart locks on any standard residential or light-commercial door in San Diego County, usually in under an hour. Bring your own lock or have us supply one. Every install includes door and strike alignment, app pairing, user codes and a hands-on walkthrough, so the lock works reliably from the first day instead of eating batteries.
What you get
- Any major brand, supplied by us or bought by you
- Door and strike alignment included, the part most installs skip
- App, Wi-Fi, user codes and auto-lock configured before we leave
- Keyway rekeyed to match your other doors on request
- Same-day appointments across San Diego County
What a proper smart lock install includes
A smart lock is a motor, a bolt and a small computer bolted to a door that moves with the weather. If any one of those is off, the lock fails. Our install is built around that reality.
- Door check. We test how the existing bolt throws with the door closed, check the strike plate, hinges and weatherstripping, and fix binding before the new lock goes on.
- Fit. The lock is mounted square, the bolt is centered in the strike, and the interior assembly is tightened so it does not shift.
- Setup. We calibrate the motor, pair the app on your phone, connect Wi-Fi where the lock uses it, and program your codes.
- Walkthrough. You lock and unlock it every way it supports, we show you the battery change, and we answer the questions you did not know to ask.
See our pricing page for what an install costs.
Will a smart lock fit your door?
Almost every smart deadbolt is built for the standard American door prep: a 2-1/8 inch face bore, a 1 inch edge bore, and a backset of either 2-3/8 or 2-3/4 inches. Most locks ship with an adjustable latch that covers both backsets.
Door thickness is the next check. The common range is 1-3/8 to 1-3/4 inches, and many locks accept up to 2 inches with a longer-screw kit. Doors outside that range, sliding doors and glass-panel doors with a mortise lock body usually need a different solution, which we can talk through before you buy.
Retrofit locks such as the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock and the Level Bolt work with an existing single-cylinder deadbolt, August on the inside face and Level Bolt inside the door itself, which is the easy answer for many condo and HOA doors where the outside must not change. Double-cylinder deadbolts, the kind with a key on both sides, are not compatible with those retrofits.
Need smart lock installation today?
Call or text with your address and door count. You get a firm price before we roll.
Why most smart lock failures are door problems
When a smart lock jams, drains batteries in weeks or reports itself as locked when it is not, the lock is rarely the cause. The bolt is rubbing the strike plate, the door has sagged on its hinges, or thick weatherstripping is pushing the door out of line. A motor that has to force the bolt home works ten times harder than one that glides.
Wood doors in older neighborhoods such as North Park and Kensington swell in winter and shrink in summer. Newer fiberglass and steel doors in Carmel Valley hold their shape but often come with strike plates set for a spring latch, not a full deadbolt throw. Either way, we adjust the strike, deepen the bolt pocket if needed and tighten the hinges so the bolt throws freely with the door closed. That one step is the difference between a lock you forget about and a lock you fight with. If a lock you already own is misbehaving, start with smart lock repair and troubleshooting.
Retrofit or full replacement?
There are two families of smart lock, and picking the right one saves money and headaches.
Retrofit: keep your deadbolt, add a smart interior
The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock replaces only the interior thumb-turn, so your exterior hardware and your existing keys stay exactly as they are. The Level Bolt goes one step further and hides inside the door, leaving both sides looking original. These are the go-to choices for HOA condos, rentals where the landlord wants the outside unchanged, and anyone who likes their current hardware. You can pair a wireless keypad with them for code entry.
Full replacement: keypad or fingerprint on the outside
Schlage Encode, Yale Assure Lock 2, Kwikset Halo, Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro and similar locks replace the whole deadbolt. You get a keypad or fingerprint reader on the outside, a fresh bolt, and in most models a physical key override that we can rekey to match your other doors. This is the right choice for primary entry doors, short-term rentals and anyone who wants to stop carrying keys. Our smart lock picks for San Diego homes compare the current models.
Connectivity, explained in one minute
Wi-Fi locks (Schlage Encode, Kwikset Halo, August Wi-Fi, Yale with the Wi-Fi module) talk directly to your router, so you can lock, unlock and manage codes from anywhere. The trade-off is battery life.
Bluetooth locks work from your phone when you are near the door and use less power. Remote access needs a bridge or hub.
Z-Wave and Zigbee versions plug into hubs such as SmartThings, Ring Alarm or Hubitat and are a good fit when you already run one.
Thread and Matter are the newer standards designed to work across Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa. Support is arriving brand by brand, and we check the current firmware situation before promising an integration.
If you use Apple Home, Alexa or Google Home, tell us which one and we will steer you to a lock that fits without extra hardware. For a brand-by-brand breakdown see smart lock brands we install.
Keys, codes and who gets in
The best part of a smart lock is control. We set it up so that control is real from day one.
- Owner code and app admin on your phone, with a second admin if you want one.
- Family codes for each person, so the audit log tells you who came home when.
- Scheduled codes for cleaners, dog walkers and contractors that only work on the days and hours you choose.
- Auto-lock tuned to a delay that suits your door and your habits.
- Key override kept sensible: we can rekey the cylinder so one key opens the smart lock and your side gate or garage door. See keyed alike and which smart locks can be rekeyed.
Hosts and landlords get an extra layer of setup; read about smart locks for Airbnb and rentals.
Brand pages: what to expect from each lock
Each major brand has its own page covering models, keyways, install steps and the faults we see most, so you can check your lock before you call.
- Schlage: Encode, Encode Plus with Apple Home Key, Encode Lever and keypad-only deadbolts.
- Yale: Assure Lock 2 in keyed and key-free versions with Wi-Fi or Z-Wave modules.
- Kwikset: Halo, Halo Touch and SmartCode, all on SmartKey cylinders.
- August: the Wi-Fi retrofit that keeps your deadbolt and keys.
- Level: the invisible Bolt and the minimalist Lock Pro (which replaced the Lock+) with Home Key.
- Ultraloq: fingerprint entry with a keypad and key backup.
Still deciding? Start with Schlage Encode vs Yale Assure Lock 2 vs Kwikset Halo or the full brand comparison.
Where we install smart locks
We are a mobile service and cover every neighborhood in the City of San Diego plus the whole county, from Chula Vista and Coronado in the south to Oceanside and Escondido in the north. New-construction homes in Eastlake and Otay Ranch often arrive with builder-grade deadbolts that are easy to upgrade. Coastal doors in Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach need a lock with a decent weather rating and a cylinder that can be serviced when salt air gets to it. We know both situations well. Browse all service areas or send a quote request and we will confirm timing for your address.
Smart Lock Installation: common questions
Do I need Wi-Fi for a smart lock?
No. Keypad-only and Bluetooth locks work with no internet at all. You only need Wi-Fi if you want to unlock the door remotely, get notifications or manage codes while away. If your router is far from the door, we test signal strength before recommending a Wi-Fi model.
Can I keep my existing deadbolt and still have a smart lock?
Yes. Retrofit locks such as the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock and Level Bolt work with most single-cylinder deadbolts and leave the outside of the door unchanged, so your current keys keep working. This is the usual answer for HOA condos and rentals.
How long do smart lock batteries last?
It depends mostly on the lock type and how freely the bolt throws. Wi-Fi locks that are used many times a day commonly need fresh batteries every few months to about a year. Bluetooth-only and keypad-only locks usually last longer. A binding bolt can cut any of those numbers in half, which is why alignment is part of every install.
Will a smart lock work on my condo or HOA door?
Usually, but check your HOA rules first. Many associations restrict changes to the exterior look of the door. A retrofit lock that keeps the outside hardware, paired with a wireless keypad if you want code entry, satisfies most of them. We can also install a full keypad lock in a finish that matches the building standard.
Can you install a smart lock I already bought online?
Yes. Most of our installs use locks the customer bought. We check it against your door before opening the box, install and configure it, and tell you honestly if the model is a poor fit for your door or your goals.
What happens if the battery dies while I am out?
Most keypad and fingerprint locks have a physical key override, and some also take emergency power from outside, such as the 9-volt terminals on key-free Yale models or the micro-USB port on the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro. Locks warn you in the app and on the keypad well before they die. We show you both the warning and the backup on install day.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We do this everywhere in San Diego County, same day in most cases. Some of the places we cover:
Related guides
- Best Smart Locks for San Diego Homes (2026 Installer Picks) – An installer's picks for the best smart locks in San Diego by use case: keypad with key backup, retrofit, Airbnb, no-app keypad, Apple Home and budget.
- Can a Smart Lock Be Rekeyed? Brand-by-Brand Answer – Most smart locks have a key override that can be rekeyed like any lock. The answer for Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, August, Level, Ultraloq, Eufy and Lockly.
- HOA and Condo Lock Rules in San Diego: What You Can Change – Which locks a San Diego condo owner controls, what the HOA can restrict, how to get a smart lock approved, and what fire-rated doors mean for your options.
- Schlage Encode vs Yale Assure Lock 2 vs Kwikset Halo: Which to Buy – An installer compares Schlage Encode, Yale Assure Lock 2 and Kwikset Halo: keyways, Apple Home Key, fingerprint, Wi-Fi, price tier and our pick by home.
- How Much Does Smart Lock Installation Cost in San Diego? – Smart lock install labor in San Diego typically runs $100 to $250 plus the lock. What moves the price, what a proper install includes, DIY vs pro.
Ready to get it done today?
Call or text for a straight answer and an upfront price. Mon–Fri 7am–8pm · Sat–Sun 8am–6pm.