Deadbolt still work with a lockkill key?

[jaime_lion]

So friend has an August smart lock on her deadbolt. Because she has been using that for a while now instead of her keys. She was wondering if their was any way to get rid of the key portion of her lock. I told her about lockkill keys but I was not sure if the deadbolt would still open from the inside with it in the lock. So would the deadbolt still be able to be used with a lock kill key in it? Also can you guys think of any other way to get rid of the keyway?

Thanks

[cledry]

So friend has an August smart lock on her deadbolt. Because she has been using that for a while now instead of her keys. She was wondering if their was any way to get rid of the key portion of her lock. I told her about lockkill keys but I was not sure if the deadbolt would still open from the inside with it in the lock. So would the deadbolt still be able to be used with a lock kill key in it? Also can you guys think of any other way to get rid of the keyway?

Thanks

It should still work from inside. The only danger is if the batteries die and that is the only entrance door you would have issues.

[tjohn]

It won’t affect anything, however as notated this is semi-dangerous if it’s the only door and would require major destructive entry if batteries died or something happened to cause the August lock to fail to work

[jaime_lion]

It won’t affect anything, however as notated this is semi-dangerous if it’s the only door and would require major destructive entry if batteries died or something happened to cause the August lock to fail to work

Noted and will tell her. Basically she has not carried her key for her house with her for the last 3 months and she has no "hide-a-key" or anything like that around her house. So if the smart lock failed she would be calling a locksmith anyway. Would it be relatively easy to screw a piece of metal over the lock?

[billdeserthills]

It won’t affect anything, however as notated this is semi-dangerous if it’s the only door and would require major destructive entry if batteries died or something happened to cause the August lock to fail to work

Noted and will tell her. Basically she has not carried her key for her house with her for the last 3 months and she has no "hide-a-key" or anything like that around her house. So if the smart lock failed she would be calling a locksmith anyway. Would it be relatively easy to screw a piece of metal over the lock?

Unfortunately it isn't a question of 'if the smart lock fails', but when
your friend sounds like many of my repeat clients

[tjohn]

We are starting to see more and more electronic lock failures, most typically Kwikset brand installed by alarm companies

[jimu57]

Replace it with a regular one.

[tjohn]

Replace what with a regular one and are you talking to the OP? The August system uses a interior turn mechanism that attaches to their existing deadbolt. Not sure what you mean by replace it with a regular one

[blue60]

there are ways of getting a "Lock Kill key" out, even if you break the head off.

[Evan]

there are ways of getting a "Lock Kill key" out, even if you break the head off.

Not from outside the door, if it is the only door. Destructive entry would be required at that point.

You need access to the mounting screws of the lock in order to disassemble it to non-destructively remove a kill key.

~~ Evan

[jaime_lion]

there are ways of getting a "Lock Kill key" out, even if you break the head off.

Not from outside the door, if it is the only door. Destructive entry would be required at that point.

You need access to the mounting screws of the lock in order to disassemble it to non-destructively remove a kill key.

~~ Evan

I thought you could use a broken key extractor to get one out?

Way way overthinking this problem but would superglue on the lock kill key solve the issue? or you could JB Weld a cover over the lock.

[billdeserthills]

A properly made 'lock kill' key doesn't leave enough room in the keyway to get a key extractor
around the device, so nothing left to do but make a mess of the lock--although I have had some
luck in removing the scalp cover, before attacking the mounting screws & then re-using the cylinder
after the mess is made

[jaime_lion]

A properly made 'lock kill' key doesn't leave enough room in the keyway to get a key extractor
around the device, so nothing left to do but make a mess of the lock--although I have had some
luck in removing the scalp cover, before attacking the mounting screws & then re-using the cylinder
after the mess is made

Thanks i did not know that.

[globallockytoo]

Depending on the brand of deadbolt, you could simply disengage the tailpiece from the outer key cylinder. On a Kiwkset you'd break the center of the circlip retainer on the "E" clip. Or simply remove the existing "E" clip and replace with a "C" clip. That would prevent the outer key from operating the deadbolt mechanism while maintaining the August Lock functions.

[Ralph_Goodman]

Basically she has not carried her key for her house with her for the last 3 months and she has no "hide-a-key" or anything like that around her house. So if the smart lock failed she would be calling a locksmith anyway. Would it be relatively easy to screw a piece of metal over the lock?

I would just like to add a word of caution. 3 months is not a long time when it comes to these electronic locks. As the lock get's older, things like the motor begin to wear out. There are likely to be issues that creep up throughout the life of this product.

In regards to your question about screwing a piece of metal over the lock, it would depend on what you mean. It seems like it would be very simple to screw a metal housing into your door to cover the exterior lock hardware, but I am not sure how effective it would be as a security measure or what it would offer to the lock owner. Maybe I am missing something about your intent.