Solid ProductJune 14, 2010 congaboy77(OKC, OK) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
We purchased this as one in a series of Kwikset smartkey door knobs and deadbolts for our home remodel. As for the product itself, it has a good oil rubbed bronze color and looks like it will withstand weather elements. Installation was easy. The knob feels secure and operates easily. The lock was easy to re-key using the smartkey technology. I manged to successfully re-key it in about 15 seconds.
The provided installation hardware is sufficient, but I recommend using extra long screws to secure the strike plates to the door jamb for added security.
This product received 4 rather than 5 stars because of the screws that hold the knobs to the door. The screws are located "behind" the door knob at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock. In order to screw them in, you must hold your screwdriver at an angle and press firmly. It's difficult to keep the screwdriver from skipping as the screw gets tight. This could cause some of the oil rubbed bronze color off of the screw. While this design does a good job hiding the screws during normal operation, you must be careful when you install so that you don't scratch the knob or strip the screws.
The ONLY acceptable locking entry knob...avoids lockoutJune 11, 2010 Charles Peterson(San Antonio, TX USA) 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is the ONLY acceptable locking entry knob sold in the USA now. Only Kwikset offers knobs that must be unlocked before you can exit. Thus, if you step out on to pick up the newspaper you won't find yourself locked out by accident. That is not true for any knob made by Schlage or Arrow (who makes knobs for many others, including Medeco and US Lock). Schlage knobs do not lock the inside knob ever, so you can always exit without unlocking the door, the worse case. Arrow knobs are dual function, they will unlock on exit (popping the button) but if someone turns the button instead of pushing it, lockout mode (called "store room" mode) is enabled. I have had long arguments with locksmiths about this. Either they don't recommend locking knobs at all (but they still sell them at high prices), or they say that UL requires that functionality for ease of exit. However any knob could, in principle, be always open on the inside but auto-unlock upon exit. That is one of the functions offered by Arrow, whose knobs might be marginally acceptable if you could permanently disable store room mode, but you can't, and you can also get accidentally locked out by Arrow knobs if something you are carrying pushes the button by accident. To lock the Kwikset you need to turn a thumbturn, which is almost impossible to do by accident. And if UL requires always allowing exit without manual unlocking, what about deadbolts?
And this model, the Kwikset Signature, is Kwikset's best, carrying an ANSI class 2 rating. It could be better, but it is ultimately no worse than any knob made by anyone else. Locksmiths like to point out that the cheap metal used in the Kwikset latch can easily be popped out of its retaining clip. But their favored knobs made by Arrow break just as easily, the latch twists and pulls out from the mechanism. That's what I discovered when I was forced to break into my own home (after being locked out because some guest turned the button). It took only a strong push to break my Arrow-made lock. Of course, no keyed-only system is lockout proof. You can always lose your keys (though I haven't done that in decades, thanks to having pockets). There are now many choices for keypad pushbutton entry locks, the only truly lockout-proof design. However, because they are much bigger and would interfere with an existing deadbolt, actually installing one of those will likely require getting an entirely new door, a big expense. Also, I agree with the locksmiths that the real security comes from a deadbolt, not merely a locking knob. However it is nice to have both, using the locking knob only when you wish to allow access for friends when you are home. You can give them a key for that and not worry about compromising your deadbolt (which should include a high security cylinder).
Frankly I don't care much about Kwikset's hyped smartkey feature, in fact I see more downside than upside to it. Locks are cheap enough that if I needed to re-key, I can just get another lock, probably want one by that time anyway, since none appear to be made to last anymore. With the smartkey system, someone you give the key to could potentially rekey the lock to lock you out! I'm going to try to find some way to deactivate it. Or, over time, the rekey system might degrade, it's one more mechanical feature which could eventually fail. I'd much rather have the ability to replace the mediocre factory cylinder with a true high security cylinder with duplication proof keys by BiLock or Abloy. But unfortunately, locksmiths cannot or will not fit high security cylinders to Kwikset locks.
The finish choices Kwikset offers aren't my favorite. I'd much rather have Satin Chrome, which is an uncoated finish. The Kwikset Satin Nickel looks like Satin Chrome, but is actually a coating which is likely to degrade over time. Schlage knobs look like they have slightly higher quality materials and finishes, including a real satin chrome.
Another stupid feature that OTHER locks have is some kind of hole in the outer knob stem that allows the outside knob to be taken off. In theory, this can only be done if you have the key also, but I have seen locks where the mechanism malfunctions so that the outside knob can be taken off at any time by a prankster with a paper clip. More often than not, however, the hole simply doesn't work even when it's supposed to with a key, ask any custodian. Kwikset doesn't bother with that stupid kind of hole, which I like. Maybe that's why the cylinder can't be replaced, but it seems that a knob release function could be located elsewhere, such as on the inside.
I wish there were other acceptible entry knobsets to give Kwikset a bit of competition. I can imagine a much higher quality entry knob. If there were serious competition, I'd give this knobset, at most, 3 stars, because it basically looks and feels mediocre to me. But at this time, there isn't any competition, since no other locking entry doorknobs are acceptable.
Not Exactly an Energy SaverFebruary 5, 2010 Douglas M. Smith(Huntingtown, MD) 1 out of 6 found this review helpful
We put new doors and windows in our water-view home, new siding, and made several water related repairs. One of the ideas was to make the house more energy efficient. The door knobs were installed in some rather pricey Pella brand doors and defeated the energy savings.
Cold outside air goes right through the keyhole and comes out through the screw access holes on the inside plate. There is quite a rush of air. I went to the Kwikset website to ask them if they had a fix for this and some time later I received an automated reply telling me that I had to register on their website to get my answer. (I'm sure this was the idea of a loony marketing person. Doing this they can get my email address.) Well I have not gone back to get their solution since they are making it too hard to get a response.
I may have to remove the door knobs and stuff insulation behind the plate or fill the holes with a clear caulk.
Yes these locks were very convenient and even recommended by the contractor. I just don't think an external door lock assembly should leak air in or out especially when installed in an expensive double pane energy saving glass door.
Kwikset's service was third rate. I dislike the idea of having to go back to their website, register, and then read what is probably going to amount to my own solution. What I was kind of hoping was that they had plugs designed for the screw holes that could stop the air so that messy caulking would not be required.
We purchased these from Amazon because they could get the units to us in quantity and faster than Ace Hardware. We had them in two days as requested in time for installation. During our first major snow storm we noticed the jets of cold air as we reached to open the door. Very surprising flaw. Bad design.
This was Kwikset's response:
Submitted Submitted By Notes
1/22/2010 Customer Service (Agustin) Dear Customer, Thank you for contacting us. Ther is no way the air goes through the cyilnder. We recommend tightening the screws a little tighter. If this does not work, we can replace the unit for you under warranty. Thank you, Kwikset Consumer Support.
The spelling errors are the reps. Fascinating. I feel the air, the screws are tight. The door is a very expensive Pella door. I was right. In order to get this feeble answer I had to log on and give them my address and telephone number. I'm sure now I will be deluged with junk mail. Since I am a Black and Decker stock holder I should probably complain.
Kwikset Entry KnobDecember 15, 2009 Kenneth Collins The best feature of this product is the smartkey feature. I am now able to key all my outside doors on the same key. The procedure is very easy to do. This is definitely worth the price.
AwsomeNovember 22, 2009 Pierre F. Crosetto 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This product is everything the ads say it is. I have a duplex and have to change keys whenever a new tenant moves in. Thought I'd try the Smart Key and am so glad I did. It costs more to have the locks rekeyed than the new units did. Now rekeying is a matter of having three keys of the same type (one for me) and 5 seconds with the Smart Key. Thanks Kwikset and thanks Amazon!
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
695 reviews
