igloohome Lock
Story by Kade Garner
Phone, keys, wallet; three essential items to never forget at home. But what if you didn’t have to fret about one of them anymore?
The igloohome deadbolt allows you to ditch your house keys. No more getting locked out, no more hiding a spare under the front mat, no more accidently setting keys down in the fridge.
For many in the disabled community, forgetting a key at home is often the least of their problems. Don Price uses a wheelchair and has limited finger dexterity. He started using the igloohome deadbolt four months ago. Living keyless has given him new-found peace of mind.
“I no longer have to try to use a key, which is always clumsy, or worry about carrying a key with me. Also, I don’t have to buy spares, or hide them around the house. So, it’s nice just to have the freedom to not worry anymore.” Price said.
There are two ways to gain access into a home that has the igloohome deadbolt installed: one, a virtual key on the smartphone app; the other, a PIN entered on the lock.
The app connects to the lock via Bluetooth. This allows Price to open the door with his phone when a visitor arrives. If Price isn’t home but needs to let someone in, he can program a PIN for his guest which can be deactivated after the visitor leaves.
“If I have a nurse coming, or a caregiver who needs to get in, they can have their own PIN programmed in. I can also delete their PIN if I change caregivers. So, I have the ability to allow whom I want access into my home.”
Price can use the app to view an entry log to see what PINs were used to enter the home and any failed attempts to unlock the door. He always knows who’s been to his house.
The igloohome lock has been a great addition to Price’s home and well-worth it’s $200 price tag. Nevertheless, there are a few things he would change.
Connecting to the lock via Bluetooth is great. However, Price cannot open the lock with his phone from everywhere in his house as he must be within Bluetooth range of the lock. “It would be nice if it were connected to WiFi, so I could unlock from anywhere.”
Not being able to connect to WiFi may be a letdown for some, but igloohome considers this a feature, not a bug. Their website says, “No internet connection is required for the lock, so there is no need to worry about WiFi hacking or connectivity.”
The app allows Price to do many things, but it doesn’t show him whether the door is locked or not. However, one feature helps compensate for this: an automatic locking system. Price can set a time (30 seconds for example) in which the igloohome will automatically lock after the door’s been opened.
Overall, Price is satisfied with his new lock. He said: “Bottom line, the igloohome electric lock is a great product. For someone with a disability like mine, it’s a great solution. I would recommend it to anyone in a similar position.”
Igloohome has a range of different products. To learn about the other products, or to discover even more features of the deadbolt, visit igloohome.co.
Kade Garner
Writer
@kade_garner
Kade Garner is a Northern-Arizona native. When he is not hooked up to an IV filled with diet soda, he is probably filming an event, taking pictures of his dog, or binge watching a new series. He’s an okay writer.