Published 2026-05-19 · Music City Lock

Keypad Lock Install in Nashville: Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, August Compared

What "keypad lock" means and what it doesn't

A keypad lock replaces the deadbolt with an electronic version that opens via a 4 to 8 digit code entered on a keypad on the outside of the door. Some models add Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (the "smart lock" category). Some are keypad-only with no internet connection (the "electronic deadbolt" category). Both share the same physical install profile; the difference is whether the lock can be controlled remotely from a phone.

For most Nashville residential and STR use cases, the choice between connected and keypad-only comes down to three questions. Do you need to grant or revoke codes remotely (yes for STR hosts, sometimes yes for parents with kids in middle school, no for most owner-occupied homes)? Do you have reliable Wi-Fi at the door (yes for most new construction in Brentwood and Franklin, sometimes no for older East Nashville bungalows with thick plaster walls)? And are you willing to manage a 6 to 12 month battery cycle on a Wi-Fi-direct model versus a 12 to 24 month cycle on a keypad-only or Bluetooth model?

The four major keypad lock brands for Nashville homes

Brand and model	Price installed	Connection	Mechanical key backup
Schlage Encode	$300 to $400	Wi-Fi direct, no hub	Yes
Yale Assure 2	$250 to $375	Wi-Fi module or Z-Wave	Yes (keypad-only variant available)
Kwikset Halo Touch	$200 to $325	Wi-Fi direct, fingerprint reader	Yes
August Wi-Fi 4th gen	$200 to $350	Wi-Fi via bridge or direct	Yes (existing deadbolt stays)

Schlage Encode

The Encode is the workhorse choice for Nashville residential and STR hosts who want set-and-forget reliability. The keypad is a sealed unit (resists humidity and rain), the lock body is rated ANSI Grade 1 (the higher of the two consumer security grades), and the built-in Wi-Fi connects to the router with no separate hub. Battery life on the Encode runs 6 to 10 months on a high-traffic door, longer on a low-traffic side door. The mechanical-override key cylinder uses a Schlage SC1 keyway, which is widely stocked.

Yale Assure 2

The Assure 2 splits into a Wi-Fi-direct version and a Z-Wave version (which needs a smart-home hub like SmartThings or Hubitat). The Z-Wave version draws less power; battery life runs 10 to 14 months. Yale also makes a keypad-only "lite" variant with no internet at all, which fits Nashville homeowners who want the convenience without the cybersecurity attack surface. Mechanical-override key is optional; some variants are keypad-only.

Kwikset Halo Touch

The Halo Touch is the budget pick with a fingerprint reader. It works fine but the keypad surface and the touch sensor both fade faster than Schlage or Yale on a south-facing door under Nashville summer sun. Average display fade on a south or southwest exposure runs 3 to 4 years on the Halo versus 6 to 8 years on a Schlage Encode. On an east, north, or covered porch door, the difference shrinks to maybe a year.

August Wi-Fi 4th gen

The August retrofit is the only one of the four that does not replace your existing deadbolt. It bolts onto the inside of the door, gripping the existing thumbturn. The exterior keypad is optional (sold separately as the August Keypad). For renters who cannot modify the door, for STR hosts who want to keep an existing high-security cylinder, or for homeowners who want the option to roll back to a fully mechanical lock by removing one device, August is the cleanest fit. The trade-off is the August Keypad ($75 to $100) is less weather-sealed than the Schlage or Yale built-in keypad.

Nashville-specific install notes

Humidity and summer heat on south-facing doors

Nashville's July plus August surface temperatures on a south or southwest-facing exterior door can run 130 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot afternoon. That heat does two things to a keypad lock. First, it accelerates UV fade on the keypad surface; the printed numbers wear faster, and the touch sensor on a fingerprint model degrades faster. Second, it expands and contracts the housing seal across the day, which over a few years can let humidity seep in around the battery compartment.

Mitigations that actually work: mount on a north or east-facing door when the floor plan allows, install a small awning or overhang above the keypad, or pick a sealed-housing model (Schlage Encode, Yale Assure 2) over a budget pick. The difference shows up at year 4 or 5, not at year 1.

Older East Nashville and Germantown door prep

Older housing stock in the inner ring runs to a different scale than modern subdivisions. Pre-1960 homes across East Nashville plus Edgefield plus Germantown plus the historic core of Sylvan Park often have non-standard borehole sizes or shorter backsets than modern smart locks expect. The two most common door-prep tasks:

• Borehole widening. Standard modern boreholes are 2-1/8 inches. Older Nashville doors often run 1-7/8 inches or even 1-1/2 inches. A hole saw with the right pilot bit widens the hole in 10 to 15 minutes.
• Strike-plate cutout deepening. Modern smart-lock deadbolts have longer throw than older mechanical deadbolts. The strike-plate cutout in the door frame may need to be chiseled deeper for the new bolt to seat fully.

Door prep adds 30 to 60 minutes and $50 to $150 to the install. On historic-district properties under preservation restrictions, the tech checks the strike-plate work against the as-built profile before any cuts.

Lower Broadway STR turnover

STR hosts with units along Lower Broadway plus 5th Avenue South plus The Gulch run a different code-management discipline than owner-occupied homes. The lock is reset on every checkout (or auto-rotated by the booking software). Schlage Encode and Yale Assure 2 both integrate with most STR-management tools (Hospitable, Hostfully, OwnerRez) to auto-generate a per-booking code that activates at check-in and deactivates at checkout. August Wi-Fi works the same way through the August API. The lock also logs every code entry, which gives the host a clean audit trail if a guest claims they never entered the unit or if a cleaning crew missed a turnover.

Install cost breakdown for Nashville

Job	Standard hours	After hours
Keypad lock install, you supply the hardware	$150 to $250	+$50 to $100
Keypad lock install, we supply Schlage or Yale	$250 to $400	+$50 to $100
Keypad lock install with door prep (older home)	$225 to $375	+$50 to $100
Multi-door install (3 to 5 doors)	$450 to $1,200	+$100 to $200
Smart-lock reset and Wi-Fi reconfigure (existing hardware)	$75 to $150	+$50 to $100

What to have ready when the truck arrives

1. The lock box, any included strike plate, the mounting screws, and the install manual. If hardware is missing, we may need to substitute from truck stock.
2. The Wi-Fi network name and password if remote setup is part of the job. Without it, the lock installs as keypad-only and the app pairing happens on a follow-up.
3. The make and rough age of the existing deadbolt. Helps the tech bring the right hole saw and chisel set if door prep is likely.
4. A photo ID with the door address (standard for any locksmith service).

When keypad lock is not the right answer

Two scenarios push a Nashville homeowner back toward a standard mechanical deadbolt. First, a door that does not have reliable Wi-Fi within 20 to 30 feet, where a Wi-Fi-direct keypad would constantly drop offline. A keypad-only variant (Yale Assure 2 lite, or Schlage Touch) still works for code entry but loses remote management. Second, a homeowner who is not willing to manage the 6 to 12 month battery cycle and who would rather have a lock that simply works for 25 years without any electronic maintenance. For those cases, a Grade 1 mechanical deadbolt costs $80 to $200 installed and lasts decades. For the head-to-head, see the deadbolt vs smart lock comparison. For the broader smart-lock category, see the smart lock installation Nashville guide.

Frequently asked

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Last updated: 2026-05-19.