How to Reduce Battery Drain on a Schlage Smart Lock?

Common Practices to Reduce Battery Drain on Schlage Locks

Before I talk about each model in detail, let me show you some of the common practices that can help minimize battery drain on your Schlage lock.

By following these recommendations, you can optimize your lock's performance without sacrificing convenience or security.

Model-Specific Instructions

For Encode Plus, the most significant factor that can impact the battery life is the strength of your Wi-Fi signal.

Wi-Fi Issues

To reduce battery drainage on these Schlage locks due to poor Wi-Fi signal, you can take several measures.

Low Battery Issues

Also, Schlage recommends using premium alkaline batteries for their electronic locks, as lithium or rechargeable batteries might lead to suboptimal performance.

When the low battery warning appears on your lock, replace the batteries promptly to maintain reliable operation.

Always opt for new, unused alkaline batteries when replacing them.

For detailed battery replacement instructions covering all models, check out this article.

The Schlage Encode Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt's battery life may be affected by a weak Wi-Fi signal, as it continuously attempts to maintain a connection with your Wi-Fi.

So the best way to reduce battery drain is to reposition the router such that it's closer to the lock. Also, remove any signal-blocking obstacles, or use a Wi-Fi extender.

In addition, make sure to use premium alkaline batteries in your Schlage Encode lock. Lithium or rechargeable batteries may not provide optimal performance.

The Schlage Sense doesn’t use Wi-Fi, instead, it uses Bluetooth. So to reduce battery drain on your Schlage Smart Lock, you can try disabling optional features.

Disabling the Beeper

Note that beeps will continue to sound during programming, even when the feature is disabled.

Other Optional Features

Besides the beeper, auto-relocking function, and alarms can also cause unnecessary battery drain, especially if the lock has to carry out these functions more frequently.

To disable the auto-relock function, initiate programming mode and press “9” on the keypad. When enabled, the lock automatically relocks 30 seconds after unlocking, consuming more energy in the process.

Additionally, you can disable specific alarm features through the Schlage app. 

To learn more about manual programming the Schlage Sense, don't forget to check out our detailed guide.

For the Schlage Connect, which utilizes Z-Wave for wireless communication, other than poor signal strength, maintenance is the key to reducing battery drain. 

Battery Maintenance

• Use four high-quality alkaline AA batteries for replacement.
• Avoid using lithium batteries, as they can potentially cause the lock to function in undesirable ways.
• Picking the right batteries is the best way to reduce battery drain and keep your lock performing optimally.

Hardware Maintenance

Maintaining your Schlage Smart Lock can also help improve battery life. So don't forget to consider these methods:

• Clean the bolt with mild dish soap and warm water to maximize its performance.
• Consider turning off the beeper if you find it unnecessary; however, keep in mind that beeps will still sound during programming.
• Disable any alarms that you don't need, as they can contribute to battery drain.
• Try reducing the sensitivity of your lock's alarm to achieve more efficient battery use

Disabling the Z-Wave Radio

Z-Wave features are disabled by default. If you’re not using this wireless network it’s best to unenroll it. Here’s how:

Also, you can carry this out using the physical button located on the inside of the lock.

You can verify the lock is unenrolled by reinstalling the battery and checking for the indicator LED on the indoor side. If it doesn’t light up, the Schlage Connect is unenrolled. 

If this doesn’t seem to work, you can attempt a factory reset as this will disable the Z-Wave radio by default. However, make sure you have the default codes on hand.

For the Schlage Connected Keypad, improving Z-Wave signal strength, or disabling the Z-Wave radio, and installing fresh batteries are the best practices to minimize battery drain.

Replacing the Batteries

So to ensure its optimal performance and reduce battery drain, it's important to use new, high-quality batteries.

When replacing the battery tray and cover, make sure to follow the instructions carefully, and avoid pinching any wires in the process.

This will help maintain the proper function of the lock and extend the life of your batteries.

Disabling the Beeper

To further minimize battery drain on your Schlage Connected Keypad BE369, you can disable the beeper feature. To do this:

This will minimize power consumption, while still retaining the lock's core functions.

Checking Alignment and Hardware Defects

Besides the beeper, it's also essential to ensure the smooth operation of the thumb turn by addressing any potential issues, such as a malfunctioning deadbolt or improper installation.

A thumb turn that doesn't rotate freely or smoothly will require more force to turn, leading to increased battery drain.

Keep the door open and try to lock the door. If the lock struggles to extend/retract the bolt, it may indicate inefficiencies within the motor, exaggerating the battery drain. 

If you encounter such issues, try to clean the lock and ensure proper alignment with the strike plate holes. Even so, it's best to consult with customer service or a professional installer to resolve the problem.

For the Touch series of Schlage locks, most of the common hardware issues still apply. However, since they are non-smart electronic locks, battery issues, and unnecessary functions are the biggest contributors to battery drain. 

So make sure to use high-quality Alkaline batteries and be careful when re-tucking the wires. Improper contacts and loose or pinched wires can exaggerate battery drain.

The Touch Lever FE695 falls under the same issues as the Touch Deadbolt. 

Don't forget to use high-quality alkaline 9-volt batteries, disable unnecessary features, and ensure there aren’t any underlying hardware faults.

You can ensure minimal battery drain on a keypad style Schlage lock by using high-quality batteries and disabling unnecessary features. 

Also, if you find that you'll only be using the physical key or won't be utilizing the Schlage lock for an extended period, consider removing the batteries and enabling Lock Override.

This feature allows you to completely disable the keypad, ensuring that a key must be used to unlock the lock, thus preserving battery life.

To enable lock override:

Additionally, if you find the beeper to be unnecessary, disabling it will also help save battery power.

To minimize battery drain on the Schlage keypad lever style models, you can disable unnecessary features, maintain the hardware and use high-quality batteries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the Best Method to Reduce Battery Drain in Schlage Locks?

For Smart models, such as the Encode, Sense, and Connect, weak Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Z-Wave signals are the most significant factor that can consume more battery. When the signal is low, the radio in your Schlage lock consumes more power trying to extend its reach.

Addressing this, using the solutions mentioned above, will help reduce battery drain in your Schlage locks by a significant amount.

Will My Schlage Lock Stop Working During a Power Outage

Schlage locks operate on battery power, meaning it won't be affected if you experience a power outage. Make sure to replace the batteries annually or whenever the lock indicates a low battery.

How Will I Know that the Batteries Are Low in My Schlage Lock?

If the battery icon on your lock starts flashing red upon entering a code, it's a signal for you to replace the batteries immediately. 

Besides that, if the lock gives out red warnings and a delay whenever you enter a code to disengage the lock, it means that the battery is low. 

To learn more about low-battery indicators, check out my guide on fixing the red blinking light.

What Happens When a Schlage Lock’s Battery is Completely Dead?

When your lock's battery runs out, you can only lock or unlock it manually using a key or by jumpstarting the battery. Make sure to read this article to learn more.

How Long Do the Batteries Last in a Schlage Lock?

Schlage locks using AA batteries typically require changes yearly, while locks using 9-volt batteries may last up to two years.

Note that these durations may vary based on how frequently the lock is used; heavily-used locks may need more frequent battery replacements.

Conclusion