Schlage locks offer advanced security for countless residences across the USA. Schlage proved itself a reliable door lock manufacturer. To power the device up, a full battery is required, but the energy cells frequently run out. Therefore the battery change is an important part of the user experience.
When the batteries are close to death or even just low, replace them with fresh ones to ensure the door lock functions without problems. Along with system errors, outdated software, and incorrect battery installation, wrong battery type or low energy is one of the most prominent Schlage lock malfunction reasons.
Which battery type is used by a Schlage keypad lock
The battery compartment holds four AA power cells. Schlage says they last up to six months with Wi-Fi or up to a whole year with Thread. Some models use a single battery pack, while others require two sets of energy cells.
Lithium batteries are not recommended for a Schlage lock. Most of the time device won’t recognize them and therefore won’t start working. Otherwise, you’ll experience trouble using the lock and the power charge will drain faster. Schlage suggests using only premium-class alkaline (AA) batteries.
Rechargeable batteries also aren’t a great option. Schlage lock doesn’t have a lot of power-taking capacity. Overcharging them leads to mechanical problems, Schlage lock not responding, and quick battery drainage. It’s better to use non-rechargeable energy cells as the manufacturer recommends.
How long is the battery life of Schlage products
Unfortunately, all Wi-Fi devices don’t last long in terms of battery life. A Schlage lock is no exception. If you use Wi-Fi to run your device, Schlage tells you to expect the battery pack to last half a year at best. Compare it to Z-wave and Zigbee options: the energy level lasts twice as long there.
Many conditions, such as cold climate, Wi-Fi signal quality, usage time, and deadbolt friction can make the lifespan of the batteries even shorter. Some users have to replace their batteries only after four months of actively using their Schlage keypad lock.
Signals that tell it’s time to change the batteries
Schlage products give you various low-battery warnings. They appear if the battery is used an estimated 14 days before it dies.
The first sign is a little yellow light blinking at the keypad after pushing the Schlage button or entering codes. It’s best to change the battery as soon as possible when you see this notification. Otherwise, other warnings will appear to get your attention.
After a couple of days, the yellow light turns into a red cross. This indicates that the energy level is extremely low. The batteries can die at any moment, and you certainly have to change them right away. Leaving the batteries to die completely leads to permanent mechanical damage to the device itself.
Also, the Schlage lock sends a notification to your phone when the batteries have 25% of energy resources left.
How to change the batteries of Schlage locks
Battery replacement doesn’t require re-programming the device’s database. A Schlage lock has a “memory” feature: all the codes are kept intact after changing the battery pack.
Unscrew the cover
Find a simple Phillips-head screwdriver. Using the instrument, unscrew the cover plate from the inner side of the door. After loosening the screws, take the plate by the sides and slide it from the doorframe. Don’t lose the screws – you’ll need them to close the mechanism again!
Secure the battery cover
Some screws hold the battery cover attached to the device. Remove one or two (depending on the model) square battery compartment cover plates. Pull them away from the internal mechanism. Now you have access to the battery compartment.
Replace the batteries
Time to remove the drained energy cells from the Schlage lock. Take them away and put some new AAA energy cells inside the power compartment. Please pay attention to positive and negative signs, and make sure they match with those on the mechanism.
If your Schlage lock is powered by 9-volt batteries, be careful when you pull them out or put them in. Remove the wire cap from the upper side of the power cell. The new batteries should be installed on top of the wire cap.
Close the battery compartment
Cover the battery compartment with the plate and secure it using the screws you’ve taken away earlier. Don’t pinch the wires if the Schlage lock has 9-volt energy cells.
Secure the Schlage lock position
Reposition the Schlage lock as it was before you changed the batteries. Ensure it flushes against the door. Use the retaining screws to secure the position.
Congratulations! That was the last step required to change the batteries.
Schlage lock not working after changing batteries
Sometimes a malfunction appears after the battery change. It’s very inconvenient, but fixable. There are a couple of reasons for the errors to happen, read about them below.
Incorrect battery installation
Perhaps you’ve changed the batteries incorrectly. To rule this reason out, verify if there have been any errors when you performed the battery-changing process.
Perhaps you’ve put the batteries in the wrong place or their space orientation isn’t right. Look for the plus and minus drawings on the battery corpus and at the Schlage lock internal compartment.
It’s not a good idea to replace only a few of the batteries and keep some old ones. Mixing old and new batteries causes the device to malfunction indefinitely. You should replace the battery pack fully during one battery change event.
Even if you’re persuaded you’ve done everything the right way, don’t proceed to the next troubleshooting steps before making sure this one isn’t the case. Only if after that the problem persists go to the next tip.
Ensure that the battery type is right
A product won’t work properly with batteries others than the manufacturer intended the device to be equipped with. Most Schlage keypad locks are non-rechargeable alkaline batteries.
The Schlage lock could power up with lithium or any rechargeable batteries installed, but don’t expect the mechanism to run smoothly. If instead of recommended energy source you’ve put other power cells in the battery compartment, that’s probably the reason why your smart lock experiences odd malfunctions.
If you’ve used the wrong battery type, change the energy cells to alkaline and non-rechargeable ones.
Remove the batteries
If nothing above helped, a useful tip is to reinstall the batteries one more time. Perhaps an unknown mechanical or programming error appeared.
- Disconnect the Schlage lock.
- Remove the batteries from the device.
- Find the Schlage button on the keypad.
- Press and release the Schlage button at least 5 times.
- Release the Schlage button last time. Wait 30-60 seconds.
- Put the batteries back inside.
- Establish again the power cord and the battery connector.
Check the battery terminal’s condition
Ensure the Schlage lock battery terminal surface and the battery connector cable are in adequate shape. Dead or even just low batteries can leak acid on the internal parts of the lock. The acid corrodes the battery terminals and the smart lock can’t interact with the batteries whether they are old or new.
Carefully clean any rust or acid leakage from the mechanism and the battery connector cable. Use vinegar or lemon juice, place it on a q-tip, and slowly rub the battery terminal surface.
The batteries must touch the terminals properly for the device to work.
Go back to factory settings
Another thing you can do is perform a factory reset. Returning to the original settings clears unseen programming malfunctions.
Remember that going back to default settings is a last-resort method. You’ll lose all user changes and pin codes in exchange for clearing software errors along with all the other data.
Here’s a quick instruction to help you perform a factory reset:
- Remove the cover plate.
- Remove the battery connector and put away the batteries.
- Push and release the Schlage button.
- Within 10 seconds, place the batteries and the battery connector again.
- Hold the Schlage button until a green signal flashes three times and you hear a lock beep.
- Release the Schlage button.
Now your Schlage smart lock has been reset. Check if the problem you’ve had has gone away. If not, you need to contact customer support to fix the issue.
Contact Schlage customer support
Sometimes even complete troubleshooting doesn’t help. The problem still haunts your Schlage keypad lock after you’ve checked the batteries, and mechanics’ condition, and performed a factory reset.
Perhaps something is wrong with the device itself, you made some mistake, or require professional help. Luckily, the Schlage customer support department exists to help you.
With a warranty, you can contact the lock dealer to forward a warranty claim. This way you don’t have to spend money on a new device if you bought a defective lock. The manufacturer solves the problem by sending you a brand-new smart lock device.
What shortens the Schlage battery life
Schlage predicts that one battery pack works between half a year and a whole year before it has to be replaced. Alas, many factors shorten that lifespan even further.
Wrong batteries
Schlage recommends using only non-rechargeable alkaline power cells. Choosing the alternative leads to many problems, including the Schlage smart lock not working. One of the issues is the batteries draining too fast.
Don’t use lithium or rechargeable batteries for most Schlage keypad locks if you want the device to run smoothly, and the batteries to serve longer than a few months. Use 4 AA non-rechargeable energy cells.
The Wi-Fi signal is weak
One of the reasons for quick power drainage is a weak Wi-Fi signal. When the device can’t access the Wi-Fi network properly, it keeps attempting to establish the connection via the battery connector. The process requires spending a lot of energy.
Monitor the Wi-Fi signal strength with the Schlage app. If the signal is weak, bring the Wi-Fi router device closer to the smart lock or ensure no walls are blocking the battery connector from working.
A Wi-Fi extender helps elevate the signal range if relocating the router is impossible or inconvenient. If nothing helps to strengthen the connection, try contacting your internet provider. Perhaps the issue lies within the Wi-Fi router or network and not the smart lock.
The software is bugged
Sometimes an error appears in the programming for no obvious reason. The system got broken and the bug causes the battery pack to drain faster.
The only way to solve this problem is to perform a factory reset. Clearing the user settings and codes also wipes programming errors. You can find the instruction on how to do this above.
A wiring problem
Damaged mechanical parts of the smart lock cause excessive energy loss. This is probably the reason why your device continues to drain batteries even after resetting the security system. The lock can’t work without a battery connector.
Reinstall the battery pack to fix the problem. If you can’t repair the wiring, call a professional locksmith. Contact Schlage customer support, they can provide one.
Cold climate
The cold temperature causes the battery to drain faster. If you live in a freezing climate, the energy resource will inevitably be spent more quicker.
Unfortunately, there is no clear solution to this problem. The only thing you can do is keep a close eye on the battery life. Don’t lose the moment you have to change the batteries! When living in a cold climate, you have to change the energy cells more frequently.
What to do when the battery dies?
There are cases when you can’t replace the batteries in time. Perhaps you’re away, didn’t see the low-energy signals, or just forgot to perform the battery change.
Now your Schlage lock doesn’t work. Are you locked out of your own house? Don’t worry: there is still a way to access the residence.
Most of the smart locks have a cylindrical hole for a metallic key just in case the electric device stops working. But after you unlock the door with a physical key, the Schlage deadbolt can’t lock before you replace the batteries.
But what if you don’t carry a key with you? After all, that’s one of the reasons people use smart locks. Some Schlage keypad locks don’t even have a proper keyhole. For those cases, there exists a jump-start feature.
Most Schlage models provide circular terminals for jump-starting the smart lock. They are placed at the bottom of the device. Here is an instruction on how to use them:
- Take a new battery.
- Bind the power cell and battery connector with the jump-start terminals.
- Hold the battery until a lock beep emits.
- Put the pin code in.
- Make sure the door is now opened.
- Take the battery away from the terminal.
Some Schlage deadbolts don’t have a jump-start feature. If you don’t carry your keys, you’ll have to call a professional locksmith because you’re locked out of the house.
Final word
Schlage keypad locks are an excellent addition to your home security system. But some factors, such as energy drain or dead batteries, threaten to ruin an otherwise great user experience.
Changing the batteries of a Schlage lock regularly is extremely important. Leaving them dead leads to permanent mechanical damage or even getting locked out of your own house.
There are many things to consider when replacing the battery pack, such as battery type, Wi-Fi signal, and the climate you live in. Thankfully, all the problems can be fixed with some time and dedication.
Helpful articles like this one exist to give you much-needed information and some advice about Schlage lock.