Do you want to upgrade your home's window treatments from curtains or roll down shades to motorized blinds? Before you invest in this window upgrade, take a look at the answers to the top motorized blind questions homeowners have.
What Are Motorized Blinds?
Like the name says, motorized blinds are blinds (or shades) with a motor to operate the open/close mechanism. You won't need to roll, tie back, or use a cord with these easy-to-use window treatments.
How Do Motorized Blinds Move?
These window treatments use technology to open and close. The specific mechanism used depends on the blind and the manufacturer. A motorized blind may open and close via remote controls, switches, sensors, voice command, or through an app/smart system.
Are Motorized Blinds Safe?
Manual blinds may require a cord to open and close. If not used correctly, this poses a safety risk. The potential strangulation hazard corded blinds present to children is serious enough to warrant a warning recommendation from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The CPSC recommends consumers use cordless window treatments to improve safety.
Motorized blinds don't use a cord or similar type of system. This eliminates the strangulation risk and makes this type of window treatment a safer choice.
Do You Need a Smart Home System?
While you can use some motorized blinds with a smart home system, you don't have to. A remote controlled blind won't require a full home automation or connected system to use.
However, a smart system has advantages, including the ability to remotely control your home's blinds, make changes with a swipe on your smartphone, or program changes for different times of the day. But if you don't already have a home automation system or you prefer a lower tech option, you can still choose motorized window treatments.
Why Should You Choose Motorized Window Treatments?
Along with the high-tech ability to automate your home's blinds, motorized blinds come with plenty of other benefits. These include ease of use, convenience, home comfort, safety/security, and energy efficiency. Motorized blinds are also an addition to your home's interior aesthetics.
Like other window treatments, these blinds are also available in a variety of different materials, sizes, patterns, and colors. This allows you to coordinate the motorized blinds with almost any home décor.
How Can Motorized Blinds Improve Home Energy Efficiency?
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nearly 30 percent of home heat loss is lost through the home’s windows. When the weather warms, 76 percent of the sunlight that comes in through the windows enters as heat.
If your home has older or leaky windows, and replacement isn't an option, motorized blinds can reduce heating/cooling loss. The ability to easily open or close the blinds allows you to quickly adjust for the season or time of day.
Vertical and horizontal blinds can help to reduce summertime heat gain through your home's windows. This can save energy and cooling costs. Not only can closing the blinds help to improve your home's energy efficiency but positioning the slats to reflect the sunlight may also diffuse the heat and help to lower your cooling bills.
Who Should Install Motorized Blinds?
The decision to install motorized blinds is the first step. After you've made a window treatment decision, you need to choose the blinds and schedule an installation. The complexities of the motorized system make this type of installation a job for a professional. Failure to correctly install the blinds can damage the mechanism or reduce the effectiveness of the window treatments.
