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By: Theo Jamieson
Updated:: 11/1/2024
One of the main reasons customers spend more on a product is because they want it to last. Higher cost equates to better quality and longevity, right? With motorized blinds, however, the added cost is also going toward the addition of a motor that adjusts your blinds with the press of a button. Some people worry that more moving parts will mean that motorized blinds aren’t as reliable as their manual counterparts. But is there any truth to this?
The short answer is that the lifespan of motorized blinds will depend on several factors, including the quality of the window treatment and how you care for them, but in general they’re incredibly durable.
In this post, we’ll explore what motorized blinds are, their benefits, factors that influence reliability, and whether they may be worth it for you.
Motorized blinds and shades are one of the latest innovations in the window treatment space. Rather than pulling a cord or twisting a rod to adjust your blinds, you can operate them with the press of a button. This adds convenience and accessibility to your window coverings.
Automation is also a central feature in motorized blinds. What this means is that your blinds can automatically adjust on a schedule that you set up. So, for example, you can program your motorized blinds to raise first thing in the morning and lower at sunset–all without you having to lift a finger.
Motorized blinds incorporate a small, typically battery-powered motor that does the work of tilting slats and raising and lowering the blinds.
You can control motorized blinds through wall-mounted switches, remote controls, a home automation hub, or from anywhere in the world with a data connection via your smartphone or tablet.
Motorized blinds have multiple benefits, some of which may surprise you.
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Now that you know a bit more about motorized blinds and their benefits, let’s look at motorized blinds reliability. There are essentially 5 main factors that will determine the lifespan of your motorized blinds:
1. Materials Quality: It will come as no surprise that motorized blinds with better motors will last longer. But you also need to consider the quality of the actual window treatment. This means selecting blinds and shades made from durable materials.
2. Technology: Selecting motorized blinds that use well-tested technology from companies that will continue to support your product is important in making sure your motorized blinds remain reliable.
3. Manufacturer: This is probably the most important factor that influences reliability. Purchasing your motorized blind from a reputable manufacturer like Stoneside ensures you’re getting a reliable product and the support you deserve.
4. Usage: Blinds that are being adjusted a hundred times a day will obviously wear out faster than those adjusted once a week. This is true for motorized blinds, too.
5. Care: Motorized blinds that are well-cared for, including regular cleaning and maintenance, will naturally be more reliable.
As you can see, motorized blinds reliability is most heavily influenced by the quality of the product and how well you take care of it. When it comes down to it, this is true of non-motorized blinds and shades, as well.
If you buy high-quality motorized blinds and take good care of them, they’ll last longer and be less likely to need servicing. But aren’t there other problems with them, be it software or hardware-related, that traditional blinds don’t have? And how long do motorized blinds really last? Let’s look at each of these questions separately.
When smart homes were just starting to gain traction, there were still a lot of glitches in how the software worked. Now, after years of refinement, software and hardware problems are less of a concern. And as long as you purchase your motorized blinds from a reliable company like Stoneside, you can rest assured that software will remain up-to-date and you’ll know who to call if you have a problem.
When it comes to maintenance, you shouldn’t need to do anything beyond cleaning your blinds (just as you would with traditional window coverings) and changing or charging the batteries once a year or so.
As we discussed in the Benefits of Motorized Blinds section, motorization will extend the life of your window treatments. But that wouldn’t mean much if the motor burnt out before then. Luckily, you should expect the motor to last just as long as the window treatment itself. In the long run, this means most people get more years of use out of motorized blinds than traditional ones.
Maintaining your motorized blinds is simple and comes down to the following 3 key points:
Motorized blinds cost more than non-motorized options. Are the benefits really worth the added cost? Ultimately only you can answer the question, but let’s examine the value that investing in motorization brings.
Motorized blinds' reliability should not be an issue when choosing whether they’re best for you and your home. Indeed, as long as you buy high-quality ones like those from Stoneside, their safety, ease of use, convenience, and ability to extend the life of your window treatments make them a no-brainer. If you’re ready to see what motorized blinds and shades can do for you, schedule a free design consultation with Stoneside right away.
