Why You Should Shut Your Garage Door at Night

For many of us this topic may seem like a no‑brainer. Nobody intentionally leaves their garage door open all night. The truth is, it happens. Some find themselves in situations that cause them to rush into the house, and in the process, forget about closing the garage door. Oftentimes, by the time they remember to close the garage door it's too much of a hassle to do it and they just say "It's no big deal. There's nothing to worry about.” That is faulty reasoning.

Leaving your garage door open all night long leaves you vulnerable. That being said, leaving your garage door open for an extended period of time, day or night, is not the best idea. Doing so may cause you to deal with unfortunate consequences. Here are several reasons why you need to create a way to prevent this from happening and ensure your garage door is closed and secured properly every time you come home.

Prevent Burglary

Even if the garage door is open only for a few minutes, it leaves the contents inside visible for any unsavory characters to see. A thief could see into your garage, observe what you're doing and check out what valuable belongings you have stored away. Valuable items include cars, lawnmowers, snowmobiles, mountain bikes, snow blowers or even a motorcycle. If you have any expensive tools and store them in your garage, those are valuable and can attract thieves.

Some may argue that if there is a break‑in, homeowner’s insurance will cover the value of the items that were stolen. But filing a claim and dealing with the paperwork can cause a lot of headaches and take a lot of time. It is not a pleasant process to go through. Something else to consider is that depending on how old the stolen items are, it may cost more money to replace them with newer versions. If you leave your valuable items in plain sight, you can become a target. Instead, close your garage door securely and prevent an unfortunate break‑in.

Prevent Infestation

When the weather begins to change, and the temperatures drop, small rodents begin looking for warm places to live. For example, if you store a bag of bird seed in your garage in preparation for filling up your favorite bird feeder, a chipmunk can smell that odor from far away and start to look for it. Once they find it, it will be very difficult to get rid of them. If they find that they cannot escape the inside of the garage, it is not unheard of for them to gnaw through the weather stripping in order to get out. If you leave your garage door open long enough for these small rodents to enter and inhabit, it can cause a lot of headaches as you try to get rid of them.

Unexpected Weather Events

The weather may seem normal when you come home and settle in for the evening. However, things can change quickly from one day to the next. If you decide to leave your garage door open overnight, you may be opening yourself up for an unpleasant surprise. You may experience water damage, hail or even snow in your garage.

Ensure Your Garage Door is Closed

There are two definite ways to ensure your garage door is closed:

• A garage door monitor (829LM) - This is a device that you can install in your home. Some choose to have it installed in their bedroom. The monitor will display the current state of your garage door. If it shows that the garage door is open, you have the option to close it using this monitor.

• LiftMaster’s MyQ Technology - Ever since 2013, the Chamberlain/LiftMaster company has been offering MyQ technology. This technology lets you connect to your garage door opener using your smartphone, tablet or laptop via the Internet. The MyQ app sends an SMS message alerting you if your garage door is open or closed. You will receive the message even if you are out of the country.

Points to Remember

Leaving your garage door open all night long is never a good idea. If you leave your door open, you are leaving your home vulnerable to unwelcome thieves and rodents. Checking your garage door should be part of your evening routine. You can include it as part of your rounds to lock all access doors to your house. This will make sure your garage door is closed securely at the end of each day.

If you would like more information about the two monitoring devices mentioned in this blog, contact us. We have a lot of experience and we know garage doors better than anyone else. We can offer advice and explain to you the best choice to make based on your requirements and budget. If you would like, we can send you a quotation via email.

Another option is to come and meet us at our showroom. If you're looking for a new garage door, our Design Centre can help you picture just what it would look like. If you aren't sure but would like some inspiration, you can look through our image gallery for creative examples.