It happens to all of us at some point. Maybe you were doing yard work and forgot to close the garage door when you put away the tools. Perhaps the kids were out in the yard playing and needed the door open to put their bikes or skateboards away, and forgot to close it behind them. Whatever the case, you found the garage door standing open hours later. You might think this is no big deal, but it is actually a serious issue.
In fact, leaving your garage door open all night, even during the warmer months of the year, can have serious consequences for you and your family. Not sure that those might be? We’ll run through what you need to know in this blog post.
A Burglar’s Best Friend
What would you say is the simplest way for someone to break into your home? Is it through a window? Perhaps by forcing your front door? Actually, it’s the garage. Not only does leaving your garage door open make it easier for a thief to gain access to the house, but it can play a significant role in your home being targeted in the first place.
With your garage door open, a would‑be thief can easily see if there are any valuables worth taking in the garage. They could steal any number of hand tools, electric tools, automotive tools, and the like. The contents of your garage will also give them an idea about the rest of the house.
An Invitation to Pests
Another reason to make sure to close your garage door at all times is that an open door is an open invitation to pests of all types. For instance, suppose you store a bag of birdseed in your garage to refill your bird feeders. That bag could entice any number of pests into the garage – roaches, ants, even squirrels and raccoons. Many of these creatures can detect the smell of food from thousands of feet away. And, once they set up shop in your garage, it can be incredibly difficult to get rid of them. They will also cause damage to the inside of your garage, including gnawing through the weatherstripping on the bottom of the door to get out.
You’re All Wet
While we’ve come a long way in our ability to predict weather, you know that it can still change at a moment’s notice. What was a promising summer day could turn black and filled with thunderclouds. Leaving your garage door open at night can put everything within the garage in danger of a soaking – or even physical damage if a hail storm where to blow through.
Ensuring Your Door Is Closed
Given the importance of keeping your door closed, how do you ensure that it is?
The Garage Door Monitor (829LM): One surefire way to ensure that you know if your garage door is open or closed at all times is to use a garage door monitor. Install this in your bedroom (or any other area of the house) and you’ll always know if the door is shut. You can even close it with the touch of a button.
Lifmaster’s MyQ Tech: Another option is to use Chamberlain/Liftmaster’s MyQ technology. Since 2013, this leader in garage door opener technology has allowed homeowners like you the ability to open and close their garage doors from their smartphones and tablets with the press of a virtual button. The app can even alert you to the door being open via SMS message.
Things to Keep in Mind
Leaving your garage door open at night is a bad idea, plain and simple. It allows thieves to get their hands on your possessions, and even to enter your home. It’s a great way to find yourself infested with pests, too. For these reasons, checking the garage door should be part of your nightly routine.
If you’re interested in learning more about either of the monitoring options we mentioned in this post, we invite you to get in touch with us. We have immense experience in the garage door industry, and we can help you make an informed decision. We’re also happy to send you a quote by email.
Our showroom is always open for inspiration, and if you’re looking to make a change with your garage door, we recommend checking out our Design Centre and our image gallery.
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