Motorized window treatments are one of the most-requested upgrades in our showrooms, and they come with a lot of good questions. Here are honest answers to the twelve we hear most, based on the systems we install: Hunter Douglas® PowerView® Gen 3 and Alta Window Fashions automation with Bliss or Somfy motors.
1. What can be motorized?
Almost any window treatment we sell, including roller, cellular, and Roman shades, wood and faux wood blinds, vertical blinds, skylight shades, panel track systems, drapery rods, and exterior solar screens.
2. Can I add a motor to the shades I already have?
We do not retrofit. Motorization is built into the product from day one, which is what makes it quiet and reliable. If you think you may want motors later, decide before you order.
3. How are motorized shades powered?
There are three options: rechargeable battery wands or packs, hardwired power for new construction and major renovations, and solar-assisted charging for some products.
4. How long do the batteries last?
With typical use, owners recharge or change batteries every one to three years. The rechargeable batteries themselves have an expected life span of about ten years.
5. Do they work with Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Home?
Hunter Douglas® shades do. With PowerView® Gen 3, the PowerView® App, and the PowerView® Gateway, they work with Amazon Alexa, Apple® HomeKit™, Google Assistant, Matter, Apple Watch, iPhone, Brilliant, Control4®, Crestron®, Elan®, Josh.ai, RTI, URC®, and Savant®. Hunter Douglas® keeps the current list of supported smart-home systems.
Other brands can connect to smart-home systems too, but not always, and each brand differs. We program your shades and their app and remotes; connecting them to an after-market smart-home system is handled by others. Ask us about your specific setup before you buy.
6. How do I control them?
By handheld remote, wall switch, or smartphone app, and by voice where your smart-home system supports it. You can control a single shade, a group, or a whole room at once.
7. Can they open and close on a schedule?
Yes, and this is the feature people end up loving most. Shades can lower at sunset, rise in the morning, and close against afternoon heat automatically. Scheduling them to move while you are away also makes the house look lived in.
8. Are they loud?
No. Modern motors are quiet; most people describe them as a soft hum that lasts a few seconds.
9. Are motorized shades safer for kids and pets?
Yes. With no cords to pull, there is nothing dangling for children or pets to get caught in.
10. What is the warranty?
Motors and motorization equipment carry a 5-year manufacturer warranty. Fabric and hardware are covered by a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty. Warranties are non-transferable.
11. Who sets them up?
We do. Our installers program each shade to your preferences, show you how to create scenes and adjust settings, and if you need help later, we will guide you by phone and through the manufacturer's videos. For a deeper dive, read our blog post User Guide for Setting Scenes on Motorized Blinds.
12. Are they worth the cost?
For tall windows, skylights, large walls of glass, and rooms where you adjust shades several times a day, almost always. Many customers start by motorizing only the hardest-to-reach windows and add more over time with new treatments.
Where motorization makes the biggest difference
- Two-story great rooms and stairwells
- Skylights and transom windows
- Bedrooms, for gentle scheduled wake-ups
- West-facing rooms that need daily protection from heat and fading
- Homes with young children or pets
See motorized shades in action at one of our four showrooms, or let us bring a demo to you. Explore motorized solutions or book a free consultation.