Motorized blind warranty: how many years, what to do if the motor fails, and how to make it last

Ask how long a motorized blind is under warranty and you usually get a single number. But one blind is several parts — the motor, the installation, and the fabric or slats — and each is covered for a different length of time, some not at all. A single figure with no part attached to it is how misunderstandings start once something actually goes wrong.

How many years is a motorized blind under warranty?

Our warranty comes in three parts: 6 years on the motor, 1 year on the installation, and 1 year on wooden blind slats. The fabric itself isn't covered. These figures apply across the motorized roller blind, the motorized curtain track and the wooden blind, according to which parts each one has.

One thing people tend to lump in with warranty is a wrong size. If a blind doesn't fit because of an error in our measuring, we fix it at our cost. As for the detailed terms of each part of the warranty, this site gives only the durations — if there's a specific case you want settled, message us on LINE before paying the deposit. The whole ordering process is in how long a curtain order takes.

How long does a motorized blind last, and which motor brands are used?

We fit Somfy, Novo, Kacee and Uni motors. They typically last 5-10 years, and we warrant the motor for 6 years. That 5-10 year range describes normal use, not an expiry date; where in the range a motor ends up also depends on how it's used and looked after. For how the models differ, the specs are compared in reading Somfy and Novo motor specs.

Has the motor failed, or is it something you can check yourself?

A blind that won't move doesn't always mean a failed motor. Often the cause is the power or the remote. Before you message us, run through the checks below — if you find the cause, it's solved without waiting for a fitter, and if you don't, what you've already ruled out helps us find the cause faster.

• The remote — change its battery first. If your home has more than one way to operate the blind, try another: a motorized blind can be run from a remote, the Tuya app or a wall switch. If another way works, the problem is the remote, not the motor.
• Power at the socket — a wired motor needs power at the socket near the headrail. Check that the plug hasn't come out, that the breaker for that circuit hasn't tripped, and try another appliance in the same socket.
• The battery — if it's a rechargeable battery motor, charge it first. A charge takes about 2 hours and runs 4-6 months. A blind that won't move may simply be due for a charge.
• A power cut — during a power cut the blind doesn't get stuck; you can pull it by hand, though it feels a little stiffer than a manual blind. More in motorized blinds in a power cut.
• Something in the way — look for a window handle, furniture, or anything on the sill blocking the fabric or the track.
• The app won't work but the remote does — that usually points to the connection, not the motor. The checks are in controlling motorized blinds from your phone.

Can a motorized blind be repaired, and does the shop take repairs?

To be straight about it: we don't take cleaning or repair work, whether the blind was bought here or elsewhere. If it's something covered by the warranty — motor 6 years, installation 1 year, wooden blind slats 1 year — message us on LINE as usual. Put another way, what we look after is warranty work on blinds we fitted ourselves; repair isn't offered as a separate service.

If your blind came from somewhere else, start with the shop that fitted it, since the warranty sits with them. Next time you choose a shop, ask about warranty part by part before paying a deposit: how many years on the motor, how many on the installation, whether the fabric is covered, and whether the shop still looks after it once the warranty ends. The other questions worth asking are in how to choose a curtain shop.

What should you have ready when reporting a problem on LINE?

1. The name the order was under, and the address where it's fitted. If you still have the quote, send a photo of it — it lists the curtain style, the fabric code and the size of every opening.
2. When it was fitted — the approximate month and year, to see which part of the warranty still applies.
3. Which unit has the problem — which room, which window, and which type: motorized roller blind, motorized curtain track or wooden blind.
4. The symptom — not moving at all, stopping partway, an unusual noise, or not reaching the top or bottom — and when it started.
5. A short clip taken while you press the control, showing both the headrail and the fabric. A clip shows the symptom better than a typed description.
6. What you've already checked — whether the remote battery has been changed, whether there's power at the socket, whether the battery motor has been charged.

How do you make a motorized blind last?

The points below are general advice for living with anything motorized, not the terms of our warranty — just habits that put less strain on the motor and the mechanism.

• Don't pull against the motor while it's running. To stop it, press stop on the remote rather than holding the fabric. Pulling by hand is the fallback for a power cut, not the everyday way to use it.
• Don't hang or drape things on the fabric or the track. Added weight is load the motor carries every time it opens and closes.
• Keep the path clear. A window left open with its handle sticking in, or furniture pushed up so the fabric can't travel fully, makes the motor work against something.
• Dust regularly. Use a duster or a dry cloth on the fabric, the headrail and the track; dust that builds up in a track makes it drag. Wooden blinds have their own routine, covered in wooden blind price and care.
• Keep water off the headrail. The Novo K45 roller blind motor is rated IP44: it keeps out splashing water but is not made to sit in rain or take water directly. Mind this when cleaning the glass, or when rain drives in through an open window.
• Change the remote battery before it's completely flat, and don't leave an old battery in a remote you rarely use — a degraded battery can leak onto the contacts.
• Charge a battery motor on schedule. A charge takes about 2 hours and runs 4-6 months. Charge it when it's due rather than waiting for the blind to stop.