Are you thinking about leaving your garage door open? Maybe you’re leaving it open for ventilation, to let the cat inside or you’re just curious on why your neighbors leave it open.
In this post, I go over everything you need to know, including the list of dangers it presents.
No, you should not leave your garage door open. Leaving your garage door open increases the chances of vermin infestation, robbery, and home invasion especially if it’s attached to your home. Always lock your garage door when it’s not in use.
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Vermin
For many reasons, you should never leave your door open. It’s unsafe for you and your family. Leaving your door open can mean many problems, some severe. Infestations, robbery, and home invasions are just some of the reasons you should never leave your door open. It’s a safety concern.
Many critters such as rats are attracted to warm enclosed spaces and an open garage is an invitation. People will often leave rubbish in there which will further increase the chance of vermin roaming into an open garage.
Other animals such as foxes that could make a home or damage the interior of your garage could also come in if you leave your door open.
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How to Vent Any Garage
Robbery
An unattended garage is a big wide-open invitation for robbery. A lot of robberies happen in garages because a lot of valuable items are stored in them, from the vehicles themselves to tools and other things. Along these same lines, home invasions often happen through a garage that was left open. Home invaders often meticulously plan for the perfect time they’ll strike.
This can be due to constantly leaving the door open and it may give them a better understanding of how your home is laid-out.
If you leave your door open often, they’ll have an abundant opportunity to plan a time to invade your home. A home invasion could endanger yourself and your loved ones. And it could mean a large robbery of your home goods.
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Should I leave my garage door open in the summer?
You should not leave your garage door open in the summer unless you’re present there. It’s tempting to leave it open because of the heat. An alternative would be to install vents secured by bars. This way you can help cool the garage and keep it safe when you’re not there.
Although it might be tempting, never leave your door open if unattended in the summer. Yes, garages get hotter in the summer. But leaving your door open unattended in the summer only leads to or increases the likelihood of all the problems associated with leaving a door open to happen. Robbery and vermin.
The increased hours of daylight mean burglars and home invaders means they have more chance of seeing you leave the door open.
It’s OK to leave your door open if you’re in or around it and know it’s safe to do so. Working in a garage in the summer can be uncomfortable and some can get so hot it’s unsafe. This is especially true if you don’t have sufficient air conditioning and ventilation.
Opening the door can let this heat dissipate and allow for cool fresh air to come in. But always close the garage door when not in use to avoid the potential issues leaving a door open can bring, as we spoke about in the previous section.
Installing a AC unit is a great option.
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Is it illegal to leave your garage door open?
It is not illegal to leave your garage door open. But that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. You have the legal right to leave your garage door open just as you do your house door, but leaving it open increases the likelihood of bad and unsafe consequences like a robbery.
It’s not illegal to leave your door open. But we don’t ever recommend it. You have the legal right to leave it open just as you have the legal right to leave your house door open. It’s your living space with your name on the property.
However, you increase the likelihood of negative and unsafe incidences. Many burglaries and home invasions happen because of garage doors left open.
Is it ok to leave the garage door partially open?
No, it’s not recommended to leave the garage door partially open. A partially open garage door strains the door system and reduces its life span. It also gives the chance for robbers to crawl under and enter your home. A better alternative would be to install a vent and AC system for cooling.
Some people might think leaving their door partially open is OK. It is OK to leave the door open, but leaving it partially open still increases the chances of unwanted consequences such as robberies happening in your garage and home. If you’re thinking of leaving your door partially open to help ventilate the garage, it will do very little.
The cons outweigh the pros. While issues are less likely to happen to leave your door only partially open than if you leave your garage door fully open, it’s still not 100% safe.
Vermin like mice will likely still be able to get in underneath the small gap between the bottom of the garage door and the floor and robbers will keep a keen eye for garage doors that are not completely vertical which shows them it’s been left open.
Should I leave the garage door cracked open for the cat?
No, you should not leave your garage door cracked open for the cat because it increases the likelihood of pests and robbers. A better alternative would be to install a cat flap for your cat. The cons outweigh the pros and leaving your door open for any reason can be dangerous.
It’s understandable people want to leave their door cracked open for family pets such as their cats. Some people want to help stray cats too. But leaving your door cracked open for your cat is not the best idea.
Leaving your door open for the cat means inviting the possibilities of the cat bringing in dead mice and birds and other things it may catch or take, burglaries, a house invasion, and more. Cats will often hunt and bring back dead vermin and other critters. Especially at night, which is when people often consider leaving the door open for them.
This could lead to infestations and other ghastly problems that can cost a considerable amount of time and money to clean up if they get out of hand. And by leaving the door cracked open for the cat you increase the chances of your garage being burgled or worse your house being invaded from the garage.
Why do people keep their garage door open all day?
Some people leave their garage doors open all day to help keep their garages cool. This is particularly true of people who live in hot climates where they feel safe to do so because it’s the norm. And people who leave and return home many times a day like to leave it open for ease of commuting.
Some people keep their garage door open all day. This is more true in hot climates. People in Florida are well-known to do so. The fact is, a lot of people don’t realize the potential costs of leaving their garage door open all day. Or they simply feel the immediate benefits of cooling their hot garage among other reasons outweighs the possible risks that might come later.
Also, if many people leave their doors open in a given area, others are more likely to do so too because they feel safer doing it because everyone else is. And it can also be that people who go to and fro their home many times a day leave their garage doors open for quick and easy going and returning.
