# Garage Doors Left Open and Unattended **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 1, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622 "2012-11-01T22:22:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/21 "2012-11-02T16:32:50Z")
Cars are frequently advertised as “garage kept” for a reason. Parking them inside reduces their exposure to pollutants, UV, etc. Give me 10 minutes to look at you paint and the undercarriage of your car, and I can tell you whether it is normally stored outdoors or indoors. Put your $30,000 dollar car which is stored outside, next to the same car stored inside, and yes, I’d pay more for the one stored inside. At least a little. ---
**Author:** ![thatguyjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@thatguyjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thatguyjeff)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/22 "2012-11-02T16:52:45Z")
I tend to keep the door closed (detatched garage), but not because I’m concerned about theft. I do it just to keep critters out and leaves and whatnot from blowing in. If it weren’t for all the squirrels, birds, and whatever else constantly entering our garage, I would leave it open more. FWIW - I live in the middle of a large, urban area. Crime rate in the neighborhood is low. And as long as I’m on the topic, what is with the squirrels and birds always going in my garage? When I was a kid, my folks pretty much left the garage door open all the time during the day when someone was home. Except for the occasional chipmunk (which can get in whether the door is open or not, we never had animals in there. But at my house, I can’t leave the garage alone for 5 minutes without a sparrow or squirrel going in there. There’s no garbage in there, no birdseed, nothing. I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/23 "2012-11-02T16:57:04Z")
> [@prettydorky](#): > > Some smokers/beer drinkers/teens hang out in garages but want the door open for ventilation. They might not want to disturb the whole house with the _rumble rumble_ every time they step out. One of our neighbours is a guy who smokes in his garage and he leaves the door open from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/24 "2012-11-02T17:05:52Z")
Open garage door. Get in car. Back out into driveway. Get out of car. Close garage door. Get in car. Drive somewhere, come home. Get out of car. Open garage door. Get in car. Pull into garage. Get out of car. Close garage door. By leaving it open, you can eliminate ten of those steps. How common are garage door openers these days? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/25 "2012-11-02T17:49:32Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > How common are garage door openers these days? I honestly don’t know anyone that doesn’t have one. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/26 "2012-11-02T17:53:19Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > How common are garage door openers these days? Every single newhouse in the USA which has a garage, also has a remote control opener. At least since 1975 or so. And for older houses, every single one which I’ve ever seen had added a remote control to the old-fashioned door. just anectdotal ,of course. Am I wrong ? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/27 "2012-11-02T17:55:05Z")
My parents leave their garage open when they’re doing laundry (the washer and dryer are in there). I’m not sure why, exactly. Other than that, if they’re not doing yardwork the garage is closed. ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/28 "2012-11-02T18:03:07Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Open garage door. > Get in car. > Back out into driveway. > Get out of car. > Close garage door. > Get in car. > Drive somewhere, come home. > Get out of car. > Open garage door. > Get in car. > Pull into garage. > Get out of car. > Close garage door. > > By leaving it open, you can eliminate ten of those steps. > > How common are garage door openers these days? Get in warm, frost/ice/heat/whatever free car Hit button Back out Hit button Drive away. Now it’s representative of what the average garage owning US citizen does. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/29 "2012-11-02T18:06:07Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > I honestly don’t know anyone that doesn’t have one. I don’t think that my parents had one until their current house, which they got in 1999. I can’t remember if my last GF had one, but she always parked in the driveway anyway. ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/30 "2012-11-02T18:29:47Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Does parking a car outside reduce its value? I have two cars worth upwards of $30,000 parked outside every night. And a three car garage full of junk. I bought one nice car for myself, a BMW 3 series. Last year, major hailstorm, packed garage, no more car. The garage is now cleaned (somewhat). ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/31 "2012-11-02T19:28:59Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Open garage door. > Get in car. > Back out into driveway. > Get out of car. > Close garage door. > Get in car. > Drive somewhere, come home. > Get out of car. > Open garage door. > Get in car. > Pull into garage. > Get out of car. > Close garage door. > > By leaving it open, you can eliminate ten of those steps. > > How common are garage door openers these days? Get yourself a girlfriend and you’ve got your opener/closer right there in the passenger seat. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/32 "2012-11-02T19:31:42Z")
I like the way you think! ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/33 "2012-11-03T00:31:37Z")
Delivering papers every day means you get to see a lot of sleeping homes. I am always surprised at how many people accidentally leave their garage doors open. I assume it’s accidentally, at least, because often the lights are on (even though the house is dark), and the garages are often full of tools and theft-worthy items. Fairly often, I’ll scare off a raccoon who has decided to check out the garbage cans inside the doors. Other than these, and a few people who leave the doors slightly open (I’m assuming they have pet cats), most everyone closes their doors. I keep mine closed, because I kennel my dogs in the garage. (You might also be surprised at the number of people who leave their dome lights on or their cars doors open. It’s weird.) ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/34 "2012-11-03T01:25:25Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Every single newhouse in the USA which has a garage, also has a remote control opener. At least since 1975 or so. > And for older houses, every single one which I’ve ever seen had added a remote control to the old-fashioned door. > > just anectdotal ,of course. Am I wrong ? I don’t have one, and my house was built in late 2004. But what I lack in garage door opening technology, I make up for with cool neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/35 "2012-11-03T02:26:56Z")
Used to work in the low-voltage controls biz, including security. Woke up hearing a news report of a big art heist in a town in which we had several customers. I kept saying, “Don’t be one of ours,” but it was. I learned several things from this experience: [ol] [li]When you automate your home, buy the security package up front. If you don’t you will do it later and it will cost more and people will make fun of you on the internet.[/li][li]Find a better place to hang your Monet and Renoir than in the hall between the gym and the garage.[/li][li]Some people have too much money.[/li][li]When you drive to WalMart (honest!) close the goddamn garage door.[/li][/ol] ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/36 "2012-11-03T02:43:14Z")
[quote=“dropzone, post:35, topic:639622”] [li] **When you automate your home** , buy the security package up front. If you don’t you will do it later and it will cost more and people will make fun of you on the internet.[/li][/QUOTE] (my bold) Sorry for being an ignoramus but what do you mean by “automate your home?” ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/37 "2012-11-03T03:17:09Z")
I don’t like garages that open out in the front of the house, especially those that stick out past the line of the living space. It looks as though you’re driving into a giant mouth and the house is going to eat you. I personally don’t have a garage, but I often leave my house doors open, always leave it unlocked. There’s not much to steal, and if they can get past the two german shepherd, the doberman, giant schnauzer and standard poodle, and the two cops next door, I guess they’ re welcome to my old desktop computer and my TV. StG ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/38 "2012-11-03T03:34:45Z")
My parents often left the garage open during the day when I was a kid. It had to be manually opened and closed. Quite a bit of effort. They did close it at night. I guess the rationale was our cars coming and going throughout the day. Getting out and opening the door a half dozen times wouldn’t be fun. They have a different house and garage today. I think the garage opener closes automatically after they drive in. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/39 "2012-11-03T04:17:34Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > they’re welcome to my TV. > > StG What size? I’m in desperate need of an upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622/40 "2012-11-03T04:21:04Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > (my bold) > > Sorry for being an ignoramus but what do you mean by “automate your home?” It ranges from simple timers on your lights to make it look to burglars like you are at home to full-bore “control your lights, heating and air conditioning, TV, and security system from your iPad.” They didn’t even bother with the first, but it would not have mattered because it was an inside job. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/garage-doors-left-open-and-unattended/639622.md?page=3)