I have blinds that are OLD - but I'd like to have motorized ones in my kitchen (my breakfast nook area is V shaped with a vaulted ceiling with floor to ceiling double set of windows). When we built the house, we were under 30 with two kids - we did Graber cellular shades in that area (it has a western exposure). I'd really like to install motorized blinds - I am surprised that ones that aren't even ten years old are failing + can't be fixed. Everything seems to be "disposable" these days - very sad.

Have you tried doing a search re: how to fix motorized Hunter Douglas blinds? I bet there are quite a few YouTube videos that will show how to do it (you can narrow it down based upon the model #).

Even if you don't want to do it yourself, these types of "how to" videos typically list the parts that were used + links to the products (you have to hit the "more" button at the end of the description that is under the video - then there should be a list).

Automation. They started working intermittently then stopped. Remote battery was the first guess, not it. Manual button on the blinds doesn’t work either. Confirmed power source is not the issue.

One might have a mechanical issue now too as a guest pulled and forced one closed.

The woman I spoke with today mentioned the possibility of sending them in to HD. She did mention the mechanics changed somewhere along the line hence she’s not sure they can get new motors.

We’ll see I guess. Service call scheduled for Thursday. If I can get them repaired for a reasonable price I’ll certainly do that. I’m mainly wondering where to look should I need replacement.

Absolutely escalate the problem to Hunter Douglas that builds advertising and warranty into the prices.

Do you have a hub? Did you unplug, let sit for a bit and then plug in again? I find that once in a while I have to "re-boot" the hub and then things go back to working correctly.

Not sure what that hub would be. The electric comes from a single transformer but like I said, power isn’t the issue. (The seldom used skylight blinds on the same transformer work fine.) Beyond that, as far as I know they are all independently set up.

Do you have remotes and/or an App?

Remote. Since the button on the blinds themselves don’t work either, I’ve ruled out a remote issue.

If your blinds have chains there are lots of after market smart motors available. They start at under 100.00 and some come in kits of multiples for that are even less per unit.

Ok, so hardwired with remote only. Definitely sounds like a motor or string issue. Drop them off at the local Hunter Douglas dealer/showroom to be shipped back for repair. Cheaper than getting all new blinds!

Might also be a wiring issue at your power hub. All my low voltage wires go into a HD power hub which is then plugged into an outlet. I had my electrician put my two outlets on its own breaker. Try unplugging the power hub for 15 minutes and plugging back in.

Follow-up: Repair guy just left, basically just some resets on the units and reprogramming the remote. The whole thing is still a little weird to me but I know the sequences of what he did, and should be able to replicate if needed. He also got one working that the prior owner had given up on and swapped for manual.

He did agree that these are a couple generations old and could be an issue with parts, might have to be mailed in to Hunter Douglas if it comes to that. And that it would be easily $10K to replace just this room with comparable blinds. So hopefully these have some good life left.

We have the corded HD blinds and the string has broken three times but it's been replaced under warranty. The window is too big for that blind and should've never been sold to us. We take it to the next town over to an authorized blind and shade repair shop. There's not one near you?

Actually I found an authorized dealer close to me, that’s who came. (I’m new to the area.) These blinds are over 8’ long and mounted around 9’, so I preferred in-home service.

HD used to be able to do two blinds on one headrail for windows/doors like this, but I don't think they have offered that option for a long time. Must have been a bigger hassle to have to ship a whole double blind, when only one side was broken!

Those look like sliders? If they are, the other option is the HD Vertiglide shades. I have them on 3 sets of sliders that are 12 ft wide and 10 ft tall. No string mechanism on these. I didn't motorize mine, but I should have, to be able to put them on an open/close schedule with the HD App.

It's a nice looking room, food. Why do you need blinds at all? There seems to be plenty of privacy.

Beautiful room Food!

We have a similar situation (lots of glass, no need for privacy) in one area of our house. We have blinds (not motorized) so that the sun doesn't fade the hardwood floors or the furniture. The room faces southwest, and without the blinds in the summer it would get really hot, despite air conditioning. In the cooler months we leave them open.

Thanks Elmer and HU!

Reason for blinds is similar to bookwoman’s. When we’re here the blinds are generally up, but may be down on particularly hot mornings. When we’re not here it’s to keep the house a bit cooler and limit sun bleaching.

Chispa - I’ll keep the vertical option in mind if and when the time comes - thanks!