The window blinds in your home are likely to be some of the most used items. After all, they’ll be rolled up and down every single morning to allow light in. And, during hotter or colder days, we advise you use them intelligently to manage temperature and light. Therefore, it’s not uncommon for people to have window blind problems that hinder this use. Most of the time, these issues are very easy to rectify and just take some insider knowledge to solve. This blog post will look at the 6 most common window blind problems and provide advice, from our expert team, on how to fix them.
My window blinds won’t lower down
If you’re having trouble lowering blinds down to cover the window, the most common reason is an issue with the cord lock. Pull your blinds all the way open and click them into place. Pull the release cord to one side and then the other. This will normally release the mechanism.
If not, you may need to remove the blind and have a closer look at the mechanism. Unscrew all relevant screws and lay your blind on a tabletop. If you look at the locking mechanism, you’ll notice the cords thread through in a uniformed manner. Any twists need to be worked out. You will also notice a ‘pawl’ (a teethed roller) which runs along a slotted track at the front and back of the mechanism. On occasion, this becomes stuck and needs a little persuasion to move it. A gentle push should release the pawl and allow you to use the release cord again.
Reinstall your blinds and check that they will now raise and lower easily.
Slats won’t tilt/rotate properly
On Venetian and Vertical blinds, we occasionally have customers complaining that the slats aren’t tilting or rotating properly. This is normally due to a blockage – built-up dirt or dust in the mechanism. This is the first place you should check. Use a microfiber cloth or duster to shift any build-up here. If you are still having issues, lubricate the mechanism with WD-40 or a similar product.
Try to rotate the slats a number of times to allow the lubricant to move throughout the mechanism. This should ease movement and make it easier to use.
One of the slats is broken
Wear and tear or damage can cause individual slats in your vertical blinds to break. But, the good thing is that technology has advanced to ensure you don’t have to fork out for a costly replacement.
Replacement Vertical Blind Slats are a quick, cost-effective and simple way to keep your existing blinds and ensure they look perfect for many years to come. They are individually manufactured from the same fabric as your full set and come with full installation instructions.
Simply remove the broken slat and dispose of it accordingly. The new slat has been designed to take minimal time for installation.
Window blinds hang unevenly
If your blinds don’t hang straight, the problem is normally due to the cord becoming stuck on one side. This pulls one side of the fabric or slats up rather than allowing them to have evenly. Check the cords and make sure they’re not twisted, knotted or congested in any way. If you can unravel these while the blind is still fitted, you should. If not, remove the window blind and lay it on a flat surface to do so.
The connecting slat chain has broken
The connecting chain at the bottom of vertical blinds is there to hold the slats in a uniformed manner and help move them open in unison. If this becomes aged or damaged, it can break which will affect the function of your window blinds. Some styles can be easily connected back together with a ball-and-cup like design. However, if yours isn’t like this, you will need to have the entire chain replaced. Contact the manufacturer who should be able to provide this.
One slat has rotated differently from the others
Misaligned slats are easy to fix. Most of the time, it’s due to congestion in the top sliding frame. Open or roll the blinds down fully and check here first. A gentle twist or readjustment may be all it takes. Be careful not to bend or snap any part of the internal structure. Alternatively, sometimes you need to roll the window right down and rotate the slats open and closed entirely for the misaligned one to lock back into place.
Being able to fix smaller issues such as the ones we’ve mentioned above will save you money and time. Here at Shop4Blinds, we provide advice and information to all of our customers on how they can extend the lifespan of their window blinds and keep them working at full capacity. If you’re experiencing any issues with your blinds and would like help, get in contact with our team here today.