How to fix Spring Roller Shades, Adjusting Spring Tension on Cordless Rollers
If your cordless rollers are too lumpy and loose, watch this quick video to learn how to easily adjust the tension to tighten them up and roll smoothly.
Loose roller window treatments making you tense? Relax and watch how easy it is to adjust the tension on our cordless cassette rollers.
Most of today's cordless and corded roller window coverings operate by a hollow tube with a coiled spring inside, hence the name "spring roller shade." The size and material of the tube may vary, but it's typically made of aluminum. On one end of the tube, there's a free-turning pin that mounts into the bracket, and on the other end is a ratchet and pin that hold the tension on the spring.
Pulling down on the roller increases the tension on the spring so the shade stays in place. Occasionally, the spring may uncoil and lose tension, so it doesn't work right. You can just roll with it, though, by simply adjusting the spring. Watch the videos above or read on to find out how!
If the roller's too loose, here's how to tighten the spring tension:
- Pull the treatment down approximately halfway.
- Remove the roller from the brackets.
- Roll up the treatment by hand, being careful to roll the shade evenly on the tube.
- Replace the roller in the brackets.
- Repeat if necessary until you have the right amount of tension.
If the shade's too tight, here's how to loosen the spring tension:
- Roll up the treatment.
- Remove the roller from the brackets.
- Unroll the treatment approximately halfway by hand.
- Replace the roller in the brackets.
- Repeat if necessary until you have the right amount of tension.
How to adjust a fully uncoiled spring:
- Remove the roller from the brackets.
- Unroll the treatment halfway.
- Use pliers to turn the pin on the spring side of the shade until you feel tension, then back off so the pawl (the latch that allows movement in only one direction) hooks onto the ratchet.
- Loosen or tighten spring tension as necessary using the instructions above.
How to release a spring that is locked in the coil:
- Remove the roller from the brackets.
- Use pliers to grip the pin and twist it clockwise to free the pawl. Release it quickly to unwind the coil.
- Loosen or tighten the spring tension as necessary using the instructions above.
Time for a Permanent Fix?
While rollers are usually easy to fix, sometimes they’ve just reached their lifespan. If the tips above don’t solve the problem, it may be time to shop for new ones. And we can help you with that, too! Roller window coverings fit any budget and interior design style, coming in clean, classic, solid colors, or fabulous patterns and textures to fill your space with pizzazz. The fun part is finding out how many ways you can use them in your home. Here are some suggestions.
Light Filtering Rollers > Shop Now
If you enjoy your privacy but like some natural light, light-filtering rollers, like our Designer Elements Light Filtering Roller Shades are a great option. They softly diffuse and filter incoming light to let the sun shine in without your rooms becoming too bright or too warm.
Blackout Rollers > Shop Now
Blackout roller window coverings are ideal if you want added privacy or a better night’s sleep (perfect for nurseries). Our Fashion Color Collection blackouts were made with your sleep in mind!. They're also great for media rooms and home theaters, or anywhere you need to reduce or eliminate glare on reflective screens and monitors.
Cordless Rollers > Shop Now
Because they have no dangerous, dangling exposed cords, cordless roller shades are your best option to keep kids and pets safe. They're smart looking, too, giving spaces a clean, modern look as these Blackout Sheerweave Rollers in Blackboard show. These and most of our rollers can be ordered with the latest in motorized lift options, including WiFi-controlled smartphone operation using the SelectConnect Bridge.