Symptoms
- Shade hangs down and doesn't roll up when pulled
- Rolls up partway then stops
- Feels loose with no resistance when pulled
- Snaps up too fast and hard
Likely causes
- CommonSpring tension lost from age or being left down too longThe spiral spring inside the roller loses its wound tension over years of use.
- CommonShade came off its mounting bracketOne end of the roller can pop out of its bracket, especially plastic pin-style mounts.
- PossibleFabric misaligned or bunched on the rollerIf the fabric wraps unevenly, it can bind against the bracket.
- Less commonRoller mechanism itself broken internallyThe ratchet or clutch inside can fail on cheaper shades.
What to do
- Check both ends of the roller are properly seated in their brackets.
- For pull-down spring shades, remove the shade from the brackets, manually roll it up by hand about halfway to add tension, and reinstall.
- Test it with a firm, quick pull-and-release motion, since these shades work using a ratchet mechanism.
- If it has too little tension even after manual rewinding, the internal spring may be worn out and the shade may need replacing.
- If it's too aggressive and slaps up hard, unroll it further before reinstalling to reduce tension.
- For cordless cassette-style shades, check the end caps for a visible tension adjustment.
- Straighten any bunched or crooked fabric on the roller by hand before reinstalling.
Tools and parts
- None typically needed
Roller shade spring roller replacementSearch: “roller shade spring roller mechanism”
When to call a pro
Call a blind shop or replace the shade if the internal spring mechanism is worn out beyond manual re-tensioning.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.