Comments on: Help me fix my window shades

Question: Help me fix my window shades

sugarfish — Thu, 19 May 2005 18:55:26 -0800

I have vinyl shades on my windows. One, in particular, has absolutely no tension.

When pulling down on it, the entire shade unrolls and, if you're unlucky, falls off the window with a crash. I've used the tips here to no avail. Anyone have any other ideas?

I don't want to replace them because we're in a rental apartment.

By: xyzzy

xyzzy — Thu, 19 May 2005 19:23:54 -0800

Tell your apartment manager and request maintenance. I've found that, generally, if it comes with the apartment, maintenance will fix it. I've had maintenance replace non standard light bulbs (if it's fluorescent, a weird size, or an odd shape, it's their problem), wash my windows (because they'd nailed in my screens so I couldn't do it myself), and retuck my carpet using a carpet tool (after a leak from the laundry room next door loosened it.) Heck, they've even jumped my car when my battery died.

By: subatomiczoo

subatomiczoo — Thu, 19 May 2005 20:40:17 -0800

try taking the shade off. tip it upwards, one side will slide out first.

on the right side of the roll, you can see the metal sticking-out part that sits in the bracket when it's on your window. grasping that thingy, give it a few good turns clockwise. you should feel some resistance. that tightens the inner spring that is responsible for the tension.

replace the shade and test it. after some experimenting you should be able to get it just right, and if not, call your landlord.

good luck!

By: LairBob

LairBob — Thu, 19 May 2005 21:04:59 -0800

If those tips about partially rolling/unrolling the shades by hand (like subatomiczoo also described) don't work, then the internal spring's probably shot. That is something a good landlord/maintenance department would replace, but they're also not all that expensive, either. You can buy cheap ones at standard lengths at any Wal-mart, Home Depot, etc., and cut them down to the exact size of your window. (Just sayin'.)

By: makonan

makonan — Fri, 20 May 2005 04:10:10 -0800

Yeah. Mine were the same way, and paying $12 for a new set at Target was a lot easier than enduring the frustration of waiting god knows how many weeks for my maintenance people to show up.

By: sugarfish

sugarfish — Fri, 20 May 2005 12:28:45 -0800

Thanks, all. I think that the internal spring is to blame.