How to Fix Vertical Blinds
Over time, vertical blinds can be subject to damage that will leave them bent, cracked, or damaged in some way. Learning how to fix vertical blinds on your own can be a fulfilling DIY project that will save you money and time the better you get at it.
Being able to diagnose common issues with your vertical blinds will leave you one step and many dollars ahead. It will also save you the headache of hiring a handyman to come by your house and remedy the issue.
Wear and tear can create functionality issues with vertical blinds. Some common concerns that people experience with vertical blinds are problems associated with inadequate lubrication, jammed stems, and torn vanes. These are some of the minor issues that can be repaired on your own.
The steps for repairing vertical blinds depend on the issue that is causing them, and if you’re trying to learn more about repairing your own, continue reading.
How to Fix Vertical Blinds That Won’t Turn
Vertical blinds that won’t close are a common issue that will undoubtedly happen throughout the lifespan of most vertical blinds.
To address the issue, follow these steps:
1. Inspect each blind one by one.
2. If you see any panels on your blinds that are facing the wrong direction or are overlapping, twist them all to be facing the same direction.
3. If that solution doesn’t work, there is a chance that the blinds require some lubricant along the track. A lack of lubrication can result in excess friction throughout the vanes and stems. Spray some lubricant on the track and gently shuffle them until they begin sliding more smoothly.
4. You’ll also want to inspect your vertical blinds for any blockages that might be preventing them from rotating normally. Dust or debris can sometimes get stuck in the carrier. If you do notice a blockage, immediately remove it and test the functionality of your vertical blinds. Sometimes it helps to have a hand vacuum handy in order to get rid of dust that can be compromising blinds.
Damaged Panels
A damaged panel is another problem that can occur to vertical blinds. This can result in a hole in your blinds that can get larger over time if the problem isn’t addressed as soon as it’s noticed.
If you do end up noticing a damaged panel on your vertical blinds, ensure to inspect the rest of the panels for similar damage. If you only notice that one panel is damaged, then it’s great to just repair it instead of investing in entirely new vertical blinds.
Vane savers are a common product that can be used for small vertical blind repair jobs. These are plastic or metal adhesives that can be inserted along the topmost portion of a vertical panel. Vane savers look like tiny tabs, and if you have vertical blinds, it’s always recommended to have at least a few laying around in case the vertical blinds get damaged.
For increased longevity and durability, metal ones are recommended.
To repair damaged panels with vane savers, follow these steps:
1. Disconnect the chain that is connected to the vanes. The chain will need to be detached from all of the vanes to make the process much more convenient.
2. There will be a hook that is connecting the damaged vane in place. You’ll want to take off the vane that is damaged by using a flat object, such as a credit card of some type to provide additional space for the vane to easily maneuver out.
3. Once the vane is out of the hook, get your vane saver and insert cover up the hole.
4. After that, you can now hang your repaired vane.
5. Keep in mind that vane savers can potentially add about 0.5 inches of length to panels on vertical blinds.
If You Don’t Have Vane Savers
Broken vanes are one of the most common issues that can occur to vertical blinds, and not everyone has vane savers sitting around the house and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Fortunately, there are other ways to repair damaged vanes.
Tape
1. Get some strong tape, such as duct tape, and start cutting it into thin strips.
2. Take the duct tape strips and start to tape the apex of your damaged panel.
3. When you’re taping, ensure to leave a tiny bit of room between the base of the panel and the tape to make it easier to make the vane.
4. After that, test out your new vane to see if it will hold securely.
5. If things aren’t being held confidently at this point, proceed to add more tape strips.
Toothpick
A toothpick can also come in handy if your vanes are broken and you don’t have vane savers around the house.
1. Cut a few pieces of a toothpick that are similar in size to the gap in the vane.
2. Use strong tape to adhere the toothpick pieces over the part of the vane that is broken.
Paper Clip
The steps to using a paper clip are similar to the steps for the toothpick repair, but a paper clip will last longer and be more stable in comparison to the toothpick.
Bent Blind Panels
If you begin to notice some functionality issues with your blinds and have exhausted some of the troubleshooting methods above, there is potentially a larger problem that could be the culprit. In this case, you’ll want to start by taking off panels one at a time and doing a thorough inspection.
1. While inspecting your panels, make sure to look for any cracks or bends that might be compromising your blinds from operating properly.
2. Sometimes panels can accidentally be flipped backward, and if you’re lucky with that being the issue, then it’s a quick fix by easily turning the blinds to their proper position.
Damage To The Carrier Stem
Damage to the carrier stem can also result in functionality issues with vertical blinds.
For vertical blinds that appear to be in great shape after a visual inspection:
1. Proceed to inspect the carrier stem that is used to connect your blinds to the poll.
2. Over time and repeated use, the carrier stem can sometimes crack apart and will need to be replaced.
Carrier Stem Replacement
If you’ve done some troubleshooting on your blinds and narrowed down the solution to being carrier stem replacement, that can be done by following these steps:
1. Ensure to keep your blinds open throughout the entire process.
2. Take off the specific blind that is secured onto the carrier stem that is damaged. For vertical blinds that have a spacer chain, the blind will need to be detached from that, as well.
3. Get a pair of needle-nose pliers and hold the carrier body securely in place. It looks like a tiny, rectangular object that is located near above the vertical blinds. The poll is what holds the stem in place.
4. At this point, you can now try to twist the stem off. Try to be gentle while you’re doing this so that you don’t cause further damage in the process. While you’re trying to twist the stem off, make sure to pull the stem in a downward motion so that it will be removed effectively.
5. Have your replacement stem ready to go, making sure that it’s the proper match. If you don’t get the right stem, it won’t work for your blinds. Always order the stem from the same manufacturer that you purchased your vertical blinds from for the great results.
6. At this point, all that’s left is putting the new stem in. Putting it in is much more convenient than taking it out. You’ll notice that the stem will have a little knob that can slide in the hole for the carrier body. All you have to do is insert the stem into the carrier body until it’s securely in the hole.
7. Once that’s complete, the blade can be pushed through the stem and you can securely attach the spacer chain back in place.
Damaged/Crooked Vanes
For homeowners that leave their windows open during the year, wind exposure can end up causing bending and deterioration to vanes. Compromised vertical blind vanes can result in them not operating properly.
Proceed with caution when trying the following steps to repair bent vanes so that they don’t break apart.
1. Secure the stem with your hand.
2. Proceed to bend it back into the right position.
3. For vanes that don’t revert back to their proper position, there is a good chance that the gear could be the issue.
4. Aligning the gears can be done by detaching the blind and adjusting the stem in a clockwise direction and then counterclockwise.
5. After the stem starts to operate smoothly, that’s a good indicator that the gear is back into its proper alignment.
6. You can now attach the vane in place.
What If None Of The Methods Are Working?
After exhausting all of the above troubleshooting tips, sometimes the great method is to start over and get new vertical blinds. Doing so can result in peace of mind that will have you worrying less about the future of your windows.
Follow these steps to replace your vertical blinds:
1. If there is a spacer chain, proceed to disconnect it. The spacer chain is a chain that slides through a loop near the end of the blinds. The spacer chain needs to be taken out before you take them out of the hook that secures them together.
2. Twist the clip that attaches the chain using the tips of your fingers.
3. Proceed to pull out the chain from each blind that is being taken off.
4. After the chain is removed, you can now take the blinds off of their hooks. Not all blinds are attached by hooks, but the ones that are will be the most convenient to take off. You might have to bend each panel in order to take them off their hooks.
5. After the damaged blinds are off the hooks, gather your replacement blinds and securely attach them to the hook. Ensure that each blind is facing the right direction as all of the other blinds.
6. After the new blinds are attached to their hooks, you can now reattach the spacer chain. Proceed to thread the chain through each hole until all of the blinds are connected together again.
To Prevent Wear And Tear To Vertical Blinds
Inspecting and cleaning vertical blinds regularly is one of the excellent ways to ensure any dust won’t end up causing short and long-term issues. While you don’t have to be doing this every single day or week, it’s good to at least set a routine for yourself to make sure you’re aware of what shape they’re in.
If you do end up noticing anything out of the ordinary with your vertical blinds, promptly address the issues the first time you see them. Even disregarding minuscule issues can end up resulting in bigger issues over time, and that can lead to you having to purchase an entirely new system altogether.
Key Takeaways
Repairing vertical blinds can be a useful skill to learn. While some of the more severe issues might require replacement, many of the minor issues can be repaired on your own by following the above advice.
