Blinds, Shades and Shutters - Roller Shade works OK for one, but NOT work for another

Hi:
I purchased a brand new Roller Shade priced $18.95 from local H.D.

It does not work for one of bedroom windows, because tension seems NOT right on that window. However, strangely it's perfectly working for another bedroom window. Those windows are very identical along with hardwares I installed years ago.

Wonder what's wrong with a brand new shade, ... working OK for one window but NOT working for another window?

Thanks for your help in advance.

You just need to re-roll it. Take it down and unroll it all the way, then just start rolling it up again slowly, not too tight or too loose, and make sure you're rolling it up evenly. If it starts to look crooked, just unroll the crooked part and keep doing this until the tension is where you want it. This is pretty normal for storebought roller shades and sometimes you just get lucky! :D

Thanks for the quick response.

There are several, similar roller-shades in my household for a number of years. Hence, as you might imagine, ... I did the exact you're talking about.

The mystery is why this, particular shade is working perfectly OK for another, ... but again does NOT be OK to the window for which I intended to purchased.

Probably, the Roller-Shade does NOT like the 'A' Window, but it's OK to the 'B' Window? Even the Roller-Shade might have 'right' to choose which window. At least, I do not need to make a trip for 'Return,' or 'Exchange.'

Just curious, I would like to hear other ideas/opinion if there is similar experience to this.

So you're saying you're hanging the same shade in 2 different windows or you bought two exactly the same for two windows. Sorry, a little confusion here. :D
Anyway, if it's one and the same shade that you're trying in 2 windows, I'd have to think the two windows, which may appear to be the same, are slightly different. Even an 1/8th of inch can make a difference when it comes to blinds/shades or maybe one is not quite square and is making it hang slightly crooked which can affect the tension.

if these are spring tension rollers and not working because of a lack of spring, you need to create more tension in the spring by following the steps below

1.. lower the shade about a foot down when its in its bracket

2.. remove from its bracket and roll it back up by hand

3.. reinstall and give it a try


you should have more tension, if not enough repeat the steps

PineCone, you say "the shade is not working". Please describe what is happening.

PineCone, you say "the shade is not working". Please describe what is happening.

I tried all of them, above, but it didn't work. After only few days' work-well, then it's back to the same, ... not able to go all way up to the top. If lucky, it goes half-way, for that the room gets half-way sunshine, but most of time it's just sitting at the bottom of window, not go up all way to the top.

In the past, in my recollection, first two or three tries, all 'roll-up-shades' were well-functionable.

Just wonder whether I need to replace all of older hardwares to accomodate newer 'rolled-up shades?'

It's quite frustrating for me, as seeing that I paid close to $20 that becomes only 'trash/un-usable.'

Any clues on this would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Using old painted hardware sometimes causes problems. A worn, spring end, bracket can cause the shade to unroll as you pull it down and therefore lose tension. Replace the brackets and give it a try.

if the shade works for a bit and then stops, it is loosing its tension and the end is some how spinning in the bracket..

very common for this things to jump up a bit when they spring back, this could cause it..

if you said that when you switch the shades your problem still occurs in the same window I would bet the house its a bracket issue.

I would call the place you purchased it from and ask them for help. If you've tried to fix the tension problem and it still doesn't work, perhaps there's really something wrong with it.

Good luck getting it fixed (or replaced)! :)

Are you watching the roller at the top while you are trying to raise it?
Sounds to me like the shade material is rolling/skewing over to one side and binding against the side of the window or bracket.

The main reason for this is because the brackets are not level. Check this and also that one is not loose and drooping down.

Watch the roller next time and see what is happening. If it starts skewing, make sure you are raising it squarely and centered.