The KFM Blog Vertical Blinds Skyscraper Video Repair List Post
KFM gives an Ultimate Video Vertical Blinds Skyscraper Video repair list of links to the most likely vertical blind repairs you will need to make in your lifetime.
Vertical blind headrails are often very sharp being made from thin sheet metal and slats can also cut you as they are often thin plastic. Extra care should be taken around these sharp parts. Make repairs at your own risk. I have donated blood many times and would spare you those experiences.
Perhaps the most common vertical blind repair needed is Vertical Blind Slats Broken Repair. Vertical blinds often break off the portion of the slat where the vane is inserted into the stem.
Vertical blind vane breakages are often caused by wind through an open window, not turning the blinds open before sliding them open, and sometimes these just get pulled on and broken off.
There are many ways to repair broken vertical blind slats.
The Punch Method you use a hole punch to punch three holes side by side on the opposite end of the blind slat to make a new hole for the slat to hang from. Than, if preferred, the broken side can be trimmed off to be straight. This does make the slat shorter than the others. Sometimes the last blind slat overlaps baseboards and shows less. So this is sometimes a good slat to trade with to give a better appearance.
The Knife or Chisel Method is similar but uses a different technique. You can see each method by clicking on the video links. This procedure you use a small chisel or knife to puncture a new hole similar to the punch method and having the same problem of a shortened blind slat. Again changing the slats to one of the ends can leave the blinds with a better finished look.
The Hot Glue Method does work and does not shorten the blinds but sometimes can be a bit of a mess. I think it is better used for broken blind stems that have fixed grommet ends where stems are not as easily changed.
The Vane Saver Method is I think one of the best methods of repair short of replacing the blind slat with a new one. These slat savers are especially useful for special finish designer blind slats with unique finishes that are not easy to find or replace. Here is link http://amzn.to/2kKrdoY (Amazon Link) to the Vane saver repair clips. This is the best way to repair these in my opinion as the repair does not shorten the blind slat. Repair clips are usually made of metal and slipped over the broken portion of the slat making a new place to hang the repaired vane.
Vertical Blinds Not Rotating Correctly are often caused by a blind slat or several blind slats overlapping an adjacent slat the wrong way. Sometimes an entire set can be overlapped the wrong way as shown here where Vertical Blinds Won’t Turn.
If All The Blinds Wont Turn this is often a case off all the slats overlapping the wrong way. The way to quickly remedy this situation is to poke the top corner of the wrong way blind slat(as shown in the video) to change the way the blinds overlap.
If an Individual Stem Wont Turn the cause is often a broken stem or missing comb gear. A Broken Stem often has broken teeth so it may only rotate partially or it may keep popping out of step. This can also be caused by a Broken Comb Gear.
Missing Stem And Comb Gear Replacing as shown in the video is not too difficult but the parts are very small and the repair takes a little patience. The easiest way is to rotate the blinds open center. Hold the replacement stem with its gears inserted into the replacement comb gear and push it up and into the carrier with the missing stem.
If you can not get them to go in together another way is to put the comb gear in first, teeth up, ridges facing the opening, with a pair of needle nose pliers. Than insert the stem and pop it into the carrier. Often when you do this the stem will pop in but the comb gear might not have popped in all the way. The trick here is to examine the comb gear. Look to see which way rotating the wand will draw the comb gear into the carrier. If rotated the wrong way the blinds will often fling the comb gear and stem out like a pair of tiddly winks.
Here is a Trick To Replace Gear Stems For Fixed End Blinds. The trick as shown in the video is to carefully drill through the top of the vertical blinds headrail. Position the hole according to the stem position. If centered drill the hole in the center. If off center drill the hole off center. This will create a place that you can push up the old gear stem through the headrail and than insert the new gear through the hole into its place. Often the grommets that hold the headrails together are one time use only. Drilling through the rail can make a way to make repairs in the present and future.
If you have Vertical Blinds Stems That Popped Out. the procedure is similar as above and shown in the video. This sometimes happens when something is in the way such as a toy or couch and the blind wand is rotated. This sometimes forces the stem and or comb gear to pop out. This happens quite often with self aligning vertical blinds as they are engineered to pop over into line a bit easier if out of step.
That brings us to our next subject which is Vertical Blind Slats Out Of Step.
With self aligning blinds first make sure all blinds are overlapping the same way or correctly and than you can just gently rotate the wand all the way one way and than the other way. Each gear has a little stop on the outward facing end that cause the gear to pop over as needed to bring the slats in step.
With other blinds do not try to force the master control to turn the blinds or it will break the control. For these you will want to take off the corresponding slat than grasp the offending stem with a pair of pliers and gently pop the stem over into the correct orientation. Yes this procedure sometimes breaks the stem, comb gear, or carrier, so be ready to make further repairs if needed.
If you have Vertical Blinds Individual Stems That Won’t Turn the repair is often similar. Sometimes it is broken stem gears and sometimes the comb gear will have popped out. Sometimes you can find the little comb gear fallen on the floor or in the window track.
Here is an http://amzn.to/2kKsT1B (Amazon Link) to the comb gears if you need.
Sometimes, with wand controlled vertical blinds, if I need just one comb gear I will take it from the first carrier. That takes away the rotation of the first slat but it turns the first slat into a window viewer to see if anyone is outside easily. It being right next to the wand control makes it convenient to control that first slat by hand.
If you have a Vertical Blind Wand That Came Off it is a fairly easy task to set it back on. Just position the wand at the correct angle and you can hook it back on to the master control. There are a few other types of wands. Some have a slide that slips up to cover the hook opening. Some have a hook that rotates into place to open and close the hook.
Vertical Blinds Master Control Brokenis often caused when something is in the way of the blinds turning (couch, toy, box, broom, mop, chair, clothes, curtains, out of line slat etc..) and the master control is forced in an attempt to rotate the blinds closed.
Sometimes you can Repair the Master Control by reinserting the gear into the master control and resetting the lid. More often you need to Replace the Master Control.
Here is an http://amzn.to/2liahb3(Amazon Link) to a new Master Control.
To get at the master control for either repair you will need to remove the end cap. There are many types of end caps. Some use a clip, some use a grommet, some a screw, some multiple screws, some various combinations of the above and more to hold on the end cap. Just understand that these were engineered to be able to be easily assembled plus somewhat easily disassembled (even if a little less so) and repaired.
After removing the end cap you will often need to release the rear carrier catch or stop so that you can slide things out of the headrail. Some of these use a c clip. Some a hook. Some you can can just press up on the hook, others you will need to remove the hook by removing or loosening the end cap screws. One trick if you have a c clip break when you try to remove it or re seat it is drive a small screw through the headrail to create a new stop to act as the final carrier catch stop.
Vertical Blinds Sticking When Sliding is often caused when manufacturing, shipping, or installing. (See my tip towards the bottom of the page for getting less damage when ordering.) This can also be caused if the headrail was hit or dented somehow. Anyway what happens is a slight bend, dip, or twist. in the headrail causes that carriers to hang up, click, or even cause the carriers to come out of the track completely.
Sometimes damaged headrails can be repaired by first sliding the carriers back on track properly and than bending, twisting, or hitting the headrail back into proper shape. Sometimes it is best to just change out the offending headrail.
Headrail damage is also the most often cause of Vertical Blinds Carriers Separated although if something was in the way such as a broom fell between the slats and the blinds were forcefully slid open that could also cause some carriers to separate. Sometimes you can repair the carrier link or sometimes you can link the separated carriers together.
To relink the carriers you will need to follow the instructions above for removing the end caps and releasing the back stop. Once done you can slide the assembly forward out of the headrail far enough to expose the broken portion of carrier linkage. Sometimes you can just reinsert the carrier linkage by rotating it back into the corresponding next carrier slot. Sometimes you will need to change out a broken carrier. The video
Vertical Blinds Carriers Separated makes this a bit clearer.
Vertical Blinds Hard To Slide can sometimes also need the headrail to be bent into shape but before you go there it is a good idea to lube the blinds first. Petroleum jelly will work in a pinch however I think it is best to use a silicone spray https://amzn.to/2BF7SzW (Amazon Link) as it dries and still maintains its lubrication qualities. It is a little smelly when first applied but a dry lube will be less likely to collect hair and dust.
Silicone spray is also great for patio door sliders, window tracks, garage, and screen doors!
Vertical Blinds How To Lubricate. So you have your silicone spray ready. What you want to do is slide the blinds all the way open. Then spray the entire track of the head rail with the silicone spray. Wait about twelve minutes for the spray to mostly dry. Next slide the blinds closed and rotate them opened and closed a few times. Waiting the twelve minutes will keep the spray from dripping onto the slats but still leave it a tiny moist to work onto the teeth of the comb gears. If you see any dripping before sliding wait a bit longer before sliding closed to prevent getting any drips on the blind slats.
One of the main causes of Vertical Blinds That Wont Turn Open All The Way is brackets that do not extend far enough from the wall or a portion of the wall. This can also happen from blinds out of step or from anything else that would block the blinds. Also sometimes a whole set of blinds can have a portion of the the slat stems rotated out of step and need to be rotated as discussed above in the section on Vertical Blind Slats Out Of Step.
Check out these videos also on Vertical Blinds Hitting Wall and Custom Extension For Vertical Blinds Hitting Wall In the custom extension video I wound up using the existing brackets and than adding the new brackets to the old so that I could slide out the headrail to get the further needed clearance. There is always a way!
Vertical Blinds That Wont Slide Open All The Way are often the result of something in the way or bent or damaged headrails. The video shows a more thorough scenario and repair.
Vertical Blind Slats That Are Too Long can be trimmed down with strong scissors such as butcher scissors. It is a good idea to use a template such as already trimmed to size slat. Slide the top end of your template blind and the blind you want to trim and cut the bottom of your new blind to size. Continue to use the same template for your new blind slat and cut one slat at a time for best results.
If you have Vertical Blinds With Loose Brackets there are a number of ways to tighten these up. Sometimes you can just tighten up the screws but sometimes you will run into some stripped out screw holes. In some instances you can just run new screws or larger screws into the studs.
If the holes are in a spot where there is not a stud you can use a drywall anchor or a molly to strengthen things up. Sometimes you will want to move the bracket to a stronger location where a stud is available. In some instances you may want to just add a new bracket to add strength and avoid the need for patching and painting.
Vertical Blinds Fell Off Brackets. Yes this does happen. Sometimes one way to keep it from happening again is to squeeze the freedom loving bracket or brackets a little bit, either with your hand or a pair of channel locks. Than you can insert the side ridge of the headrail into the groove hook of the bracket and rotate it up, snapping it into place of the flatter release tab portion of the bracket. Freedom is good but we still have a job to do to keep things going!
Vertical Blinds End Cap Came Off. As written before there are many types of end caps. Some use a clip, some use a grommet, some a screw, some multiple screws, some various combinations of the above and more to hold on the end cap.
Vertical Blinds Dragging On Floor can happen from headrails that have fallen out of the brackets. This can also happen from blinds that are positioned to low or sagging mounting brackets as shown in Vertical Blinds Dragging On Floor Cheap Trick. If something is added behind the bracket you want to make sure that it can not fall out and become a choking hazard.
Before you reset a Vertical Blinds Valance That Came Off you may want to watch this video. I show how to reset the valance clip without breaking it. Okay, okay. I will just tell you the secret here. What you want to do is make sure that you clip the back on first and then rotate the front portion on. The back portion has a bit more of a hook and is more likely to crack if you put the front on first. This type of valance clip the valance portion is rotated into place inside the valance to hold it.
Vertical Blinds Not Covering Window All The Way are sometimes caused by a missing stem gear. Sometimes you can link two or three carriers together to get better coverage. If it is the first or last area needing coverage sometimes you can re position the back end stop to better set the blinds for fuller coverage or sometimes you can slide the headrail over to a more suitable position. Similar repair for Vertical Blinds That Won’t Slide Closed All The Way or Leave A Gap in the Blinds.
Vertical Blinds How To Replace Bent Slats. Replacing broken or bent slats is not to difficult. For many blinds slats you just lift up on the vane/slat and pull it to the side to remove it. For other types you have to pick up the back of the stem a little bit. For those once you remove one slat you can use the slat to slip under the next stem so that you can pull out the next slat.
Vertical Blind Extras
Vertical Blinds How To Install
How To Replace Vertical Blind Sets
How To Install Inside Mount Vertical Blinds
Vertical Blinds How To Take Down
How To Take Out Dispose Of When By Yourself
Vertical Blinds Open On Wrong Side
Vertical Blinds Fast Flip To Correct Side
Vertical Blind Wand Too Short Home Made Extension
Vertical Blinds Changing Cord And Chain To Wand Control
How To Take Down Vertical Blind Slats For Cleaning
How To Repair Vertical Blinds Stem Gear When You Don’t Have Parts
Vertical Blinds Storing and Organizing
How To Paint Behind Vertical Blinds Easier
Tip To Prevent Shipping Damage When Ordering Long Vertical Blinds
Vertical Blinds Purpose Of The Magnetic Slide
Recycling Vertical Blind Parts To Repair Other Vertical Blinds
Vertical Blind Parts (Amazon Links)
I don’t work for them but I do make a small commission on anything ordered through the links.
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Get New Master Wand Control http://amzn.to/2liahb3
Comb Gear http://amzn.to/2kKsT1B
Blind Stems http://amzn.to/2lW5sY0
Vertical Blind Slat Repair Clips http://amzn.to/2kKrdoY
Ivory Blind Slats http://amzn.to/2lW5D5Y
White Blind Slats http://amzn.to/2lux8lQ
Get the Screwdriver used in so many KFM videos here http://amzn.to/2kHFoOF
Get the Multi Tool Pliers used in so many KFM videos http://amzn.to/2kWTjPp
