Troubleshooting Information
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Wood Blinds & Faux Wood Blinds
Cellular Shades including Cordless
Aluminum Mini Blinds including Cordless
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Wood Blinds & Faux Wood Blinds
Blind slats will not lower
When the blind is packaged for shipment the slats are fully
raised. When you initially attempt to lower the slats the cord
lock may not release causing the slats to not lower. First,
mount the blind in the window. Then hold the lift cords level
with the headrail and pull. This should release the cord
lock. If this does not fix the problem, take the blind out of
the window. Locate the cord lock mechanism in the headrail
(the lift cords run through this). You will see a pin that
should slide (but does not). Using a flat head (avoiding contact
with the cording) screwdriver, turn the screwdriver perpendicular to
the headrail. Push the pin to disengage the cords. NOTE:
As soon as you release the pin, the slats will lower. Be sure
no one is in the way when the slats release or they may be injured.
Blind slats will not tilt
Some times the tilt rod becomes disconnected from the tilt
mechanism in the headrail due to not so gentle handling during
shipment. As a result the tilt mechanism moves but the slats
do not. To fix, remove the blind from the window. In the
headrail you will see a long metal rod that runs the length of the
headrail. You will also see the mechanism housing the tilt
cording. Simply push the end of the tilt rod back into the
tilt mechanism housing. Push the rod through to get a secure
position for the tilt. Replace the blind in the window.
Replacing a tilter
Remove blind from window. If a wand tilt, remove the wand. If
cord tilt, remove the tassels. Remove metal end brace or plastic end
cap from the headrail. Slide the tilt rod out of the tilter just
enough to clear it. Replace the tilter and push down until it snaps
into place. Operate tilter shaft until the flat portion of the rod
lines up with the flat portion inside the tilter. Push the rod back
through the tilter and replace cap/brace. For a cord tilt, make
certain the tassel are even when the blind is in the OPEN position.
The tassels must be attached AFTER the cord tilter is installed.
Valances & Cornices
Returns too long/short
Adjust the universal hardware as per the installation instructions
Top Corners are not flush
Adjust return up and down to even. Ensure plastic insert has been
pushed to bottom of groove using a thin long screwdriver. You may
also add an extra insert at the top of the groove.
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EasyUp - Bottom of Shade Not Hanging Evenly
Possible Cause: Cords may be caught in the headrail.
This can also happen if the "C" Clips are not evenly
spaced on the tilt rod in the headrail.
Solution: If cording is caught in the headrail, unhook the
cording, then raise and lower the shade several times to check the
operation.
Noisy operation
Sometimes on rather large shades, the piece that keeps the long
metals strips from rubbing against the headrail moves out of
position. This piece is a small plastic component that all the
spears run through. Simply push this plastic component to the end of
the metal spears and this should eliminate the noise.
Cord Controls too long
Untie the upper knot from the thinner cord that feeds into the cord
accumulator. Push the stop ball up to the desired location and tie
the knot again. Before cutting off excess cording, please lower the
blind to ensure the length of the shade and the controls are
satisfactory.
Frayed Cordloop
Remove control end cap by lifting the tab on the top of the headrail
that locks the cap into place. The cap should then easily pop off.
Remove frayed cordloop by gently lifting the cord and turning the
mechanism (Tip: a screwdriver inserted into the center of the
mechanism allows for easy rotation). Start new cordloop into the
pulley by placing the cord into one of the teeth of the gear. Rotate
the cordloop into place. Replace control cap.
Cordlock Inoperable
Contact place of purchase for an authorized repair.
Creeping or Sagging
If you notice your shade is creeping up from the bottom or sagging
from the top, please look inside the headrail to check for factory
installed friction clips. Contact customer service to receive
friction clips and instructions to install into the spring motor.
OR for shades that sagging down from the top when raised, remove
the bottomrail end caps from one end and look for one or more
pieces of steel rod. Remove one piece at a time and check for
improved performance. Replace end caps.
Hangs Unevenly
In some instances, the lift tapes (white ribbons) in your cordless
shade can become entangled. This problem can typically be solved by
pulling the shade down completely. This will usually realign the
tapes. Prevention Tip: Always lift your shade from the middle
rather than the sides and do not lift too quickly as this creates
slack in the ribbons.
Does not operate smoothly
Look inside the headrail at the spring motor and check for friction
clips. Remove 1 and/or all of the friction clips and check for
improved operation.
Will Not Lift
Gently pull down on the bottomrail to reactivate the spring. Tip:
Anytime you leave your blinds in the closed position for an
extended period of time, the spring will need to be reset in order
to function properly.
Will Not Lift - Comfortex Cordless
The clutch needs to be reset. First, take the shade out of
the window. It will slide out of the brackets.
Then looking down into the top of the headrail, locate the large
white clutch inside the headrail . This part is usually located on
the right side. Next, turn the clutch towards the back of the
headrail and keep turning it until you hear a small click, at that
time the shade should retract on it's own.
Traditional Corded Blinds - See below for Cordless Aluminum Blinds
Blind slats will not lower
When the blind is packaged for shipment the slats are fully
raised. When you initially attempt to lower the slats the cord
lock may not release causing the slats to not lower. First,
mount the blind in the window. Then hold the lift cords level
with the headrail and pull. This should release the cord
lock. If this does not fix the problem, take the blind out of
the window. Locate the cord lock mechanism in the headrail
(the lift cords run through this). You will see a pin that
should slide (but is not). Using a flat head (avoiding contact
with the cording) screwdriver, turn the screwdriver perpendicular to
the headrail. Push the pin to disengage the cords. NOTE:
As soon as you release the pin, the slats will lower. Be sure
no one is in the way when the slats release or they may be injured.
Blind will not tilt/Slats will not turn
A guardian tilter continues turning even when the blind is fully
closed preventing the mechanism from breaking. If the blind is
small, there is a potential for disengagement. To re-engage the
tilter, proceed as follows; If the slats are closed in the down
position, turn the wand counter clockwise and at the same time pull
down gently on the back string of the ladders (supporting the
slats). If the slats are closed in the up position, turn the wand
clockwise and gently pull down on the front string of the ladders.
If the above steps do not correct the problem, see replacing a
tilter.
Replacing a wand tilter
Remove blind from window. Remove wand. Remove metal end brace or
plastic end cap from the headrail. Move the tilt rod out of the wand
tilter. Replace the tilter and push down until it snaps into place.
Turn tilter shaft until the flat portion of the rod lines up with
the flat portion inside the tilter. Push the rod back through the
tilter and replace cap/brace.
Restringing a blind
If the cords are not broken, you do not have to remove the blind.
Remove the ladder cap from the under side of the bottom rail.
Now that the ends of the cords are exposed within the bottomrail,
pull them out slightly. Cut the old cord above the knot and weld the
ends of the old and new cord together using a lighter or match. Roll
the joined cords between your fingers to create a smooth weld. From
the cordlock side, gently pull the tassel toward the left and this
will pull the new cording through the same path. When the cording
gets to the length you wish for the controls to be, tie a knot in
the ends by the bottomrail and cut off the excess. Replace the
tassel and repeat process for additional cords.
Replacing Slats
Remove the ladder cap from the under side of the bottom rail.
This will expose the ends of the cords, which you can then pull out
slightly. Cut the cord just above the knot and then pull the cord up
through the last damaged slat. Remove the slats and replace them
with the new ones, making sure that you insert the slats so that the
route holes are aligned with the existing slats. Then weave the
cords through the route holes being certain to alternate the sides
of the ladder rungs as you proceed down the blind. Reinsert the
cords into the bottom rail and tie them off. Replace caps.
Hangs Unevenly
Raise the blind and then extend the blind completely. Repeat this
operation slowly several times until blind hangs correctly.
Creeping or Sagging
If you notice your blind is creeping up from the bottom or sagging
from the top, please look inside the headrail to check for factory
installed friction clips. Contact customer service to receive
friction clips and instructions to install into the spring motor. OR
for shades that are sagging down from the top when raised, remove
the bottomrail end caps from one end and look for one or more pieces
of steel rod. Remove one piece at a time and check for improved
performance. Replace end caps.
Does not operate smoothly
Look inside the headrail at the spring motor and check for friction
clips. Remove 1 and/or all of the friction clips and check for
improved operation.
Will Not Lift
Gently pull down on the bottomrail to reactivate the spring. Tip:
Anytime you leave your blinds in the closed position for an extended
period of time, the spring will need to be reset in order to
function properly.
Vanes do not Fully Open
When the blinds are first received, some times the vanes do not
fully open and partially obstruct the view when the shade is fully
lowered. This is due to static. We recommend purchasing Downey
Spray Wrinkle Remover. When sprayed on the shade, both front
and back, this product will remove the static that causes the
partially open condition. This product will not harm the
fabric and is recommended by Comfortex as a solution to this problem
with Shangr-La Window Shadings.
Shade will not roll up all the way/Difficult to operate
First make sure that the brackets are not rubbing against the ends
of the roller or that the brackets have not been bent. Pull the
shade partially down. Remove from brackets. Increase tension by
rolling up the shade two revolutions. Replace in brackets and test.
Repeat the procedure until the shade rolls up with proper tension.
Shade rolls up to fast/does not catch
Decrease tension by raising the shade to the top and remove from
brackets. Unroll approximately 18" by hand and replace in
brackets. Repeat until proper tension is achieved.
The shade does not roll up straight (telescoping)
Some fabrics have a tendency to telescope to one side or the other
when being rolled up. To alleviate this, unroll the shade until you
can see where the fabric is attached to the roller, put a small
piece of masking tape at the attachment on the opposite from where
the shade is telescoping. A second or even third piece can be placed
on to alleviate more extreme telescoping issues.
Vane out of alignment
When you want to remove a vane, slide a thin flat object (credit
card, etc.) up the vane on the hook side of the vane holder. Then
slide the vane and card down and out of the vane holder (vane should
slide out easily). If process is difficult, verify that the vane is
not sliding back onto the hook.
Reattaching vanes
Remove vane. Notice that the carrier body in the headrail has a
rectangular hole which the stem fits into. Align the carrier stem
that needs adjustment with the hole. Insert a piece of string into
the stem. Grasp the stem and push it into the carrier body. Now
operate the rotation chain. You will now notice the stem now inside
the body will NOT rotate. With the controls chain, rotate all other
stems to line up with the one to be adjusted. Grasp both ends of the
string and pull downward to move the stem back into the operable
position. Reattach vane.
Control Chain difficult to operate
Remove control end cap. You will see a pulley with a rod in the
center. On this rod is a round metal washer with a ragged center
(looks like a star). Occasionally this push nut is attached too
tightly during production. Tap the control rod lightly on the
opposite end of the headrail and this will loosen the push nut and
the controls should operate more smoothly.
Shortening Cord
Look inside the headrail and find the vane carrier where the cord
ends in a knot. Hold that carrier and pull out the es\xcess cord
until the cord safety device reaches the desired height. Tie a knot
in the cord at that position. Do not cut off the excess at this
point. Operate the controls to determine if everything works
smoothly and the control cord is the desired length. Tighten the
know and cut the cord 1/2" below the knot.
Eliminate gaps between butting blinds
To create an overlap, mount the headrails with non-control ends
touching. Look inside the headrail and you will see several small
whitish tubes attached at the ends (The spacer tubes are c-shaped
and can be popped off with a screwdriver). Remove one or more of
these tubes which will allow that vane to move closer to the edge of
the rail allowing for overlap.