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Fixing spring roller shades, adjusting spring tension.

A spring roller shades uses a hollow tube with a coiled spring inside. The size and material of the tube may vary, but are typically made of aluminum. When you pull down on the roller shade it increases the tension on the spring. When you stop pulling, a ratchet and pin hold the tension on the spring on one end of the roller shade. On the opposite end of the tube there is a free turning pin that mounts into the bracket.

Occasionally the spring will uncoil in shipping and the roller shades will not work properly. A simple adjustment of the spring will remedy the problem. Here are some simple tricks to adjusting your roller shades:

Tighten the spring tension in the shade:

1. Pull the shade down approximately halfway.
2. Remove the roller shade from the brackets
3. Roll up the shade by hand being careful to roll the shade evenly on the tube.
4. Replace the roller shade in the brackets.
5. Repeat if necessary until the tension is ok.

Loosen the spring tension in the shade:

1. Roll up the shade.
2. Remove the roller shade from the brackets.
3. Unroll the shade approximately halfway by hand.
4. Replace the roller shade in the brackets.
5. Repeat if necessary until the tension is ok.

Adjust a fully uncoiled spring:

1. Remove the roller shade from the brackets.
2. Unroll the shade halfway.
3. Use pliers to turn the pin on the spring side of the shade until you feel tension, then back off so the pawl (latch that allows movement in only one direction) hooks onto the ratchet.
4. Loosen or tighten spring tension as necessary using the instructions above.

Release a spring that is locked in the coil:

1. Remove the roller shade from the brackets.
2. Use pliers to grip the pin and twist it clockwise to free the pawl. Release it quickly to unwind the coil.
3. Loosen or tighten the spring tension as necessary using the instructions above.