When a roller shutter gets stuck, it is essential to first identify the cause of the problem to know what solution to adopt so that it works as before. In some cases, it is possible to repair yourself. But some malfunctions require the intervention of a professional. Let’s see in which common cases you can repair a roller shutter yourself, when is it best to entrust the intervention to a blind installer and also how to avoid recurring blockages.
Roller shutter blockage: possible causes
Whether opening or closing, a manual or motorized roller shutter can be blocked for the following reasons:
- Breakage of one or more slats: this disrupts the rolling or unrolling of the shutter,
- The jamming of the shutter in its box,
- The apron has come out of the rail in which it slides,
- The roller shutter motor is defective,
- The switch that controls the motor no longer responds,
- The separation between the winding axis and the apron: in this case the crank which makes it possible to actuate the shutter rotates in a vacuum. If the shutter is operated by a strap, this no longer allows the manual action roller shutter to be lowered or raised.
Blocking a roller shutter may therefore require any type of intervention such as the replacement of a lock, the winch, a fastener, the crank, the winder, the box outlet or even any the apron mechanism. It may sometimes be necessary to re-staple the roller shutter. Essential actions to repair, but not so easy to achieve if you are not in the business.
Roller shutter stuck: you can repair it yourself under certain conditions
It is easier to repair a manual roller shutter yourself than a motorized one, provided that you know a little about it. In this area, wanting to be absolutely independent can cost more than going to a specialist. In any case, whether you feel capable of it or not, whatever the mechanism you have, it is useless to force to operate the roller shutter at all costs because this risks aggravating the breakdown.
Analyze the causes of the failure
Many individuals refer to online tutorials to intervene on their recalcitrant roller shutters. The process is quite respectable, but is of no use to people who have never opened a roller shutter box. Before getting down to repairing this type of window equipment, we start by analyzing the situation in order to identify the cause of the malfunction. It is possible to correct the fault yourself if you feel able to do so, but only to carry out minor repairs, such as:
- Put back in the axis the tube around which the shutter is rolled up, that is to say the axis of rolling up. This maneuver involves opening the trunk, sometimes called a caisson.
- Replace the apron in alignment with the rail: care must be taken to put the offset slats back in their place. This requires meticulousness and delicacy because acting in force risks causing the breakage of a blade.
- Replace the damaged part which prevents the rolling up or unrolling of the shutter.
Patience and a logical mind are essential qualities to start repairing a roller shutter.
Completely check the blocked roller shutter
When working on the casing of a mechanical roller shutter, you might as well take the opportunity to carry out a complete check of the mechanism. For example, the straps can be completely unrolled and the retractor can be actuated when empty in order to check the ease of rotation. If you know a little about it, you are able to detect abnormal resistance, probably due to the deformation of the supports. In the same vein, the wear of the gimbals of the crank may require the replacement of these parts.
Be careful, however, not to play the apprentice handyman! Rather than intervening on this type of mechanism at random, it is wiser (and more useful) to entrust the repair of the roller shutter to a blind specialist. Moreover, many private individuals do not want to take the risk of doing it, even for a simple breakdown or if the shutter in question is large – therefore very heavy to handle. Calling a specialist whatever the cause of the roller shutter blockage is better than doing anything.
Roller shutter failure: why should you entrust the repair to a blind contractor?
Any complicated operation of a roller shutter justifies the intervention of a blinds specialist. Indeed, many causes of roller shutter malfunction can only be solved by a professional. He alone has the necessary experience to detect the exact origin of the blockage. Sometimes, too, a roller shutter jams simply because it has been installed incorrectly, which an uninitiated person may not notice. Do not hesitate to call on a pro if, for example:
- The shutter motor is faulty,
- The roller shutter is blocked although no part seems to be defective,
- The box is integrated into the wall, which increases the difficulty of the intervention,
- A onesie or any other part is broken,
- The tandem is worn,
- The strap is cut.
The repair of an exterior or interior roller shutter, motorized or electric, must always be carried out according to the rules of the trade. It is also the best solution if you want to benefit from quality service, have the entire system checked by a sharp eye and why not buy a new roller shutter to replace equipment that is too old. The cost of the operation is often lower than what one thinks, and in any case far from being useless. Only an estimate allows the customer to know precisely the price applied and the details of the intervention as well as the cost of the parts to be replaced if necessary.
Dysfunction of a roller shutter: prevention is better than cure
Nothing is more annoying than not being able to operate a roller shutter, whether motorized or mechanical. It is therefore necessary to pay attention to it on a daily basis to limit the risk of blockage and save money because some breakdowns can be avoided. Care must be taken to:
- Always pull the strap straight and smoothly,
- Regularly clean the apron with a soft microfiber type cloth and black soap diluted in lukewarm water, then dry everything well,
- Clean the slides after opening the box,
- Use a soft brush or vacuum cleaner to remove all plant debris, dead insects and other dirt which, once accumulated, tends to hinder the proper functioning of a roller shutter.
From a few tens of euros in the event of a breakdown of common origin to a few hundred euros for the replacement of a roller shutter motor, the budget to be devoted to the repair of this type of equipment is often unavoidable. This material does not tolerate any rough edges as to its restoration. You only repair it yourself if you are really capable of it and if the breakdown is of completely ordinary origin.