Installation and Mounting Problems

I lost my brackets or my brackets are damaged.

We currently sell brackets for Hunter Douglas brand Luminettes. These brackets fit all Luminettes that Hunter Douglas have ever produced. Other types of sheer vertical blinds use common vertical blind brackets that wrap around the front and back of the top track.

My blind is hitting the trim, window handle, or some other obstacle.

You may need to remount your blinds further away from the surface that is being hit or rubbed. In some cases, you will need to install plastic bracket spacers or extension brackets to provide additional clearance. If your blind is hitting a window crank, you may need to replace the window crank with a smaller T-handle window crank.

I had new windows installed and now my blinds are too wide for my window frame.

You will need to have your blinds cut to the proper width. Most local blind repair shops can cuts blinds, but we recommend checking with them before taking your blinds to them. If you are the original owner, you can try contacting the company you purchased the blinds from. Also, you can consider mounting your blinds outside the window.

Tilting Problems

One of my vanes is twisted out of sync. Do I have to buy a new headrail?

On some brands, you can reach up and firmly grab the stem and try to slowly turn it back into place. Please note that not all brands are capable of this. If it feels like it isn’t budging, don’t force it.
Some sheer vertical blinds are made to be self-aligning. If yours is self-aligning, that feature can be activated by pulling the chain. Keep pulling, even past the point of ease. This will cause the headrail to realign. If your blinds are not self-aligning, this action will damage your blinds.

If the above tips don’t work, it may be time to purchase a new headrail or replace the blinds.

My vanes don’t open and are difficult to turn. I feel like something may break when I twist the wand or pull the chain to tilt the vanes.

First, check to make sure that all the vanes are overlapped in the same direction. If they are not facing the same direction, it may prevent the blind from opening easily.
If all of the vanes are aligned, it could be the tilting gear is failing. Replacing either the wand tilt mechanism or the control end may correct this problem.

Some of my vanes won’t open and close. It’s easy to twist the wand or pull the chain that tilts the vanes.

If some of the vanes don’t turn, it’s a problem with the gears inside of each carrier. Sometimes, vertical blinds are built with replaceable carrier gears. However, the gear may be completely enclosed inside the carrier. In that case, the entire carrier would need replacing. Finding the correct carrier with the same turning ratio as existing parts is very difficult. We recommend hiring a professional repair person or purchasing a new headrail.  

When I twist the wand or pull the tilt chain, nothing happens and/or I hear a clicking sound.

There’s a geared tilt mechanism or control end inside the headrail. Sometimes, that gear fails and needs to be replaced. When you twist the wand or pull the tilt chain and the vanes do not tilt, that indicates that the tilt mechanism or control end is broken and needs to be replaced.

The wand is missing, broken, or won’t stay attached.

If the tilt wand is missing from your blind, check to make sure that there is a hook or eyelet sticking out from your blind that a wand can attach to. If that part is intact, you can simply replace the tilt wand.
Sometimes, there is only a shaft or nub sticking out from your blinds, but no way to attach the wand. When that happens, the tilt mechanism needs to be replaced.

Traversing Problems

When I pull on the string, one or two vanes move, but not the rest.

All of the vanes are hanging from carriers. The carriers are attached to each other with metal or plastic spacer straps forming a carrier train. Sometimes, these straps can become disconnected or break. Inspect the spacer straps on your sheer verticals to see if they have become disconnected. You may be able to rejoin them. If the spacer straps are broken, it’s time to purchase a new headrail. Alternatively, some carriers are joined together with what is called a “scissor track.” The scissor pieces can also become disconnected. If they are broken, it’s time to purchase a new headrail.

When I pull on the string, it is really hard to draw the blinds back and forth.

First, make sure to fully tilt the vanes to the open position before trying to draw them across the window. When it’s hard to open the blinds, it may indicate that the drawcord is frayed or wearing. Follow the entire path of string and inspect it for wear. If necessary, replace the cord.

We had new carpet installed and the bottom of my vanes are catching on it.

The pile of carpet can affect the traversing of sheer vertical blinds. To correct this, you can remount your blinds higher up on the wall if they are mounted outside the window. For inside mount blinds, you can have the vanes and fabric cut to fit the window opening better.

My string is broken and/or pulled out of my blinds.

If the string has pulled out from your blind, determine if it is broken. If it is, replace the cord. If it is not broken, you may be able to put it back in. Maybe it became unknotted from the end of the carriers and you can simply retie it.

Vane Problems

The vanes won’t stay up in my blind. They keep falling out.

There are a few possible problems going on. The vane itself may be cracked or broken at the top. If the hole at the top of a plastic, vinyl, or PVC vane is broken, you can repair and reinforce it with a vertical blind vane saver. It’s also possible that the carrier clip into which the vane is inserted is broken or stretched out. Over time, due to sun exposure, the legs of the clips can become disfigured, warped, or stretched. Replacing the carrier clip will fix that. The carrier clips can also break off leaving you unable to hang a vane on it. Some carrier clips are very simple to replace like these vertical blind carrier clips. However, some carrier clips are not removable. They are actually part of the carrier itself. In that case, the entire carrier would be to be replaced That is a difficult repair, and we recommend that you get a professional to replace it or purchase a new headrail.

Fabric Problems

Several things can go wrong with the blind fabric. It can tear or become soiled and cleaning won’t work. The edges of the material can fray. Whenever there is an issue with the material, it is time to replace the entire blind. We do not carry blind material at Fix My Blinds or have a referral for replacement material.

Need Replacement Blinds

We recommend www.blinds.com for purchasing new blinds.

Child Safety Concerns

I’m afraid my child or pet will become tangled in the cords on my blinds.

Please visit the Window Covering Safety Council to see the latest recommendations for corded window coverings.