You want shutters that go up and down when you ask them to. Quietly, evenly, every time. When one starts to stick, grind or hang crooked, it is telling you something.
October is the right time to listen. A Perth summer puts roller shutters to work every day, and a small fault in spring has a habit of becoming a stuck shutter on the first 40 degree afternoon.
Here are seven signs your roller shutter needs attention, what you can safely check yourself, and when to call us.
Why Perth is hard on roller shutters
Shutters here live outdoors in strong sun, sea breeze and dust. Salt air settles on homes near the coast. Sand and grit blow into the guide tracks. Heat makes metal expand and makes moving parts work harder. Add years of daily use and wear is normal. Ignoring it is what costs you.
Sign 1: It sticks or jams on the way down
A shutter that stops partway, or needs a second go, is usually fighting something. Often it is grit, leaves or a wasp nest in the side tracks. Sometimes it is a bent slat or a track that has been knocked out of line.
Sign 2: It makes a new noise
Grinding, scraping, clicking or squealing is not a shutter settling in. A new noise means something is rubbing, loose or worn. Catch it now and the fix is usually smaller.
Sign 3: It hangs unevenly
If one side sits lower than the other, stop using it. An uneven curtain puts load on the slats and tracks every time it moves, and it can jam hard enough to need a full strip down.
Sign 4: The strap or winder feels wrong
On a manual shutter, look for a frayed or faded strap, a strap that will not retract, or a winder handle that slips or feels heavy. These parts wear out with use. They are also far easier to replace before they let go than after.
Sign 5: The motor hums but nothing moves
On an electric shutter, a hum with no movement, a motor that stops and starts, or one that cuts out after a short run all point to a fault. Do not keep pressing the button. Repeated attempts can make the damage worse.
Sign 6: The remote or wall switch is unreliable
If you have to press three times, or the shutter responds from one spot and not another, start with a fresh remote battery. If that does not fix it, the fault is likely in the controls or the wiring, and that is a job for a licensed tradesperson.
Sign 7: Slats are dented, cracked or letting light through
One damaged slat can catch in the track and damage the ones beside it. Gaps also mean the shutter is not doing its job on heat, light and noise.
What you can safely check yourself
A few simple checks cost you nothing and sometimes solve the problem.
- Look down the side tracks for leaves, sand, cobwebs and wasp nests.
- Brush the tracks out with a soft, dry brush.
- Wash the shutter face with mild soapy water and a soft cloth, then rinse gently with a hose.
- Change the remote battery.
- Check that nothing is sitting on the sill in the shutter’s path.
What to leave alone
- Do not open the pelmet box at the top. The roller inside is under spring tension on many shutters and can cause injury.
- Do not touch motor wiring or switches. Electrical work on a shutter needs a licensed electrician.
- Do not force a jammed shutter up or down. You will bend slats and turn a small repair into a larger one.
- Do not spray oil or grease into the tracks. It holds dust and makes sticking worse.
Repair or replace?
Most faults are repairable. Straps, winders, motors, controls and individual slats can usually be replaced without changing the whole shutter. Replacement starts to make sense when the shutter is very old, when damage is spread across the curtain, or when parts for that model are no longer made.
You will not get a hard sell from us either way. We look at the shutter, tell you what is wrong, and give you a clear price for the repair. If replacing it is the smarter spend, we will say so and show you why.
Why spring is the time to book
A shutter that works properly helps keep the afternoon sun off your glass, which is when you need it most. It also only adds to your peace of mind if it closes fully and sits firmly in its tracks. A shutter stuck open over Christmas does neither.
Booking in October or November means the job is done before the heat and before the holidays.
Who we repair for
Property Kidd Shutters & Blinds repairs all types of outdoor shutters. We work across Perth from our Malaga office, and we service Greater Geraldton, the Goldfields and the South West. Our Geraldton office is open by appointment.
Get your shutters sorted before summer
If your shutter is showing any of these signs, do not wait for it to stop altogether. Hit Get a Quote, tell us what it is doing, and we will come out, take a look and give you a straight answer. You can also call us on the number on our contact page.
