Do It Yourself Blind Repair(fixmyblinds.com)
fixmyblinds.com
Do It Yourself Blind Repair
https://fixmyblinds.com/
143 comments
Shutters are complicated, as they are really are several different things.
For example, interior venetian shutters are closely related to blinds, but are not especially common in the US. Blinds with slats (venetian blinds) can perform a similar function, but can be raised to prevent any blocking of view, while interior venetian style shutters usually swing open and require additional wall-space. such shutters might win on maximum amount of light blocking (even vs wooden slat blinds) but that will vary by shutter design. Cost is certainly a major factor of them being uncommon (but far from unheard of, we even have multiple different names for them) in much of the US.
Roller shutters could be considered an exterior equivalent to roller blinds (or roller shades), although roller shutters are often designed with proper blackout capability, which most blinds and shades lack. I presume cost is one of the major reasons these are rare in the US.
For example, interior venetian shutters are closely related to blinds, but are not especially common in the US. Blinds with slats (venetian blinds) can perform a similar function, but can be raised to prevent any blocking of view, while interior venetian style shutters usually swing open and require additional wall-space. such shutters might win on maximum amount of light blocking (even vs wooden slat blinds) but that will vary by shutter design. Cost is certainly a major factor of them being uncommon (but far from unheard of, we even have multiple different names for them) in much of the US.
Roller shutters could be considered an exterior equivalent to roller blinds (or roller shades), although roller shutters are often designed with proper blackout capability, which most blinds and shades lack. I presume cost is one of the major reasons these are rare in the US.
The main reason for using external blinds is heat - in Spain in the summer you want the sun to be hitting a blind outside of your window, not inside it. If you only have an inside blind then it still heats up and warms up the room.
Are you talking about shutters on the exterior or the interior? I have plantation shutters in my house, as do several of my middle-America neighbors. Exterior shutters in these parts are almost always decorative.
I like the look, ease of tilting the louvers up and down and, most importantly, they are dead simple to clean. But they were not cheap and not easy to install. I could have had high quality fabric shades for half the cost and spent one-third the time on installation.
Edit: Maybe its particular to what I installed (Veneta) but good luck fix a single louver if one breaks. The frame which contains them is either glued or very tightly press-fit. I'm not saying it would be impossible but you'd need to be careful and probably need to build some sort of jig for re-assembly.
I like the look, ease of tilting the louvers up and down and, most importantly, they are dead simple to clean. But they were not cheap and not easy to install. I could have had high quality fabric shades for half the cost and spent one-third the time on installation.
Edit: Maybe its particular to what I installed (Veneta) but good luck fix a single louver if one breaks. The frame which contains them is either glued or very tightly press-fit. I'm not saying it would be impossible but you'd need to be careful and probably need to build some sort of jig for re-assembly.
Plantation shutters are very common on older houses in the South. They’re also pretty common on higher end newer houses. I love them and had them installed when we moved into our current house a couple years ago.
> good luck fix a single louver if one breaks.
I am facing exactly this repair now. My method is to modify one side of the vane so that a pin can be press fit/glued into the vane from the side and covered with a glued plug. This can be done in-place when needed. It's not completely invisible but putty and a little brushwork make it almost so.
I am facing exactly this repair now. My method is to modify one side of the vane so that a pin can be press fit/glued into the vane from the side and covered with a glued plug. This can be done in-place when needed. It's not completely invisible but putty and a little brushwork make it almost so.
This is near and dear to my own lived experience, having dealt with what should have been a minor fix for Hunter Douglas blinds.
The cord that was attached to the clutch broke and got caught in the mechanism itself. When I disassembled the clutch to retrieve the cord, an internal spring came dislodged and twisted causing the clutch to never function correctly again.
Understanding exactly which part I needed replaced, I contacted Hunter Douglas, who told me to talk to a local rep. My local rep told me they couldn't repair this issue, and I would need to box up my entire window shade and sent it in. The cost was something around $200 for a repair.
I spent a lot of time scouring the internet and came across this site where I purchased the entire clutch for around $30. 5 minutes of swapping a good part for bad and I was back in action.
The cord that was attached to the clutch broke and got caught in the mechanism itself. When I disassembled the clutch to retrieve the cord, an internal spring came dislodged and twisted causing the clutch to never function correctly again.
Understanding exactly which part I needed replaced, I contacted Hunter Douglas, who told me to talk to a local rep. My local rep told me they couldn't repair this issue, and I would need to box up my entire window shade and sent it in. The cost was something around $200 for a repair.
I spent a lot of time scouring the internet and came across this site where I purchased the entire clutch for around $30. 5 minutes of swapping a good part for bad and I was back in action.
At least near me, HD repair is usually based on the area of the blinds; I have this unholy-huge 6.5' x 6' blind that the local HD shop wants $1000 to fix ... what I think is the clutch? (Just going off the troubleshooting section.) If I can fix it, myself, for $30, I'll be pretty stoked.
My Hoover carpet cleaner stopped working sometime in the past few months (between uses). The suction would start up, but the "motor" part of it would not turn on when I went to use it. I disassembled it (as much as it's designed to be disassembled – no unscrewing things) looking for jams or clogs. Nothing. I called Hoover, but gave up after ~45 minutes on hold waiting to talk to a real person.
On a lark, I searched for my issue "Hoover Carpet Cleaner Won't Spin". I found this[0] video. Apparently, the spinning bit can get stuck if moisture get trapped somewhere inside (who would've thought with it being all about moisture?), which causes the main rotary portion to stop working. A simple hex-bit force-turn sorted it out in 20 seconds.
I don't know what I would've done had I not stumbled on this issue, but the way things are today, I suspect most people would've thought "I guess it's broken", taken it to a landfill, and simply gone out to buy a new one.
It's a real shame that there's so much focus on "every person who owns an ICE needs to immediately drop $30,000+ on an electric vehicle", when there's so much opportunity in the "let's try to fix our stuff instead of dumping it" category. #righttorepair
[0] - https://youtu.be/q9UAEwPM91M
On a lark, I searched for my issue "Hoover Carpet Cleaner Won't Spin". I found this[0] video. Apparently, the spinning bit can get stuck if moisture get trapped somewhere inside (who would've thought with it being all about moisture?), which causes the main rotary portion to stop working. A simple hex-bit force-turn sorted it out in 20 seconds.
I don't know what I would've done had I not stumbled on this issue, but the way things are today, I suspect most people would've thought "I guess it's broken", taken it to a landfill, and simply gone out to buy a new one.
It's a real shame that there's so much focus on "every person who owns an ICE needs to immediately drop $30,000+ on an electric vehicle", when there's so much opportunity in the "let's try to fix our stuff instead of dumping it" category. #righttorepair
[0] - https://youtu.be/q9UAEwPM91M
There is almost nothing as satisfying to me as being able to fix appliances. I've fixed a few issues with my dishwasher, washing machine, and dryer with just a little gumption and willingness to fuck around. In 2 of the last 3 cases I can think of, I didn't even need a new part - just had to mess around a bit to discover the issue. I fixed a non-functional agitator on my washing machine by just finding a stuck actuator, fixed a broken pump on my dishwasher by disassembling it and removing a stuck bit of plastic. My last dryer repair needed parts, but those only cost $30, and a dryer is a very simple machine.
If I'd had to call a repairman or buy a new unit every time one of these problems happened, I'd have spent thousands of dollars.
If I'd had to call a repairman or buy a new unit every time one of these problems happened, I'd have spent thousands of dollars.
That last line is the reason everything is disposable, things got too cheap to be worth hiring someone to fix them.
A $30k car? You'll pay a mechanic to fix that, it's too valuable an asset to just throw away (and even then, you see people selling cars with "something broken" that is not economical _for them_ to fix, but if you know how to fix it you can get a car cheap).
A $500-1k wash machine? Unlikely to be worth the $100-200 to bring out a repairman (because now you're looking at a $200 "discount" on a new one, which is probably much more "advanced" (if that's good) than the existing), so it gets tossed.
A $30k car? You'll pay a mechanic to fix that, it's too valuable an asset to just throw away (and even then, you see people selling cars with "something broken" that is not economical _for them_ to fix, but if you know how to fix it you can get a car cheap).
A $500-1k wash machine? Unlikely to be worth the $100-200 to bring out a repairman (because now you're looking at a $200 "discount" on a new one, which is probably much more "advanced" (if that's good) than the existing), so it gets tossed.
> A $30k car? You'll pay a mechanic to fix that
As long as the vehicle is reasonably dependable. Sometimes an older undependable vehicle might not be worth it. (think of stranding a loved one, or dying in winter, etc)
That said, brand new cars without spares are a disturbing trend.
As long as the vehicle is reasonably dependable. Sometimes an older undependable vehicle might not be worth it. (think of stranding a loved one, or dying in winter, etc)
That said, brand new cars without spares are a disturbing trend.
There's always a tipping point, but the line for "literally drag the vehicle to the scrapper" is much lower than it is for most appliances, and mainly because of residual value - even a completely dead car will have companies willing to take it off your hands for you, or even give you a few hundred for.
I knew a retired guy years ago whose speciality was fixing microwaves; any dead microwave you could find he'd get working again. They still exist, but they're nearly impossible to find unless you hear about it.
I know I'd love to find someone to offload these old SpeedQueens on (even there, a burnt out motor was $350 to replace, a brand new one was $700 or so).
I knew a retired guy years ago whose speciality was fixing microwaves; any dead microwave you could find he'd get working again. They still exist, but they're nearly impossible to find unless you hear about it.
I know I'd love to find someone to offload these old SpeedQueens on (even there, a burnt out motor was $350 to replace, a brand new one was $700 or so).
Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. Some fool like me would be happy for a used speed queen to fix and keep forever. It's 20 items down my household Todo list but will never get done since my 20 year old top loader just keeps working.
If you're talking about old washing machines or refrigerators, you might want to consider they might not be economically viable. New versions might pay for themselves quickly in water or electricity use.
I had a friend who (years ago) bought a version 1 humvee, but it turned out to be impractical, struggling to achieve highway speeds while guzzling gas like a toilet.
I had a friend who (years ago) bought a version 1 humvee, but it turned out to be impractical, struggling to achieve highway speeds while guzzling gas like a toilet.
It depends how old the washer is though - a lot of times the older ones are just plain better than newer models with their planned obsolescence and weird software junk that frequently is the first component to break.
I've noticed that, (and found certain models that have "almost feels unauthorized" fill-and-soak modes).
Almost any modern refrigerator is quite reliable and energy efficient compared to ancient ones - but wash machines seem to be retrogressing in quality (and only partially can the blame be laid on the energy/water saving requirements).
Almost any modern refrigerator is quite reliable and energy efficient compared to ancient ones - but wash machines seem to be retrogressing in quality (and only partially can the blame be laid on the energy/water saving requirements).
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Even non-mechanical fixes can be satisfying. My partner's backpack strap tore off while we were on a trip to Japan and really needed it. I'm not good at sewing, but I grabbed the hotel sewing kit and did a quick and ugly repair, telling him not to wear it on one shoulder anymore since it might only last a few days.
Months later my quick ugly repair is still holding and I still see him wearing it on one shoulder. It's a nice backpack and I'm glad we didn't throw it away.
Months later my quick ugly repair is still holding and I still see him wearing it on one shoulder. It's a nice backpack and I'm glad we didn't throw it away.
> There is almost nothing as satisfying to me as being able to fix appliances.
I get that. But I also like new shiny things. So it's with a bit of disappointment as well that I keep these appliances limping along. I want the time left in the load projected on the floor dammit!
I get that. But I also like new shiny things. So it's with a bit of disappointment as well that I keep these appliances limping along. I want the time left in the load projected on the floor dammit!
If you want that time left in load to actually be accurate, stick with an old washing machine. In my experience the newer ones' wash time changes frequently throughout the wash and is basically useless.
> There is almost nothing as satisfying to me as being able to fix appliances.
On the other hand, a broken appliance is a real let-down. I have this thing that was working, and now I have (laundry/vacuuming/dishes/food) piling up and I have to fix this immediately.
On the other hand, a broken appliance is a real let-down. I have this thing that was working, and now I have (laundry/vacuuming/dishes/food) piling up and I have to fix this immediately.
Totally - this is one of the reasons I had to learn to fix them. When you've got 3 kids, the washing machine or dryer being broken is an emergency, God forbid a couple of days of backlog laundry pile up!
At least with the dishwasher you can just switch to hand washing, doing the same with clothes is a much bigger pain.
At least with the dishwasher you can just switch to hand washing, doing the same with clothes is a much bigger pain.
Or you can let your kids be dirty for few days :|
My experience with oven screen repair was that even if I order all parts that could be the reason for wierd behaviour, it would still be cheaper than call technician to come and tell me for sure which part to change. I gotas lucky on first try, but case still stand that sometimes it's just cheaper replace all suspicious parts instead of calling expert to say what's wrong (and call second time for replacement)
I fixed our central AC during a 100f weekend and never felt like more of a hero for the family. YouTube has been extremely helpful with things like that. Also, shoutout to the AC repair dude who let me buy a capacitor off his truck during his lunch break.
I have fixed numerous home appliances over the past two decades almost entirely thanks to YouTube and eBay, and a willingness to apply myself. If the YouTube video has no intro and its subject is about your problem, you can be almost certain you're about to find out how to fix the problem.
YT is a great resource for fixing things like appliances, but the devices themselves have gotten (1) shittier, (2) harder to repair and (3) more expensive custom parts - that are themselves less durable. Example: the slide-out for the top rack of my dishwasher exploded, sending ball-bearings everywhere. The replacement part (mostly plastic) cost > $50 and to replace required I disconnect the water & power, uninstall the unit and access the 2 screws on the outside. Great for speeding up assembly in a factory, but ridiculous for any other purpose.
I think I have watched every video on how to fix my ice maker from freezing on my Samsung refrigerator and still can’t resolve the issue. I haven’t replaced any parts yet but I am dubious that it will solve it long term. It turns out that putting an ice maker inside the door/refrigerator compartment is a fundamentally flawed design.
Same thing happened to us. Apparently the year model after ours has a defroster.
We just bought a standalone GE ice machine. It's a pain to clean but I'm never taking the 2ft flathead screwdriver to the refrigerator ever again.
We just bought a standalone GE ice machine. It's a pain to clean but I'm never taking the 2ft flathead screwdriver to the refrigerator ever again.
Honestly, all upgrades and additional functions in a fridge/freezer are fundamentally flawed. Large partitioned box that gets cold, compressor system to make that so, some seals and a defrost circuit. That's all a fridge should be. No ice maker, no water dispenser, no french doors, no drawers.
That or they melt if the seals break...
This is the saddest part, a friend has two wash machines, one is an old top loader and one is a newer front loader; the front loader has been replaced three times whereas the top loader keeps running.
It had a control knob burn out and it was $50 or so to get a new one, one of the front loaders had a control board fail and it was $450 for a whole new front panel, which of course means nope.
It had a control knob burn out and it was $50 or so to get a new one, one of the front loaders had a control board fail and it was $450 for a whole new front panel, which of course means nope.
To play the Devil's advocate, this might just be survival bias manifesting. The old top loader might have accidentally had top 0.0001 quality (tighter-than-average tolerances, etc).
Nah, it broke "about" as often as the others (making allowances for complications and design differences), it's just that when it broke, it was fixable for a reasonable amount because there was no computer board in it.
A similar but later top loader that I had died almost the same way, but required an entire control board replacement similar to the front loader; too expensive to bother with.
(Now an enterprising person could likely have repaired the control board itself, but that's beyond my "remove and swap" competencies.)
A similar but later top loader that I had died almost the same way, but required an entire control board replacement similar to the front loader; too expensive to bother with.
(Now an enterprising person could likely have repaired the control board itself, but that's beyond my "remove and swap" competencies.)
I spent way too much on my LG front door washer/dryer combo that when it breaks down I am going to replace it with a laundromat style Speed Queen.
These PCBs (and I suppose more specifically whatever parts are on them) seem to be made of literal garbage — and yet they cost a mint. Had a wall oven with an “error code” - diagnosis: replace board, part cost $400, internet says there has been no revision of the board so the new board will likely fail the same way, and only the part would be warranted so the other $500 in labor cost to fix it could be incurred again next month or next year. Ended up throwing away the whole double oven.
Meanwhile I know a PCB and a few boring ICs and resistors actually cost like $30 max so I know that we are being scammed.
Meanwhile I know a PCB and a few boring ICs and resistors actually cost like $30 max so I know that we are being scammed.
It was interesting seeing this from the other side as well. I have what I thought was an obsolete motorized awning with an obscure failure. I couldn't find anything about it so when I managed to fix it, I decided on a lark to grab my phone and record a short video. I didn't expect it would be of much use to anyone.
Now it has 80k views and dozens of comments thanking me for helping them fix their awning. (https://youtu.be/qae0XM4Dn4U)
Now it has 80k views and dozens of comments thanking me for helping them fix their awning. (https://youtu.be/qae0XM4Dn4U)
Moisture in machines can be a very expensive issue.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Andersen_Air_Force_Base_B...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Andersen_Air_Force_Base_B...
In my home country there is a reasonably healthy culture of repairing appliances, especially white goods. We have dedicated shops that stock every conceivable part you might need, for example [1] for dishwasher spares. This particular place is open 7 days a week and they are usually very busy. It's amazing how long you can extend the life of certain appliances if you can replace some of the common failing parts on the regular.
[1] - https://www.lvb.co.za/pages/search-results-page?collection=d...
[1] - https://www.lvb.co.za/pages/search-results-page?collection=d...
I had a similar issue my out of warranty Sunjoe grass dethather for my lawn, where it stopped spinning. I opened it up and 10 screws later it turns out that the rubber belt that snapped was readily available on Amazon for $9. I glad I ignored the manual, it said there was no user serviceable parts inside. I won’t be buying anything from them again.
Fixed a Hayward salt generator by replacing a burnt out thermistor.
Cost was $1.00 for two of them, so I now have a spare.
Replacing the entire PCB would have been ~$400+ CAD.
Cost was $1.00 for two of them, so I now have a spare.
Replacing the entire PCB would have been ~$400+ CAD.
^^^ THIS ^^^
It is true, "Durable-Goods" are very difficult to come by.
It is true, "Durable-Goods" are very difficult to come by.
I ordered parts from here after the plastic hunter douglas cradle pieces I had shattered into a million pieces. I didn’t even know what the parts were called but the site had really good technical drawings and pictures of each piece with their names.
Anyways, I’m now considering DIYing some new blinds. My current blinds have 3 cords per window - I am hoping to switch to cordless with a tilt wand (child safety first). Has anyone gone about this before and have any tips?
Anyways, I’m now considering DIYing some new blinds. My current blinds have 3 cords per window - I am hoping to switch to cordless with a tilt wand (child safety first). Has anyone gone about this before and have any tips?
I thought HD blinds had a lifetime warranty. Did they not cover it?
I wasn't aware of this. It's a pre-owned home. I plan to switch to cordless anyway.
This site really has it all. Somebody took a whole lot of know-how about window blinds, organized it, published it online, _and_ they found a way to make some money to sustain it, without being obnoxious or burying the information in toxic SEO sludge. It's like the sheldonbrown.com of window blinds.
I wish I knew a site like this on every subject.
This page is a work of art, god damn it https://fixmyblinds.com/pages/troubleshooter
I wish I knew a site like this on every subject.
This page is a work of art, god damn it https://fixmyblinds.com/pages/troubleshooter
Yes, that's great! A site similar to this for anything related to sleep seems to be:
https://www.sleeplikethedead.com/
It covers pillows, mattresses, etc. Labor love, makes no direct money, committed to and open about how frequent manipulation is in the industry. I followed its recommendations ~1.5 years ago when furnishing a new house and was very happy with the results fitting out 3 bedrooms.
Big Q: why is this still a niche situation? Why do only a few sites have this trait? I think it has to do with culture, habits, and laws for each language & culture. Does it vary by language or region? Are some industries more manipulable than others?
Similar: amazon somehow gets away with defaulting their search result page to "Featured" which means "people pay us to lie to you". They still do provide the option to sort by "best selling" which at least theoretically is better. I'd expect a mature citizenry to rebel and force them to have a better default, or at least let you configure your default.
I'm very interested in characterizing variation on these axes across the world and time. Is it really zero sum and always identical? Or do some habits and traits of a region, language, culture, education system make "better" systems more likely to survive? Can we even actually fairly characterize better systems? It sure feels like we can, but I've also seen people arguing that for example there is no actual difference between rent-seeking and "productive economic activity" on a theoretical level.
https://www.sleeplikethedead.com/
It covers pillows, mattresses, etc. Labor love, makes no direct money, committed to and open about how frequent manipulation is in the industry. I followed its recommendations ~1.5 years ago when furnishing a new house and was very happy with the results fitting out 3 bedrooms.
Big Q: why is this still a niche situation? Why do only a few sites have this trait? I think it has to do with culture, habits, and laws for each language & culture. Does it vary by language or region? Are some industries more manipulable than others?
Similar: amazon somehow gets away with defaulting their search result page to "Featured" which means "people pay us to lie to you". They still do provide the option to sort by "best selling" which at least theoretically is better. I'd expect a mature citizenry to rebel and force them to have a better default, or at least let you configure your default.
I'm very interested in characterizing variation on these axes across the world and time. Is it really zero sum and always identical? Or do some habits and traits of a region, language, culture, education system make "better" systems more likely to survive? Can we even actually fairly characterize better systems? It sure feels like we can, but I've also seen people arguing that for example there is no actual difference between rent-seeking and "productive economic activity" on a theoretical level.
> Big Q: why is this still a niche situation?
Because - at least in the short term - you can make more money by selling your users.
Because - at least in the short term - you can make more money by selling your users.
But I'm asking why in some markets there are known relatively trustable sites, but not in others. What causes that? I also assume it varies dramatically by culture, language, region, population, period in history. Why? If you deny it varies, what maintains that? There either is a conservation principle (which must have some mechanism for maintenance) or there isn't (in which case variation probably relates to other aspects of reality, and what are they?)
Sounds like we need a meta-site to catalog all these sites!
> I wish I knew a site like this on every subject.
For water heaters, this was helpful to me once: http://waterheatertimer.org
It is not a pretty site (author only knows of HTML tables?), but for me it fulfilled the:
> Somebody took a whole lot of know-how about [x], organized it, published it online
The site at first looks like just affiliate links, but has a lot of useful info buried like:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-pro...
For water heaters, this was helpful to me once: http://waterheatertimer.org
It is not a pretty site (author only knows of HTML tables?), but for me it fulfilled the:
> Somebody took a whole lot of know-how about [x], organized it, published it online
The site at first looks like just affiliate links, but has a lot of useful info buried like:
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-it-works.html
http://waterheatertimer.org/How-to-troubleshoot-electric-pro...
> author only knows of HTML tables?
Last I checked the HN site HTML, it was tables.
Last I checked the HN site HTML, it was tables.
It doesn’t look like it covers what I had to deal with to fix my Hunter Douglas blinds. (The kind you can lift and close by hand and they magically hold their position.)
They have a spring loaded thing called a “motor” and something with two cones and a string between them, called a transmission.
I managed to restring the transmission, but the motor went zing and broke inside when I was trying to wind it up again, so I ended up having to buy a new motor (I think around $30).
They have a spring loaded thing called a “motor” and something with two cones and a string between them, called a transmission.
I managed to restring the transmission, but the motor went zing and broke inside when I was trying to wind it up again, so I ended up having to buy a new motor (I think around $30).
It does feel like this site has everything, but I can’t find a solution here to a problem I had with mine either. I figured out a fix on my own and made this video about it, which I’m pleased has helped others fix theirs too.
https://youtu.be/7fcxoEkgxZk
https://youtu.be/7fcxoEkgxZk
Here's one about shoe lacing: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm
And they do shoe tying: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm
Knots in general: https://www.animatedknots.com/complete-knot-list
And they do shoe tying: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/knots.htm
Knots in general: https://www.animatedknots.com/complete-knot-list
Wow this is amazing. This is what the internet should be like
This site about glue comes to mind: https://www.thistothat.com/
sheldonbrown is a good benchmark.
It reminds me of how the Internet used to be in all of the right ways.
[deleted]
I agree this is well-made.
> This site really has it all.
It doesn't have German Rolladen though.
> This site really has it all.
It doesn't have German Rolladen though.
That system is very common in Spain. I didn't know it was German.
I had to fix several of them, sometimes with more success than others. Yes, I would be nice to also have a guide por the Rolladen system.
I had to fix several of them, sometimes with more success than others. Yes, I would be nice to also have a guide por the Rolladen system.
They're hella illegal in America because of weird fire code rules - so you rarely see any support for them on US oriented websites.
Oh, no! Another thing prohibited by weird fire codes despite more lax rules in Europe resulting in fewer casualties. We can't even have nice apartments because of fire code: https://www.niskanencenter.org/how-to-build-more-family-size...
I would imagine that’s due to egress rules?
But searching (and assuming I found the right thing) it looks like they’re made and installed in some places in the USA.
Example: https://rolladenlv.com/
But searching (and assuming I found the right thing) it looks like they’re made and installed in some places in the USA.
Example: https://rolladenlv.com/
I would love to see German Rolladen here in the US. Thank you!
Assuming I’ve searched the right thing (are they external blinds?), what would make this particularly bad in a fire?
Perhaps difficulty escaping from interior.
In Canada at least it's because fire-fighters aren't trained to bypass them and, as you said, concerns about people within being unable to escape.
FWIW in Germany there's a requirement for buildings with automatic shutters to have one designated emergency exit window where the shutters can be operated manually. But fire-fighters shouldn't really have much of a problem if they carry an axe.
I didn't know the name either. Yeah, I'm spoiled by them in Spain (at least in my region, pretty much every residential house or building has them) and I typically sleep too little when I'm elsewhere due to lack of them. No other alternative I have seen comes even close when it comes to making a room really dark at night.
I just call someone to fix them, though. It's quite a dark art for those of us who suck at DIY.
I just call someone to fix them, though. It's quite a dark art for those of us who suck at DIY.
Next step would be selling the best and most repairable blinds
I like to fix things rather than throwing them out and am glad I was able to restring a couple of blinds that didn't work in our new house. This site is where I buy.
If only there were similar sites for other home products. Currently on my list is the soap dispenser for the dishwasher which is nearly impossible to tell which part to order (and I don't want to replace a $500 appliance for what should be a $20 piece of plastic).
If only there were similar sites for other home products. Currently on my list is the soap dispenser for the dishwasher which is nearly impossible to tell which part to order (and I don't want to replace a $500 appliance for what should be a $20 piece of plastic).
Jump on eBay looking for the soap dispenser for that model of dishwasher. You might find a whole replacement dispenser for that price.
I want a kind of blind called "persianas" ("Persian") in Argentina. Like this: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/317689/english-e... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgyXAYtcKqs
These blinds are truly blackout blinds, more than any other blackout blinds I've tried (and I've some fancy ones by a company called Comfort Track). Basically the persianas consist of connected slats that ride in tracks on the outside of the window, and each slat is connected to the other in such a way that when you roll the persianas all the way down then all the slats slot into each other allowing no light to get through, but when you pull the persianas up then the slats separate just enough to allow the whole thing to roll up. Because persianas ride on the outside of the window they also have some weather (temperature) and sound isolation properties.
I've never seen persianas in the U.S., or anywhere outside Argentina. Retrofitting them into American houses would definitely not be trivial as either the persianas would have to roll up on the outside of the house or ride on rails on the inside of the house, or the window header would have to be moved up in order to fit the slats passing from the inside roll to the outside rails.
These blinds are truly blackout blinds, more than any other blackout blinds I've tried (and I've some fancy ones by a company called Comfort Track). Basically the persianas consist of connected slats that ride in tracks on the outside of the window, and each slat is connected to the other in such a way that when you roll the persianas all the way down then all the slats slot into each other allowing no light to get through, but when you pull the persianas up then the slats separate just enough to allow the whole thing to roll up. Because persianas ride on the outside of the window they also have some weather (temperature) and sound isolation properties.
I've never seen persianas in the U.S., or anywhere outside Argentina. Retrofitting them into American houses would definitely not be trivial as either the persianas would have to roll up on the outside of the house or ride on rails on the inside of the house, or the window header would have to be moved up in order to fit the slats passing from the inside roll to the outside rails.
They’re pretty commmin in at least France and Germany: I’ve seen manual “belt operated” ones exactly like your video, as well as fancier electric ones with metal slats and the slat storage box mounted outside.
As well as giving true darkness, they also have much better sound and thermal insulation than curtains or blinds. I would love these on my apartment!
As well as giving true darkness, they also have much better sound and thermal insulation than curtains or blinds. I would love these on my apartment!
> I've never seen persianas in the U.S., or anywhere outside Argentina. Retrofitting them into American houses would definitely not be trivial as either the persianas would have to roll up on the outside of the house or ride on rails on the inside of the house, or the window header would have to be moved up in order to fit the slats passing from the inside roll to the outside rails.
I've seen what you're looking for in higher end hotels. In America, for outside of the window it's "roller shutters" for inside the window it's "roller shades".
Most budget roller shades, inside of window, aren't true blackout as they don't come with a track, but the higher end ones do.
I've seen what you're looking for in higher end hotels. In America, for outside of the window it's "roller shutters" for inside the window it's "roller shades".
Most budget roller shades, inside of window, aren't true blackout as they don't come with a track, but the higher end ones do.
They're also common in Germany, particularly on the ground floor of apartments.
I purchased replacement mounts for a couple shades from this site less than a month ago. The blind was "MyBlinds by Hunter Douglas" from Home Depot, purchased in 2019, but that branding seemed long gone. Luckily I was able to dig up the installation instructions, figure out the shape, then FixMyBlinds had enough info for me to get my shades up.
Interestingly, FixMyBlinds had Bali, not Hunter Douglas as the manufacturer of the shade. I think (can't recall exactly), that Hunter Dougles, Levolor, and Bali may all be part of the same company these days.
Interestingly, FixMyBlinds had Bali, not Hunter Douglas as the manufacturer of the shade. I think (can't recall exactly), that Hunter Dougles, Levolor, and Bali may all be part of the same company these days.
We went with Roman Shades, and despite spending a significant amount of money on them the garbage plastic mechanisms completely disintegrated within about 2 years.
While researching repairing them, we found this guide to build your own: https://www.onlinefabricstore.com/makersmill/how-to-make-a-r...
We were able to salvage the fabric from the old shades (which was still in good condition), remount it to about $20 of wood and assorted hardware per the guide, and they've been perfect for about 5 years now.
It's one of a few times we've gotten something that's so bafflingly bad that the only explanation is planned obsolescence - for a rounding error in extra manufacturing costs they could have built something that would last decades. Always feels good to fix your way out of that.
While researching repairing them, we found this guide to build your own: https://www.onlinefabricstore.com/makersmill/how-to-make-a-r...
We were able to salvage the fabric from the old shades (which was still in good condition), remount it to about $20 of wood and assorted hardware per the guide, and they've been perfect for about 5 years now.
It's one of a few times we've gotten something that's so bafflingly bad that the only explanation is planned obsolescence - for a rounding error in extra manufacturing costs they could have built something that would last decades. Always feels good to fix your way out of that.
For what it’s worth, I like to think of myself as a fairly handy person and I like to do as much DIY as possible, but replacing the eroded thread in a mini blind I had on a double glazed window was insanely time consuming, aggravating, and ended up not working exactly as I had hoped, the blinds are slightly too difficult and obtuse to open/close or flip.
I used to be neighbors with the owner of this business. Good people. Never in a thousand years would have expected to see this on HN though!
You know what, to me, the hardest part is not about "just start", it's about "what to start".
Finding a set of core principles to start will help you answer "why you do all of this in first place" is the whole reason you keep working on.
Finding a set of core principles to start will help you answer "why you do all of this in first place" is the whole reason you keep working on.
You should start with the blinds that are the most obviously broken.
I love these unsexy ideas that don't plan to save the world, but just tackle a niche in an obsessive way.
Saw the title and thought it was a site with DIY guides for blind people. Which would be pretty cool.
that's a different website: "Do It Yourself, Blind; Repair!"
Reminds me of the old joke, “how do you make a Venetian blind?”. Which I’m sure was a popular question in 1204.
Unfortunately the site doesn't seem to cover cordless blinds? In New York they're voluntarily phasing out corded blinds because of safety issues with small children, but the cordless blinds we have are terrible and unreliable.
Same issue here. I specifically have this blind:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/LEVOLOR-Trim-Go-2-in-Cordless-White...
However they are around 8 years old. When opening the blind, it does not push up as smoothly - it takes a few small pushes versus one smooth, long push.
Not a dealbreaker but it would be nice to know how to fix that.
Edit: Looks like there is a section on some components of cordless blinds.
https://fixmyblinds.com/pages/how-to-replace-a-wand-tilt-mec...
https://www.lowes.com/pd/LEVOLOR-Trim-Go-2-in-Cordless-White...
However they are around 8 years old. When opening the blind, it does not push up as smoothly - it takes a few small pushes versus one smooth, long push.
Not a dealbreaker but it would be nice to know how to fix that.
Edit: Looks like there is a section on some components of cordless blinds.
https://fixmyblinds.com/pages/how-to-replace-a-wand-tilt-mec...
I expect they aren't as repairable. I have one that I'd like to fix, but I think the end of the cord that came unattached was fixed in place by gluing in the piece it attaches to.
Same, we replaced ours with cordless blinds a few years ago and they were all broken in less than a year.
I just fixed my roller blinds last week which wouldn't hold and would roll down by themselves. The plastic clips that hold the clutch in place cracked on one side so the inner plastic tube had no friction to hold the inner springs in place. Broke a toothpick up into some small pieces and inserted them into the gap of the clip to keep it pried open and my problem was solved.
I thought these would be the type of things this site would go over instead of buying replacement parts (based on the site name), but this site will actually help me identify the correct size of a new clutch if my toothpicks ever fail.
I thought these would be the type of things this site would go over instead of buying replacement parts (based on the site name), but this site will actually help me identify the correct size of a new clutch if my toothpicks ever fail.
Site seems to be missing the "Top-Down Bottom-Up" shades.
You mean like this one? https://fixmyblinds.com/pages/top-down-bottom-up-cellular-sh...
No, my version doesn't have strings to pull, you just grab the top or bottom of the blind itself and raise or lower it.
Does it use two sets of lift tape? https://fixmyblinds.com/collections/cellular-honeycomb-pleat...
It says the shown model is just representative. I haven't seen them with strings like at the link but I believe they all use internal strings unless there is some other mechanism for adjusting the height.
Here's a demo of the shades I'm referring to:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iUpVEZo1Xdo
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iUpVEZo1Xdo
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Wow, I was so excited, I need this exact site, just bought a place with transitional blinds[0], they're all beautifully well kept except in one room where one of the blinds is damaged and while most of it appears to work, the bottom assembly broke and needs to be replaced, unfortunately they do not appear to have any info on this type of blind.
[0] https://www.lafvb.com/allure
[0] https://www.lafvb.com/allure
Nice. I've got some old cellular type blinds (TIL what they're called!) and some years ago ordered some parts online, it's a known brand; I had to get replacement end caps, a plastic wall mount, err. Probably some more bits. A few euro each plus shipping, a few minutes of work, and they were a lot better again. Cheaper than getting a new one, although the material is looking a bit tatty.
I really thought this was about blind people repairing things at first. Still cool but not quite as cool as blind DIY repair projects
I know they are trying to make money, but it would be nice if they could link some 3d printer models for things like handles.
Perhaps send him links/files and some info to see if he'll include the information that you think he's missing. contact info is on the site.
I have a home with several roller blinds. There are several in various states of repair. This resource looks very handy.
Related: recently, I put up WiFi blind motors on all of them. With HomeKit automations, these now go up at sunrise and go down at sunset.
Has been an unexpected life-changer by bringing in natural light and boosting mood. I'd highly recommend it.
Related: recently, I put up WiFi blind motors on all of them. With HomeKit automations, these now go up at sunrise and go down at sunset.
Has been an unexpected life-changer by bringing in natural light and boosting mood. I'd highly recommend it.
What did you end up going with for motorized blinds? I just bought a new house with a ton of great natural lighting and want to do this without paying an arm and a leg to get it done.
Not the PP, but I used these in my house: https://myiblinds.com/
I used to use the similar ones from Somfy, but they were just too much of a pain in the end. The only thing I don't like about the iBlinds model is that there's no hard-wire communication option (I have 4 conductor wires with power and RS-422 at every window).
I'm surprised there aren't any commonly available blinds that include an internal tilt motor with external manual fallback. Bonus point would be if it also included a lift motor.
I used to use the similar ones from Somfy, but they were just too much of a pain in the end. The only thing I don't like about the iBlinds model is that there's no hard-wire communication option (I have 4 conductor wires with power and RS-422 at every window).
I'm surprised there aren't any commonly available blinds that include an internal tilt motor with external manual fallback. Bonus point would be if it also included a lift motor.
I ended up getting WiFi blind chain motors from Aliexpress. This allows me to integrate with the existing blinds that have chains. Also, if I ever need to remove them and go back to manual, it's easy.
There are a ton of these on there. Here is the listing I ordered from: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005461906004.html
I spent ~$40 per blind. They go on sale sometimes.
(not affiliated in any way)
There are a ton of these on there. Here is the listing I ordered from: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005461906004.html
I spent ~$40 per blind. They go on sale sometimes.
(not affiliated in any way)
Thanks!
Thanks, I might use this site. I want some motorized bottom-up shades, but they are crazily expensive. Motorized kits are available for DIY motorized blinds, but they aren't bottom-up. I have some ideas on how to use them for bottom-up blinds, but haven't got around to putting it all together, partially due to lack of info.
Ah I've been looking for this site again. I used it several years ago to replace the strings on some our blinds when we sold our home, but couldn't remember what the site was (we have blinds to fix in our current home).
Great site, clean, has (nearly) any resource you need to fix blinds.
Great site, clean, has (nearly) any resource you need to fix blinds.
on the blind DIY topic, I've done 5 roller blind upgrades with a zigbee motorized blind [1] and a gateway from aliexpress. configured to go up and down at sunrise and sunset which is cool as we have many plants.
This was after getting a super expensive quote from a local company to do the same with a built-in version.
Not as fancy but functional and works after changing the chains (original stretched and broke - wasn't designed for the motor)
[1] https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801512085543.html?spm=a2g...
[1] https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256801512085543.html?spm=a2g...
Having recently moved, I have to give honorable mention to the cheap ikea blackout shades (the folding type, not roller type). We use them in conjunction with curtains, and despite having to adjust them manually, they really last a long time and work great for the price.
This is amazing, wish I found it several months ago before I bought replacements. Two of my Levolor blinds broke in the same exact way, the cord wore down the small piece of plastic that handles the locking mechanism. Clearly not designed to last and an obvious scam.
I purchased a home with those blinds. Every single one of them has worn a groove into the cord lock, rendering them unusable. Absolutely ridiculous, and fixmyblinds wants $11 for each replacement. Problem is, even after replacing the cord lock, 6 months later they're broken again.
I went with cordless shades from blindster.com, and they're performing great (knock on wood).
I went with cordless shades from blindster.com, and they're performing great (knock on wood).
Excellent. I applaud anyone who helps people repair their own equipment vs trashing it. Some of the repairs I’ve made on appliances have taken days to complete, but it is extremely satisfying once done and they’ve lasted for years.
I wish there was some information on repairing Rollease Acmeda powered shades because I already had 2 motors go out and they're crazy expensive to have an installer come out to replace.
TIL blind repair is a scam! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppobi8VhWwo
I like the site, but it could use a few pictures. I am trying to figure out what my missing part is called, but the mini blinds section is just a series of paragraphs.
I was in a similar situation not too long ago and found that describing the part to ChatGPT worked. I did have to course correct it a couple of times, but eventually it got me the answer I was looking for.
They don't seem to sell mini-blind slats. I know most sets usually include replacements attached to the bottom, but our dog has damaged a lot of them.
I’ve had good luck with blind-slats.com. No relationship with them other than being a happy customer.
I once re-strung a set of blinds. It was not fun (really, really frustrating), but I'm one for pain in order to not make more garbage.
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This is amazing. I have some broken blinds I've been putting off fixing because I was afraid of what a time sink it would be.
Really appreciate all the info about making blinds safer for kids organized into one place. Good link for sending to parents.
If I could visit one page that just had a directory of websites like this, I’d have the Web I always dreamed it would be.
Knowing all the things that can go wrong, which is the easiest/lowest maintenance type of blind to buy?
I just so happen to have a honeycomb blind in need of repair. Pleasantly surprised to see this at the top of HN today.
Tried to “troubleshoot” how to fix a single snapped edge of a mini blind … found nothing.
Do you mean one of the slats? They recommend moving a "spare" slat from the bottom up to that spot.
https://fixmyblinds.com/pages/mini-blind-troubleshooter#Slat...
https://fixmyblinds.com/pages/mini-blind-troubleshooter#Slat...
Any of you have any tip for a noise reduction intern blind?
I can’t see the website is it working for anyone else?
I wonder how many upvotes are for the slightly ambiguous title.
Is this a paid advertisement? Hard to tell the difference. I'm surprised at the other comments. I didn't notice any video content on the site. I consider video to be king for repair and hands on work.
There are 128 videos at https://www.youtube.com/@fixmyblinds/videos
NB: despite the richness of information, the site fails to help me because it's missing info on the specific type of blinds I was interested in ;)
EDIT: relevant Wikipedia pages:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_blind
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roller_shutter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_shutter
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_shutter_hardware
Window shutters are often used as/instead of window blinds in Europe. The linked site sadly doesn't seem to cover shutters yet, presumably because they're not popular in the USA currently. EDIT: possible explanation by another commenter - "They're hella illegal in America because of weird fire code rules": https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38845794