Ownership: care, warranty, shipping and lead time · Rolling Shutter Guide
How do I clean and maintain my rolling shutters?
Close the shutter, hose it down and wash stubborn dirt with mild soap and water, wiping up and down; do it twice a year, never with a pressure washer and not in extreme heat. If the rails feel stiff, use dry silicone spray on the guide rails only. Never oil the motor or the crank box.
Key facts
- Clean rolling shutters twice a year with mild soap and water; no pressure washer, and not in extreme heat. Roll-A-Shield data
- The only lubricant for the guide rails is a dry silicone spray. Oil and WD-40 gum up the rails, and the motor and crank box are never oiled. Roll-A-Shield data
- Wipe the slats in an up-and-down motion so they do not shift out of line, and brush the guide rails gently so you do not pull out the wool pile seal. Roll-A-Shield data
- The tubular motors Roll-A-Shield fits have a maintenance-free limit switch; there is nothing inside the motor for an owner to service. Roll-A-Shield data
- A solar shutter's panel only charges in direct sun, so wipe dust or snow off the panel; a battery that has run completely flat needs the wall charger, not just sunlight. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Aluminum rolling shutters of any make: insulated (foam-filled) and single-wall slats, with strap, crank, spring, wired, remote, solar or battery operation.
Rolling shutters need very little care. A shutter that runs smoothly does not need a service visit; the routine is a wash twice a year and, only if the rails feel stiff, a light dry silicone spray. This page covers how to clean them, what to put on the rails, what never to do, and the few checks worth making while you are at it.
How often should I clean rolling shutters?
Roll-A-Shield's care instructions say at least twice a year. Wash them sooner if a shutter starts to stick in the guide rails: hosing out the rails is the first fix for a shutter that sticks going up or down.
What is the right way to wash them?
Close the shutter, hose it down, and use mild soap and water for anything the hose does not lift.
- Wait for a cool part of the day. Do not wash the shutter in extreme heat: Roll-A-Shield's care instructions warn that spraying hot slats can damage them.
- Lower the shutter fully so every slat is exposed.
- Rinse with a garden hose.
- For stubborn dirt, wipe with a dilute mild-soap solution. Wipe up and down along the curtain, not side to side, so the slats do not slide out of line.
- Brush the guide rails with a soft brush. Go gently: the rails carry a wool pile seal that the slats run against, and a stiff brush can pull it out.
- Rinse off all the soap and let everything dry.
Tip: Do not use a pressure washer, and avoid harsh household cleaners, which can damage the painted finish.
What should I lubricate, and with what?
Only the guide rails, and only with a dry silicone spray. Oily products, including WD-40, leave a film that catches dust and gums up the rails, so the shutter ends up stiffer than before. If a shutter sticks on the way up or down, hose out the rails, let them dry and give them a light coat of silicone.
Nothing else on a rolling shutter gets lubricated:
- The motor. A tubular motor sits inside the axle and has a maintenance-free limit switch. Never oil or grease it.
- The crank box. Never oil a crank box, and do not open it: the install manual warns that opening it can damage the internal components.
What should I avoid doing?
Roll-A-Shield's care instructions and install manuals call out four habits that damage shutters.
- Don't let a manual shutter slam into the box. Raising a strap or crank shutter so fast that the bottom bar hits the housing damages the entry guides and the parts inside.
- Don't force it. If a shutter will not move, stop. Forcing it can damage the slats; find the cause first with the stuck-shutter guide.
- Don't overtighten screws. Overtightened box screws distort the box, and overtightened rail screws warp the rails; both add friction.
- Don't run a motor into an obstruction. If it hits something while closing, turn it off straight away, remove the obstacle and pull the bottom slat down. See what to do if a shutter came down on something.
What else should I check while I'm cleaning?
A wash is a good time for a quick look over the moving parts.
| What to look at | What you want to see | If not |
|---|---|---|
| Strap (manual shutters) | Hanging straight from the roller into the box | A strap that runs at an angle wears out early; see frayed or slipping straps |
| Guide rails | Clean, with the wool pile seal in place | Clean and spray as above; see rail seals |
| Movement | Smooth and quiet the full height | See why a shutter is noisy |
| Solar panel | Clean, in direct sun | Wipe off dust or snow |
| Remote | Works when you press a button | Check the battery; see changing a remote battery |
Do solar shutters need extra care?
Yes, the panel. A solar panel charges only in direct sun; ambient light or shade under a roof edge is not enough, so a panel that has dust, pollen or snow on it can let the battery run down. Wipe it clean when you wash the shutter. If the battery has ever run completely flat, sunlight alone will not bring it back; it needs the wall charger. Diagnosing a solar shutter that has stopped is covered in why a solar shutter stops halfway or runs slow.
Does maintenance affect the warranty?
The Roll-A-Shield warranty does not cover damage caused by neglect or by failure to provide necessary maintenance. Washing the shutter and keeping the rails clean as described here is that maintenance. Full terms are on what the warranty covers.
What next
If a shutter is still stiff, noisy or stuck after a clean, start with the troubleshooting guides. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team repairs rolling shutters of any make; elsewhere, call (480) 921-0200.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use WD-40 on my rolling shutter tracks?
No. WD-40 and other oily products gum up the guide rails and collect dirt. Use a dry silicone spray on the guide rails only, and never oil the motor or the crank box.
Can I pressure-wash rolling shutters?
No. Use a garden hose and mild soap and water. Roll-A-Shield's care instructions rule out a power washer, and harsh household cleaners can damage the painted finish.
Does the motor need greasing or servicing?
No. The tubular motor sits inside the axle and has a maintenance-free limit switch. Never oil it; if a motorized shutter starts to struggle, have it checked instead.
My shutter sticks or squeaks in the rails. What should I do?
Hose out the guide rails, let them dry and spray them lightly with dry silicone. If it still binds, check that the rail and box screws are not overtightened, because that distorts the rails and causes friction.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.