Troubleshooting by symptom · Rolling Shutter Guide
Why is my spring-loaded shutter too heavy, flying up or not staying down?
Usually the spring tension is off. A push-up shutter that sags when you let go or is hard to lift needs more tension; one that opens too fast, pulls itself up or will not stay down for the lock has too much. Set correctly, it holds at any height and stays closed at the bottom.
Key facts
- Roll-A-Shield ships spring-loaded shutters with no tension in the spring; it is set on site with the two included tensioning rods. Roll-A-Shield data
- Test the tension by lifting the shutter about halfway and letting go at several heights: it should hold its own weight, and stay down at the bottom so the slide lock or key lock can engage. Roll-A-Shield data
- Sliding a couple of feet down or being too heavy to lift means too little tension; opening too fast or not staying closed means too much. Roll-A-Shield data
- Roll-A-Shield builds spring-loaded shutters up to 192 in wide, 120 in tall and 144 sq ft; larger openings need a motor. Roll-A-Shield data
- Spring shutters ship with non-vented slats by default, because a spring can lift a closed curtain slightly and open light gaps. Roll-A-Shield data
Applies to: Spring-loaded (push-up, push-pull) rolling shutters with a spring tensioner, including Roll-A-Shield's single-wall and insulated spring units.
A spring-loaded shutter (also called push-up or push-pull) has no motor and no strap: a spring inside the box balances the weight of the curtain, and you lift or pull it by the handle on the bottom slat. When it feels wrong, start with the spring tension: the symptom tells you which way it is off.
Symptom, likely cause, what to do
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| New shutter will not stay up at all | Shipped with no spring tension | Tension the spring after installation. |
| Slides a couple of feet down when you let go | Too little tension | Add tension. |
| Hard or too heavy to lift | Too little tension | Add tension. |
| Opens too fast, or the spring pulls the curtain up | Too much tension | Release a little tension. |
| Will not stay closed, or too hard to lock | Too much tension | Release a little tension. |
| Curtain rolls itself up into the box | Too much tension | Release tension, or have a technician do it. |
| Light shows through the slats when closed | Spring lifting the closed curtain slightly | Check it stays fully down; release a little tension if not. |
| Sticks or binds at one spot | Dirt in the guide rails, or dry rails | Hose out the rails, let them dry, spray dry silicone on the rails only. |
How do I know if the spring tension is right?
A correctly set spring shutter holds wherever you leave it and stays down when closed. To test it, grab the bottom of the shutter, lift it about halfway and let go; repeat at several heights. Then roll it fully closed and check that it stays close to the bottom, so the slide locks or key lock are easy to use.
- If it sags under its own weight (slides a couple of feet down), it needs more tension.
- If it is hard to open, it needs more tension.
- If it opens too quickly, the spring seems to be pulling the curtain up, or it will not stay closed for the lock, the tension is too tight and needs loosening.
How is the spring tension adjusted?
With two tensioning rods at the spring tensioner, the black barrel-shaped fitting on one end of the box. It has two rings of holes: the inner holes take the rods to turn the spring, and the outer holes take a metal locking pin that holds the setting. When the locking pin is removed, the tensioner rotates freely.
Winding or releasing the spring means turning the tensioner with the rods while the spring is loaded, and the locking pin is all that holds the setting. In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team can set it for you; elsewhere, call (480) 921-0200 and we will talk you or your installer through it.
Stop: If the tensioner, pin or bracket is damaged, the spring does not respond to the rods, or you are not comfortable working with a loaded spring, stop and call a technician. Springs are awkward and can be dangerous for someone not used to them.
Roll-A-Shield does not publish turn counts for its springs: the right tension depends on the installation, so set it by the lift-and-test method above. Following a published Roll-A-Shield guide does not void the warranty.
Does a spring shutter need stops to keep it from flying up?
Not when the spring is set correctly: a properly tensioned shutter holds at any height, and one that shoots up is too tight. On Roll-A-Shield's single-wall spring units the full-width handle on the bottom slat meets a lip on the bottom of the box, which acts as a shock-absorbing stop when the shutter is raised; insulated-slat spring units use handles attached to the bottom slat instead. Roll-A-Shield's production checklist adds a pull-down hook for shutters over 6 ft.
What if a manual shutter is just too heavy?
Spring operation has limits. Roll-A-Shield builds spring-loaded shutters within these sizes:
| Spring-loaded limit | Inches | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum width | 192 in | 4,877 mm |
| Maximum height | 120 in | 3,048 mm |
| Maximum area | 144 sq ft | 13.4 sq m |
| Largest box | 10 in | 254 mm |
| Minimum overall width | 31 in | 787 mm |
Strap and crank operators are capped at a curtain of about 50 lb in Roll-A-Shield's configurator; larger or heavier shutters are motorized. See How big can a manual shutter be before it needs a motor? Roll-A-Shield does not sell shutters to motorize later, but converting an existing manual shutter to a motor is a service. See converting a manual shutter to motorized.
Near the coast, Roll-A-Shield does not recommend spring units; a motorized or single-wall shutter is the recommended choice.
What next
In metro Phoenix, Roll-A-Shield's service team adjusts and repairs spring shutters; elsewhere, call (480) 921-0200 for phone help and parts.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need stops or a T-bar to stop it flying up?
Not if the spring is set correctly. A correctly tensioned spring shutter holds at any height; if it shoots up, the spring is too tight and should be loosened. On Roll-A-Shield's single-wall spring units the full-width handle on the bottom slat meets a lip on the bottom of the box, which acts as the stop.
My new spring shutter will not stay up at all. Is it broken?
Probably not. Roll-A-Shield ships spring shutters with no spring tension, so the installer can set it for the opening. It has to be tensioned after installation.
Can I have a spring shutter near the ocean?
Roll-A-Shield does not recommend spring units near the coast; a motorized or single-wall shutter is the recommended choice there.
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.