Roller shutters on windows and doors keep out sun, wind and prying eyes and also hold back broken glass. But dust, rain, frost and temperature swings take their toll, and the shutter starts to drag, run crooked or stop halfway.
First find the cause: dirty guides or a curtain out of line, broken slats, a fault in the box (motor or switch), or a crank or strap spinning freely. Whatever it is, never force the curtain, you will only damage the mechanism.
What you will need
Important: Before working on an electric shutter, switch off its circuit breaker. Use a stable stepladder and wear safety glasses when working on the box overhead.
Step 1
Clean and lubricate the guide rails
If the curtain has gone crooked, look at the guide rails first. Sand, dust, cobwebs and leaves push the slats out of line. Brush out the rails, wipe them with a damp cloth and let them dry, then ease the slats back into the guides without force.
Apply WD-40 Specialist Silicone along the full length of the rails and onto the seals. It is not sticky, does not attract dust and is safe on rubber and plastic. Raise and lower the shutter a few times to spread it.
Step 2
Replace broken slats
Broken or bent slats cannot be repaired, they have to be replaced. Contact the manufacturer or installer: sometimes a few slats are enough, sometimes the whole curtain must go.
Step 3
Check the motor and contacts
If an electric shutter will not come out of the box, start simple: the remote batteries and the wall switch. Next suspect is the motor: with the power off, remove the box cover and inspect the motor and the parts around it.
Often it is just a poor contact caused by moisture and oxidation. Spray the terminals and connectors with WD-40 Specialist Contact Cleaner, allow a few minutes to dry and only then restore power.
Step 4
Repair a manual drive
If the crank or strap spins without lifting anything, the roller shaft has probably come loose in the box. Remove the cover and check the shaft: it may need refitting on its axle, a damaged part replacing, or a seized part freeing. Treat metal axles and springs with WD-40 Multi-Use and plastic bushes with silicone.
Step 5
Secure the strap winder
If the wall-mounted strap winder has worked loose and no longer holds the curtain, lower the shutter fully, take off the winder cover and brush out the inside. Remove stubborn grime with WD-40 Multi-Use, with paper underneath. Fix the strap reel firmly, in a new hole if necessary, and refit the cover.
Step 6
Maintain regularly
To stop the shutter sticking, wash the curtain with warm soapy water 2-3 times a year and simply dust it in between. After each wash, once dry, refresh the guide rails with silicone. Before winter this matters most: lubricated seals do not freeze to the frame and the curtain moves more easily in frost.
Tip: If a shutter freezes in winter, do not force it or keep pressing the motor button: wait for a thaw, then lubricate the guides with silicone.
What next
Inspecting and lubricating the rails twice a year, in spring and autumn, takes half an hour and saves costly repairs. The same silicone suits sliding wardrobe doors and window seals.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».