Venetian Blinds

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
My new house has venetian blinds and I am stymied. I always lived in a house that just had pull-down window shades. The blinds have a thin rope loop on the right side and a plastic rod hanging down on the left. I tried pulling down on the rope thinking it would raise the blinds, but I couldn't budge them and I didn't want to force anything. Same with the rod which I assumed changes the angle of the slats. When I twist the rod, the blinds raise slightly on the left side, but don't change the slat angle. HELP!
 

Try moving the cord to the right then return it and try gently to raise the blinds again.

The rod should be able to adjust the slant of the blinds. Sounds like it's bound up. Try turning it gently the other way or go behind them and see if there's junk around it to be cleaned out.

Mini blinds are very cheap and easily replaced.
 
You know what they say about Venetian blinds? If it wasn't for them it would be curtains for everyone.
( I had to say it.)

Seriously Debodun you'll probably like these things. You never have to take them down and wash and iron them.

Your blinds aren't going up right because (a) the string is broken on one side or (b) you just need to rebalance them -- take one string in each hand, stand back from the window about three feet, and pull each side in turns until you get it nice and even -- then tie the strings together at that point.

If the string is broken on one side you'll need to get behind the blind, see how it hooks up on the good side and try to copy it on the other. Tedious.

Or (c) do what Radish Rose just said.
 

Della said:
Your blinds aren't going up right because (a) the string is broken on one side or (b) you just need to rebalance them -- take one string in each hand, stand back from the window about three feet, and pull each side in turns until you get it nice and even -- then tie the strings together at that point.

If the string is broken on one side you'll need to get behind the blind, see how it hooks up on the good side and try to copy it on the other. Tedious.
Click to expand...
On ALL of them?
 
Della said:
You know what they say about Venetian blinds?
Della said:
If it wasn't for them it would be curtains for everyone.
( I had to say it.)
Click to expand...
LOL

Seriously Debodun you'll probably like these things. You never have to take them down and wash and iron them.

Your blinds aren't going up right because (a) the string is broken on one side or (b) you just need to rebalance them -- take one string in each hand, stand back from the window about three feet, and pull each side in turns until you get it nice and even -- then tie the strings together at that point.

If the string is broken on one side you'll need to get behind the blind, see how it hooks up on the good side and try to copy it on the other. Tedious.

Or (c) do what Radish Rose just said.
Click to expand...
Or do with Della said.
 
She said there is a loop. If you pull on just one side, it may not work. You have to pull both strings. You tube is your friend.
 
debodun said:
My new house has venetian blinds and I am stymied. I always lived in a house that just had pull-down window shades. The blinds have a thin rope loop on the right side and a plastic rod hanging down on the left. I tried pulling down on the rope thinking it would raise the blinds, but I couldn't budge them and I didn't want to force anything. Same with the rod which I assumed changes the angle of the slats. When I twist the rod, the blinds raise slightly on the left side, but don't change the slat angle. HELP!
Click to expand...
With Venetian blinds you pull on the rope to raise them, then you pull the rope to the right to stop them at the height you want, then pull the rope to the left to release and lower.. etc..if you're pulling the rope and they're not rising at all they're broken... .. the rod is , as you say for changing the positioning of the slats ...or you can just take them all down and replace them with ordinary pull down blinds if that's what you prefer..
 
Did the plastic rod open the slats? You can’t raise the blinds unless the slats are open.

On some blinds, you pull the strings out to the left slightly towards you to unlock and then center the cord and pull down.

If you haven’t seen anything on YouTube, go into a Home Depot and browse in the blind department. Someone will demo for you.
 
I’m stumped.

On moving day when things have settled down, ask if anyone knows how to open them.

The next time there, could you take photos of the cords and the rod.
 
I brought my camera to the other house today, but I would have to disassemble the whole window dressing to get an unobstructed photo of the blinds. The online photos of interior that were included in the selling listing aren't helpful. Too bright light is coming through the windows to see well, plus the dressing have changed since those pics were taken.
 
First you have twist the rod to make the slats be HORIZONTAL.

Next, I don’t know because I can’t see the cord.

Did the former owner take all the curtains?
 
debodun said:
I got photos today of the cord and rod mechanisms.

View attachment 186432View attachment 186433
Click to expand...
If you look closely at the cord, you should see a "knurled" metal rod directly to the right of the string, and a smooth smaller metal rod to the left of the string. When you want to raise/lower the slats, you must pull the string to the "Left", thus releasing it from the knurled rod. Holding the string strongly to the left should allow the string to raise/lower the slats. When you release the string, the knurled rod then grips the string securely, to hold the slats in position.

The "rod" should rotate the slats up/down, or CW/CCW, to allow the slats to admit or block the outdoor light. If you turn the rod too far, you can damage the rotation mechanism.

If you are having this problem on ALL the blinds, it is your "technique". If most work properly, and only 1 or 2 won't raise/lower, or rotate, the blind is probably bad, and will need to be replaced.
 
I've tried gently pulling left, right in and out without any movement. I may have to contact the former owner and ask for blind lessons.
 

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