How to Repair a Hunter Douglas Silhouette
Hunter Douglas Silhouette shades come in a variety of sizes and can be custom-made to fit most windows. At some point, your Hunter Douglas Silhouettes may require repair. Most problems occur when the cord breaks and needs reconnecting or when the cord needs to be replaced or repositioned in the clutch.
When handling any repair on your Silhouette blinds, always refer to your Hunter Douglas Silhouette manual for details about your particular cellular shade and the specific parts you need to fix it.
Things You Will Need
- Scissors
- Heavy work gloves
- Screwdriver
- Lighter
- Mallet
Repair a Broken Cord
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Remove the shade from the wall by prying off the end caps with your fingers or carefully with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the cap at the bottom of the silhouette shade by prying it off with your fingers. Slip the shade out of the brackets. Place it on a flat surface to repair the cord.
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Find the end of the cord where the break is and gently pull it through the bottom of the slats so the end is exposed at least 12 inches. Align the ends of the cords where they were originally attached.
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Ignite the lighter and burn the end of the cord that is not strung through the shade. Blow out the flame and immediately touch the hot end of the cord to the end of the cord in the shade; the cords should melt together. Pinch and roll the ends of the cords together with your gloved hand so they stick together.
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Unfold the shade so the cord threads through the slats until they end at the knot.
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Replace the cap on the bottom of the shade by pushing it in place with your fingers. Gently tap it in place with a mallet.
Replace a Cord in the Gear Mechanism
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Remove the shade from the wall by prying off the end caps with your fingers or carefully with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the cap at the bottom of the silhouette shade by prying it off with your fingers.
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Slip the shade out of the brackets. Place it on a flat surface to repair the shade.
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Pull out a loop of the cord through the clutch guide on the end of the shade and insert it in the teeth on the gear in the clutch. Turn the gear with your fingers to rotate the cord around the gear. Ensure the remainder of the cord loops through the mechanism.
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Replace the shade in the brackets and insert the end caps. Gently tap the end caps in place with a mallet.
Warning
Keep any flammable objects away from your workspace when using the lighter.
The Drip Cap
- Hunter Douglas Silhouette shades come in a variety of sizes and can be custom-made to fit most windows.
- At some point, your Hunter Douglas Silhouettes may require repair.
- Remove the shade from the wall by prying off the end caps with your fingers or carefully with a flat-head screwdriver.
- Slip the shade out of the brackets.
- Place it on a flat surface to repair the cord.
- Blow out the flame and immediately touch the hot end of the cord to the end of the cord in the shade; the cords should melt together.
References
Resources
Writer Bio
JIm Cooper is an attorney and business consultant. He serves on the board of many corporations. He is also a published writer with more than 30 years of experience. Cooper's articles have been published in "American Executive," "Men's Health" magazine, "Newsweek," "Marie Claire" and "Mademoiselle" magazines.
Photo Credits
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
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