Troubleshooting
Common Faults with Roller Shutters and How to Fix Them
Most roller shutter problems come down to a handful of causes: dirt in the guide rails, a power or remote issue, worn parts, or a curtain that has come out of alignment. Some you can check safely yourself. Anything involving the motor, wiring, springs or the shutter box is a job for a technician.
Updated
Quick fault finder
Use this table to narrow down what's going on before you call anyone. The "safe to check" column covers things a homeowner can look at without tools or opening anything up.
| Symptom | Common causes | Safe to check yourself | Call a technician if… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jams or sticks part-way | Dirt or debris in the guide rails; curtain out of alignment | Clean the rails; look for leaves, stones or a bent slat | It still sticks after cleaning, or the curtain sits crooked |
| Electric shutter doesn't move | Power off at the switch or circuit; motor overheated; motor fault | Check the switch and circuit breaker; wait 15–20 minutes and try again | Power is on and it still won't move |
| Remote doesn't work | Flat batteries; signal blocked; remote lost its pairing | Replace the batteries; try from closer; try the wall switch | The wall switch works but the remote never does |
| Noisy, grinding or squeaking | Dirty rails; worn parts; something rubbing inside the box | Clean the rails and listen for where the noise starts | Noise continues after cleaning, or gets worse |
| Stops short or won't close fully | Obstruction; travel limits need resetting | Clear the sill and rails | Limits need adjusting — this is done at the motor |
| Manual tape or strap slips or snaps | Worn strap; winder fault | Don't keep pulling — it puts load on the winder | The strap is frayed, slipping or broken |
Shutter jamming or sticking
The most common cause is grit, leaves or cobwebs building up in the guide rails either side of the shutter. Wind-blown debris gets into rails on exposed walls quickly.
Lower the shutter, brush out the rails and wipe them with a damp cloth. If the shutter still catches at the same point, a slat may be bent or the curtain may have shifted out of alignment. Running it repeatedly in that state can make the damage worse, so stop and book an inspection.
- Brush and wipe the guide rails — avoid heavy grease, which collects dirt.
- Check the sill for anything blocking the bottom slat.
- Look along the curtain for a slat that sits proud of the others.
Electric shutter not working
Check the obvious first: is the wall switch on, and has a circuit breaker tripped? Many motors also have a thermal cut-out that stops them after repeated use; if you've been running the shutter up and down, give it 15–20 minutes to cool.
If there's power and the motor still doesn't respond — or you hear it hum without the shutter moving — the motor, its connection or its limits need a technician. Don't open the head box or touch wiring yourself; fixed wiring work must be done by a licensed electrician.
Remote control problems
Replace the batteries and try again from close range. If the wall switch works but the remote doesn't, the problem is with the remote or its pairing rather than the motor. Re-pairing steps differ between motor brands, so follow the instructions for your system or ask a technician to re-program it.
Noisy operation
A shutter that's started to squeak or grind is usually telling you something. Dirty rails are the easy fix. Noise from inside the box — clunking, grinding or rattling — points to worn components that should be looked at before they fail.
What not to do
A few well-meant fixes cause more damage than the original fault:
- Forcing a jammed shutter by hand or holding the switch down.
- Spraying oil or grease into the rails — it attracts dirt.
- Opening the head box or removing covers on an electric shutter.
- Running a shutter that is visibly crooked or has a damaged slat.
Still not working?
If the simple checks haven't fixed it, our technicians can diagnose the fault and repair or service the shutter.
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Related pages
Roller Shutter Repairs & Servicing
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Roller shutter maintenance tips
Routine care that prevents faults.
Upgrading an existing shutter.
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