Tension rods are pretty straightforward to install and leave no mark when you dismount them. Have you ever wondered just how much weight a single tension rod can hold? We’ve done a ton of digging on this topic and compiled our results in this post. We hope you’ll find every bit of it useful, especially if you plan on fixing one in your home.
Tension rods are designed to accommodate all material weights, depending on how well you install them. If you want to install a durable tension rod, fix your eyes on the metallic types. Plastic and wooden tension rods may not be strong enough to hold heavy curtains or damp towels for long periods.
We understand if you still have a lot of questions. We’ve taken the time to put together some frequently asked questions about this topic, along with fitting, well-researched answers. As you read through this post, you’ll also find a couple of handy tips that will be worth your while!
Can Tension Rods Hold Curtains?
Tension rods provide a straightforward and cost-effective way to hang curtains. You can hang your curtains in a snap and avoid putting holes on your walls.
The best thing about tension rods is their appealing designs and unique appearance. They come in different colors that blend in perfectly with your kitchen, living room, or bedroom décor (read about how to choose the right curtain for your bedroom here).
Rods are perfect for you if you live in a rental property, and you’d like to put up your curtains freely.
Tension rods work similarly to shower curtain rods. They fit perfectly between two walls without much effort, and they’re held in place by the two walls. Tension rods are equipped with rubber tips on both ends to prevent scraping on your walls.
Can A Tension Rod Hold Clothes?
Of course, they can! Tension rods generally work better in children’s rooms, since their laundry doesn’t weigh as much as those of adults. You can use them as an alternative spot to hang their clothes by placing the rod’s ends on opposite walls inside their closet.
You can also make your makeshift indoor clothesline by installing a metallic tension rod in an unused corner of your laundry room.
Air-dry your garments by placing them in hangers and mounting them on the rod. Alternatively, you can pin the garments to the rod using clothespins. Tension rods can also serve as a finishing area for ironed clothes. Spread them out evenly on the rod to prevent creasing.
How Do You Secure A Tension Rod?
You have your shower rod firmly in place, but it keeps crashing down at the slightest provocation. If this happens to you regularly, try out any of these options to secure your tension rod:
Secure Both Ends
First off, it’s not such a good idea to tighten your tension rod on drywall; they might easily crack. Instead, use bracket supports to hold the rod in place. Secure the supports to the wall, drill three screws onto it, and place the rod on the anchor. Voila! A firm tension rod ready for use.
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Create Extra Friction
Fiberglass or tiled surfaces are too smooth and moist to hold the plastic caps on the ends of a tension rod. Fix this problem by adding some strong AmazerBath glue on both ends of your tension rod. The glue will secure your rod enough to hold a wet towel or heavy shower curtain.
Click here to view this product on Amazon.
How Do You Unlock A Tension Rod?
Unlocking a tension rod is as easy as it gets. Follow this two-step process to get your tension rod in a couple of minutes. For both steps, practice caution and be gentle with your rod:
Shift or Remove the Existing Curtain
Release the curtain by snapping the binds apart. If you have a hemmed or ringed curtain, push it to the furthest end of the rod.
Loosen the Rod
If the tension rod is too tight, pull it inward while someone else pulls it downward. If it’s somewhat loose, grasp the rod near one end and pull it downward. It will easily slide off the wall without a scratch.
Why Does My Curtain Rod Keep Falling?
Curtain rods fall for a variety of reasons. These are the three most common:
Dry Walls
The dryness of the walls provides little support, thereby causing the rods to become loose and fall. You can counter this problem by adding glue shelf rubber lining on your walls for extra support.
Curtain Weight
Most curtain rods w hold heavy curtains such as blackout shades or thick velvet drapery for extended periods. Take the step of using lighter curtains or buying more durable curtain rods.
Poor Curtain Rod Installation
Loose curtains often add extra weight on poorly-installed curtain rods, which causes them to fall eventually. Prevent your curtain rod from getting loose and install it at an angle with a couple of inches above.
What Is The Best Hanging Rod For Hanging Curtains?
There’s a slew of curtain rod alternatives in the market today, making it somewhat complicated to pick the ideal one for your window. To save you the hustle, we did some digging and settled for the Bali Blinds Curtain rod as the best rod for hanging your curtains.
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The rod comes in a rounded style and is available in two primary finishes: white and bronze. The Bali Blinds Curtain Rod comes in adjustable rod lengths of 28-48 inches, and 48-84 inches. It comes with an included all mounting hardware.
This rod can handle medium to heavy curtains and is extremely easy to install.
How Do You Fix a Shower Tension Rod?
Shower tension rods are spring-loaded, making them all the easier to repair. These kinds of rods operate under tension. Therefore, if the internal mechanism breaks, there won’t be any tension to hold it in place. So how can you fix it?
If your tension rod has snapped, you can fix it by setting it to the bathroom walls’ length. Mark the positions with colored tape, and use a drill to make sizeable holes through both ends of your rod.
Since most shower tension rods are metal, they’re bound to break on the ends. To prevent this, drill a ceiling mount bracket to hold the rod. Doing so will also keep the rod firmly in position. Once you have it in place, you can adjust or uninstall it at any time.
Click here to view these screws on Amazon.
How Do You Support Long Hanging Rods?
A straightforward way to support long hanging rods is by reinforcing them with durable two by four planks in the middle of your rod.
Start by holding up your plank vertically inside your closet. Measure the distance from the floor to the top of your closet, and mark the points where it meets with your rods at the top. At this point, make a sizeable hole where you can fit the rod.
Dismount your rod, pass it right through the hole, and then remount it with the plank strategically positioned in the middle. The plank should now support the rod with no signs of sagging. If you have two rods in your closet, follow the same procedure as the first.
Watch the video below for a more practical description:
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Without a doubt, the BRIOFOX tension shower rod is best overall, complete with a 4.6 rating on Amazon. While most standard shower rods struggle to stay in place, the BRIOFOX shower rod has a sizeable plate on each end that keeps it from slipping down tile walls.
Click here to view this tension shower rod on Amazon.
This high-quality tension rod can hold up to 20 pounds and comes in brass and stainless steel finishes. It’s only available in a standard shower length of between 42 and 72 inches. The best part about this rod is that it’s rust-proof and can last for up to five years.
Do Tension Shower Rods Work On Tiles?
Tension rods are designed with a powerful spring to keep them from sliding down smooth tiled walls. Most times, you may need to secure them accordingly to keep them from falling.
An excellent way to keep your rod up is by using the felt furniture pads. They’re those sizeable felt circles you place beneath your chair legs to prevent them from scratching your floor. Fortunately, they work on shower rods as well!
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Simply stick one on either end of your shower rod and hang it on your walls. Since the furniture pads are compressed, they will hardly be noticeable.
Final Thoughts
Before purchasing a tension rod, it’s essential to check the maximum weight your desired rod can handle. From there, you can be sure that the rod can hold curtain weight to a certain extent without it getting overwhelmed.
It also helps to measure the length between the walls where you plan to hang your tension rod. Use that measurement to buy a rod that will fit tightly from wall to wall. The tighter the tension rod is on the walls, the more weight it can handle.
But How Much Weight Can A Tension Rod Hold?