Extendable awnings are a common feature of RVs, and for good reason. When you’re all settled in at your campsite, nothing completes the “home away from home” experience quite like relaxing in the shade of your RV awning.
Your awning serves a double purpose: it enhances the homelike quality of your campsite, and protects you from the elements while you enjoy the fresh air. Your RV awning blocks harmful UV rays while you lounge in the summer heat, and saves you from having to stay cooped up indoors in wet weather.
Taking proper care of your awning is an important part of maintaining your RV. Thankfully, keeping your awning in peak condition is mostly a matter of cleaning it and protecting it from damage. Read on to learn how to prolong the life of your RV awning.
If you need a replacement installed, or if your awning needs to be repaired, schedule a service appointment at your nearest Meridian RV. We’re located in Port Coquitlam and 100 Mile House, BC.
Know Your Awning
Different kinds of awnings will require different kinds of care. Awnings can be made with a variety of materials, with the most common being acrylic and vinyl. These are both durable, water-resistant plastic materials. Both acrylic and vinyl will melt when exposed to flame or extreme heat, rather than catching fire.
Acrylic is the more breathable option, allowing for faster drying. Vinyl is more waterproof, but may be less resistant to mildew. Your vinyl awning may come with an anti-fungal coating to inhibit mildew growth, in which case it should be cleaned gently to avoid stripping this protective layer. Never use petroleum-based soaps on coated vinyl.
Damage Prevention
When it comes to awning care, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Taking a few small steps to protect your awning can save you a lot of trouble down the road.
Mildew is going to be your main adversary. While mildew isn’t quite as dangerous as mold, it does cause stains and foul odors that can be difficult to remove. Much like mold, mildew likes to grow in dark, moist spaces. When you collapse your awning while the material is wet, you create the perfect environment for mildew. Even if there hasn’t been a recent rain shower, your awning may have collected moisture, so it’s important to always check thoroughly to ensure the material is dry before you pack it up.
If your RV awning does develop a mildew problem, you’ll soon discover that cleaning up mildew is much easier said than done. That’s when a commercial cleaning service comes in handy.
Sun damage is next on the list of potential dangers. Just like your skin, your awning is susceptible to damage from UV exposure. Its material will weaken over time when left in direct sunlight, and sun-damaged material can rip easily. Limit the amount of time your awning is exposed to direct sunlight.
Wind is another concern to keep in mind. An extended awning can be severely damaged in a windstorm, so watch the weather forecast and collapse your awning if high winds are expected.
Repairs
Prevention is ideal, but general wear and tear is inevitable even when you’re following all the best practices. RV awnings may seem simple enough, but their mechanisms tend to be more complicated than they appear. Rather than trying to fix it yourself and potentially causing further damage in the process, we strongly recommend seeking the help of a professional technician when your awning needs repair. This is especially true of spring-loaded mechanisms, which may cause injury if not handled properly.
Looking for a great RV service department in the Vancouver, BC, area? Meridian RV has expert technicians and a fully stocked RV parts department at each of our dealerships in Port Coquitlam and 100 Mile House, BC. We also have a great selection of new and used RVs for sale.
