RV Awning Upkeep

An awning is that finishing touch that truly makes an RV feel more like home. Just like you enjoy sitting under a covered patio at home, the shade provided by an RV awning allows you to sit outside on a hot summer day and enjoy the fresh air. They also protect you from rain during the colder season. Considering how useful they are, you’ll want to take care of yours to keep it from getting damaged. Unfortunately, there are several everyday elements that can prematurely ruin your awning, so it takes a bit of effort and knowledge to prevent this damage from occurring. At The Outpost RV, we want you to get the most out of your RV’s awning, so we put together this guide to explain what you can do to keep it lasting longer. After reading, if you decide that you need more serious repairs, or need any additional parts or service, feel free to come into our dealership in Middlebury, serving the areas of Goshen, Elkhart, South Bend, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Different Awning Styles

Most of the awnings that you’ll find on an RV are made from one of two materials: vinyl or acrylic. Maintenance largely depends on which type of awning you have, as different materials are more vulnerable to different elements. Acrylic is made with a petroleum-based substance similar plastic. It’s mold resistant, which means you don’t have to worry about mildew too much. However, one serious problem with acrylic is that it melts easily in the heat. Sunlight damages all types of awnings, but acrylic especially can easily be ruined when left in the sun for too long. Using a grill under your awning or parking too close to the fire pit can also be risky, so try keeping all extreme heat sources away from this part of your RV. Vinyl, on the other hand, is a little more resilient to heat, but the tradeoff is that it’s more susceptible to mold outbreaks. Vinyl’s also very sensitive to pressure, so when you wash it, make sure you use lighter brushes and wash them with care.

Typical Problems

One of the unfortunate aspects about awnings is that they get damaged by the very things they protect you from—the elements. Thankfully, with some discipline and a bit of effort, you can prevent a lot of these things from doing too serious of damage.

Wind

Awnings are made from fairly light material, which means that it’s not very sturdy when exposed to intense pressure. One way to put them under too much force is to leave them open during a windy day, as the pressure from the wind can beat and tear your awning off its frame. You don’t really want to sit outside on a windy day anyway, so be sure to roll up your awning when the wind starts picking up.

Mold and MIldew

You know how badly mold and mildew can damage a tent, surface material in floors, and even clothes. These substances can do the same thing to awnings, and all it needs to grow is a little moisture, organic material, and lack of light. If you roll a dirty awning up without washing it and letting it dry, all of these conditions are present, meaning that you’ll likely be cooking up your own dish of mildew on that nice awning. You don’t want this to happen, so make sure you wash it when it gets dirty, and always let it dry before rolling it up.

Sunlight

Sunlight is the final element that can harm an RV’s awning. UV rays weaken the fabric, which can cause the beads to break apart until tears and frays start to form. This is a hard reality for some RV owners to accept, as many of us enjoy sitting under our awnings on a hot summer day. Of course, you can still use it to shield yourself from the sun, but to minimize damage, we recommend that you always roll it up when not using it. This will dramatically reduce the amount of sunlight your awning gets exposed to, which will save it from a lot of deterioration.

Awnings can take quite a bit of stress, but if you’re not careful, they’ll give out very quickly. Using this guide, you should be able to preserve your RV’s awning for many years, but if you have any further questions, feel free to come ask us at The Outpost RV. We also do awning repair and can help if you need any parts or service, right here in Middlebury, Indiana.