Everything you need to know about RV Awnings

Awnings are a fabric which is setup at the side of your caravan when you go out on a family trip. But the irregular maintenance of your awning will leave you with an unsatisfied trip. They should be inspected and maintained regularly by experts. As awnings don’t require heavy maintenance here are some tips which will increase the life of your awning.

Know your Fabric

There are two basic types of fabric used for awning, they are vinyl and acrylic.

Acrylic fabric is made up of woven cloth that repels water and allows air to circulate, but it is not water proof so it takes few hours to dry after getting wet.

Vinyl fabric is mildew resistant but not mildews proof, they can easily filter dust, but they are susceptible to mildew when exposed to heat and high humidity.

Keep it Mildew and Dust free

If you are planning to use your awning after storing it for a long time then be aware to see Mildews and stains on it. A simple cleaning with soft cloth and cotton will keep your awning mildew and dirt free.

Apply Cleaners

There are many cleaners available in the market, but use the cleaner suggested by the manufacturer. Never use oil-based or abrasive cleaners! You can apply cleaner on the awning both inner and outer surface and let it soak in the awning. After several minutes gently scrub the awning and rinse it on both the sides.

Do a Thorough Inspection

A thorough inspection is necessary to discover the wear and tear of your awning. Take a look at the hardware, lag screws in the awning brackets, and the end caps to ensure a secure mount. But don’t try to remove the end caps! Make sure that awning rail is securely mounted to the side of RV.

Never Leave RV’s Unattended

Awnings cannot withstand huge amount of liquids, heavy rains and strong winds. So when you go for a camp and enjoy the whole day under the protection of an RV, after your enjoyment tie your awning safely and never leaves it throughout night. If something unexpected happens, it leads to complete destruction of your awning.

A large patio awning is likely to be damaged into pieces if left unattended at night. For better results keep it in travel position when you retire to sleep.

Keep the Awning Dry

Always keep your awning dry for very best results. Never roll your awning when it is wet because it will deteriorate the quality of the fabric used and increase the chances of getting Mildew. So before rolling the awning keep it in sun for a while and let it dry.

Make sure you have Insurance

Make sure that your awnings repairs are also covered under your insurance plan when an accident happens. By taking care of this point you can get your awning also repaired without spending money separately for it.

These are the tips you have to follow to maintain your RV awning for a long time.