Awnings are excellent fixtures to have in your home. They will add an aesthetic appeal to the exterior of your home. Besides the aesthetic value of awnings, they provide a shade for protection against elements. There are different types of awnings that you can choose for your home, including freestanding or stationary awnings and retractable awnings. Retractable awnings are among the best options to choose, which is majorly because of their ability to fold, giving you the ultimate control of a shade. However, in order to enjoy the benefits of the retractable awnings, you need to know a few things about these types of awnings. Here are some of the things that will help you gain the full advantage of your retractable awnings.
Handling Wind Issues
If you live in a wind prone area, one of the things you should be very careful about if you own a retractable awning is a windstorm. Windstorms can lead to tattering of your awnings. Therefore, remember to always retract your retractable awnings before a windstorm.
Windstorms are not the only wind-related problem that you should be concerned about. Wind gusts can also damage your awnings. The positioning of the awnings is very important when it comes to the effect of wind gusts. Don't ignore small wind gusts if your awnings are not near buildings or trees that can help reduce the strength of wind. Retract the awnings even when there are small wind gusts.
Maintenance of the Tracks
Retractable awnings, whether manually or electrically operated, move along tracks during expansion or retraction. The tracks may sometimes be filled with dirt and other debris, which means that you will have to be keen on that so that your awnings don't get stuck. Apart from the dirt and debris, rust can also lead to similar problems. Therefore, lubricate the tracks periodically or go for tracks with rustproof material such as stainless steel.
Troubleshooting Electrically Powered Retractable Awnings
Electrically powered retractable awnings usually retract and extend automatically because of electric sensors. These sensors may fail, and you need to have them replaced. However, before replacing the sensors, you need to make sure that the problem is not with your electrical supply.
Start by checking whether the outlet that supplies power to the awning is turned on. You should also confirm that your retractable awning's fuse is not blown up or that the breaker has not tripped.
If these do not work, try replacing the batteries of the remote control with new ones. If it still does not work, you may want to call an electrician or awning specialist.
Share26 April 2016
Hello! Welcome to my blog! My name is Julie and I live in a large house in the suburbs of Perth, Australia. My husband and I moved into our current home a couple of years ago and since then we have been working to transform it into our dream place. The house itself is lovely, but the interior looked like something from the 1970s. When we started our renovation project we didn't have a clue what we were doing. However, with each job we completed and each mistake we made, we learnt a new skill. I decided I would like to share what we have learnt here.