Using Retractable Awnings Effectively

Retractable awnings are longer-lived and easier to maintain than their fixed-awning cousins and one of the reasons for that is protection. Simply retracting the awning under a rigid aluminum protective hood during times it is not in use protects the retractable awning from environmental damage.

A handful of accessories make using a retractable awning really easy, with the added benefit of improving the lifetime and performance of retractable awnings.

Move It with Motors
The most basic accessory for a retractable awning is a motor. With a motor, retractable awnings can be opened and closed at the touch of a button.

Retractable awning motors are built and sealed in the roller tube of the retractable awning itself. This protects the motor from dirt, water and debris, which can cause wear or damage to the motor itself. For high-quality motors, the motor is self-lubricating, ensuring that the movement of the retractable awning is always smooth and controlled.

Motors open up a lot of options for how you use the retractable awning. With a motor, a variety of other accessories can be used with the retractable awning, like remote controls, indoor and outdoor switches, timers, and weather sensors. Motorizing a retractable awning increases the likelihood that the retractable awning will be used more frequently by 400%, according to an industry study.

Open on Time: Timers and Sun Sensors
Retractable awnings reduce air conditioning use by 25% or more, lower indoor temperatures 8 to 15 degrees, and lower utility costs. To use a retractable awning most effectively, the retractable awning should be extended throughout the day during spring and summer to prevent sun damage, glare, ultraviolet rays and heat buildup.

If a retractable awning is motorized, there are two accessories that make sure the retractable awning is always open when it’s needed:
• Timers. Simply set a schedule – the time for the retractable awning to open, and the time for it to close – and the retractable awning automatically opens.
• Sun sensors. When the sun hits a user-defined level of brightness, the retractable awning extends, and as the light fades, the retractable awning closes. This is more accurate than a timer, since the retractable awning remains closed, automatically, on cloudy days and adjusts for changing seasons.

Retract in Weather: Wind, Rain, and Motion Sensors
Most damage to retractable awnings comes from some kind of weather: the weight of snow or heavy rain, sharp gusts that wrench the frame. Weather-related sensors detect and immediately close retractable awnings when storms begin to kick up:
• Wind. It’s not safe to have high quality retractable awnings extended in wind speeds over 35mph. A wind sensor closes the retractable awning automatically if the wind hits the user-defined speed.
• Rain. This detects moisture and closes the retractable awning in rain. Water can puddle on fabrics, which can stretch them. If there is too much water, then the weight can damage the arms.
• Motion. Wind sensors look for sustained wind speeds, but a sharp gust can be strong enough to do damage. Motion sensors detect these gusts and retract the awning regardless of the sustained wind speed.

Close Seasonally
While retractable awnings prevent heat gain in summer (good), they also prevent indoor heat gain in winter (bad). Always close retractable awnings in winter to promote indoor heat gain.

This also cuts down on the retractable awning’s exposure to damaging UV rays, which increases the life of the retractable awning fabric.

Adjusting the Angle
Retractable awnings have a slight slope (the pitch). The pitch provides shade when the sun is lower in the sky or runoff when there is a very light rain. Most of the time, the pitch is fixed and can be adjusted by repositioning the retractable awning arms to change the fabricangle. One high-quality feature for retractable awnings is an adjustable pitch, a special crank with allows the slope of the retractable awning to be adjusted easily.

Adjusting the pitch increases the comfort level the retractable awning provides; the shade can be adjusted for late afternoon sun or to deflect light rain. An adjustable pitch expands the useful time of the retractable awning. In addition, the valance can be longer than the standard eight inches to provide extra sun, glare, heat and ultraviolet ray protection.

Doing It by Hand
It is easier to use a retractable awning effectively if the awning is motorized, because the retractable awning’s movements can be automated. If you already have a manual retractable awning, however, it’s still possible to use it effectively, with a little elbow grease. Just remember to close the retractable awning when it’s not in use:
• Retract the awning at night.
• Close the retractable awning during the winter.
• Always close a retractable awning before heavy rain, snow, or storms.

Open retractable awnings on warm, sunny days, and close them in storms, and you will enjoy a lovely, well-maintained, high-quality retractable awning for many years.