A Beginner's Guide To RV Awning Maintenance

Your RV awning needs regular maintenance just like the other camper parts. Some maintenance tasks are best left to professionals, but there are plenty of simple projects that owners can DIY. Keep reading for the essential RV awning maintenance projects.

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Identify Your RV Awning's Main Material

The first step is figuring out the key material in your camper's awning, which will affect the maintenance tasks and products you use.

Acrylic RV Awnings

These awnings are made from a petroleum-based product, which makes them look like a thick tent fabric. The acrylic helps the awning be water-resistant and mildew-resistant. If the awning gets exposed to intense heat, it will melt rather than catch fire.

Vinyl RV Awnings

These awnings have an antifungal coating, which offers mildew-resistance. It's crucial to avoid wearing down the protective coating, which can be caused by harsh scrubbing or harsh cleaning products.

Preventative RV Awning Maintenance

The biggest part of awning maintenance is keeping issues from happening, which can save you a fortune on repairs or replacements down the road.

Prevent Mildew

A big threat to RV awnings is mildew growth. Mildew needs a dark and wet environment to thrive, so avoid rolling up a wet camper awning and storing it for an extended chunk of time. Instead, make sure the awning is dry before putting it away.

Limit UV Ray Exposure

On a beautiful sunny day, it's enjoyable to sit under the RV awning and enjoy the pleasant weather. But keep in mind that excessive UV ray exposure can weaken the awning's material. Over time, this can eventually cause a tear. Be intentional about how much sun exposure your awning gets.

Be Careful With Windstorms

Heavy winds can be highly damaging to an RV awning. If the winds are expected to exceed 20 miles per hour, be sure to store the awning.

When To Seek Professional RV Awning Maintenance

It's best to leave the more complex maintenance tasks to the experts. They have the skillset, experience, and tools to handle more advanced projects. Let them handle riskier tasks, such as replacing a broken awning. It can be the more budget-friendly approach since failed DIY maintenance tasks often cause further damage and a higher repair bill.

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