Power awning

[patraveler]

I never had a power awning so excuse me for asking this. It was my belief that we can lower one side of a power awning (Tilt) so water could run off when it rains. If so how would you go about doing it? If not then during a rain you have to have the awning retracted and get all your belonging out of harms way unless you wanted them soaked

[JRTJH]

It really depends on the brand of awning you have. Most have an "automatic dump" feature which is a spring loaded/gas piston loaded arm that will automatically lower to empty the awning fabric once enough water accumulates to make it "heavy enough to overcome the spring tension"....

Other awnings have a screw knob that will hold the awning arm down once pulled down. This creates a slope toward the lowered side and prevents most water from accumulating in the awning fabric.

Many awnings, Dometic for one (it's what I have) contain both features. Look at your awning manual, it should tell you exactly what features your awning has and how to best use them.

[chuckster57]

Depends on the brand of awning as to how to change the pitch. Some have a thumb screw that you tighten as you pull down on an arm. Some have a screw that holds two parts of the arm and you simply pull down at that point. Some have "buttons" that stick out and you press them in and move the arm. Can you determine the brand? Or open the awning and take a picture of the arm? Then I could tell you which way to do it on your particular awning.

[LarrySharon]

Mine all you do is pull down on the arm (either end) to cause one end to lower a bit.

[sourdough]

Mine has the auto dump and the screw knobs so you can do both. I will say that I thought I would let it auto dump the first time....the only time. When it finally drops and drains the water it makes a big "thump" when that piston shoves it back into place. I just lower mine manually now because I think the auto dump lets too much water accumulate before it drops and will cause the awning to stretch, plus I really don't like the "thump".

[patraveler]

I do have a spring loaded piston on the unit

Direction say only if equip. Does not say if it does.

We will see on the first hard rain

Thanks everyone

[chuckster57]

The piston is there to aid in opening the awning. It doesn't really "control" the pitch of the fabric. One or both arms have to be physically moved for the pitch to change. The awnings with the slot/knob will "rain dump" as the lower arm isn't in a fixed position if the knob isn't tightened.

If your awning is a Solera brand, then you will see a bolt at about the halfway point on the lower arm. There should be a decal next to the screw telling you to just pull down to change the pitch. If you do have this style and do pull the arm down for whatever reason DO NOT push the arm back up, it will straighten out when the awning is retracted.

[sourdough]

I never had a power awning so excuse me for asking this. It was my belief that we can lower one side of a power awning (Tilt) so water could run off when it rains. If so how would you go about doing it? If not then during a rain you have to have the awning retracted and get all your belonging out of harms way unless you wanted them soaked


You don't say but I assume you've had awnings before. If not, I just want to advise that IMO when you have a rain storm coming in with the potential for high wind you want to pull your awning in regardless....move the belongings.

[rcmike]

You don't say but I assume you've had awnings before. If not, I just want to advise that IMO when you have a rain storm coming in with the potential for high wind you want to pull your awning in regardless....move the belongings.

I would also agree with bring in the awnings when its going to rain. I even bring them in at night when its bed time. Its better to be safe than sorry, especially how much these things cost to replace.

[mikz86ta]

Like chuckster57, my Carefree has the push in pins to adjust the fully open pitch. U can make one side lower than the other for water run off and it still closes fine. They recommend only a 2 click adjust difference tho

[chuckster57]

Mine has the slots/knobs.

[patraveler]

Thsnk you for your response. Going to look at it next week.