Tuesday 30 April 2013

Troubleshooting Your Retractable Awning


Many homeowners find a retractable awning to be a practical addition to their outdoor entertaining area, as it enables them to control the amount of sunlight or shade they receive at any given time. When the awning stops working as it should, however, it can often be quite frustrating, which is why you might be looking at ways that you can troubleshoot it.

Step 1: Ensure that the awning’s power supply has been properly connected; some will plug into an outlet inside whilst others are connected directly to the home’s mains. Is the outlet turned on? Is the switch turned on?

Step 2: Check that the cover’s circuit breaker or fuse is still active, as the power can become disconnected if the breaker or fuse detects that an electrical fault has occurred. You may need to call an electrician for assistance.

Step 3: Place some new batteries into the retractable awning’s remote control, as dead batteries can sometimes make you think that the system isn’t working. You should be able to use standard household batteries.

Step 4: Adjust the awning’s limit settings, as the unit might not be configured correctly for your entertaining area. It won’t fully extend, for example, if the ‘open’ limit setting is too close to the ‘closed’ position.

These settings can often be adjusted via a control panel on the side of the cover; if you are unsure of how to use these controls, consult your owner’s manual or even the internet for more precise instructions.

Step 5: Stop using the awning or unplug it and wait for a few minutes to let the system cool down, as the motor could be overheating. If possible, limit how often you open and close it, especially in summer, to avoid this.

Fortunately, troubleshooting your retractable awning can be quite a simple process once you know what you’re doing. If you are still unable to rectify the issue that your system is experiencing, you might need to contact an electrician or even the company responsible for installing the cover. They should be able to offer you some sort of solution.