The Awning That Tore Itself Off

Awning tore off mid-extension. Sixty mile-an-hour gust nobody saw coming. Submission this week from a viewer in Wyoming.

Three years old. Manufacturer-installed. Looked fine. Until it didn't. Wind sensor failed to auto-retract. By the time he got the manual override, the awning was a kite.

Wind sensors fail. Auto-retract fails. The fail-safe is — you. Don't trust the technology. If wind picks up, retract manually. Don't wait for the sensor.

Inspection — pull the awning out fully every spring. Look at the arms. Look at the fabric. Look at the spring tension. Cracks or fatigue, replace before the trip.