Community Forums

Full.Monte · 10-13-2011, 07:19 AM

Hi,
Haven't owned my coach for very long and am learning a lot from you guys!
My awning smells like mildew when I open it, and it is moist. It also has telltale mildew stains on the underside. Yesterday, I brushed it with a mixture of soap and diluted chlorox and let it dry in the sun. It did take the mildew smell away. I suspect that the water is wicking into the rolled-up awning when it rains. I notice that the roof gutter drain is close to the end of the awning. Is there something I should be doing to prevent water from getting inside the awning, or am I stuck unrolling it every week during rainy season?

450Donn · 10-13-2011, 07:27 AM

Since I live in rain country, it is simply something I have learned to live with. Open it up and clean it really well. The mildew is generally caused because of dirt trapped on the awning material. It is normal. I leave it all winter and attack it in the spring.

Doug Sage · 10-13-2011, 08:03 AM

My experience is that the awnings that do not have the metal wraps or covers tend to collect water whereas the covered ones tend to be drier. That being said even the covered awnings will collect water is wind blows it in one end. Some people have tried to cover the end with a plastic bottle cut in half but you have to remove it before driving. Others, like me, just don't worry much about it and clean the awning in the spring.

HD4Mark · 10-13-2011, 08:28 AM

On the first long trip in our new to us MH a few years ago we discovered how much moisture the awning can collect while rolled up. Going from the north to Florida the frozen moisture started to melt and blow out the back. I kept seeing something splash out onto the highway. Swell, not even half way and we are leaking something. Not overheating, no red lights on dash we pull into the first rest stop and see the little trail of water from the back of the awning down the side. What a relief that was all it was.

Triker56 · 10-13-2011, 08:57 AM

Metal wrap or not, the awning will get wet if it rains.
Those metal wraps are just extra $$ to give you a good feeling.
But they do very little to increase the life of the awning or keep it dry.

Magic Bus · 10-13-2011, 09:10 AM

The metal wraps are not water tight, but, they definitely help to save awning material
from being ripped and torn by tree branches. Kinda like a suit of armor.

GaryKD · 10-13-2011, 12:54 PM

Hi Full.Monte,
First is to make sure the rain gutter is clear of debris. Next consider putting gutter extensions on the ends. Go to Camco Mfg Inc - RV Gutter Spouts with Extensions, 4pk - Awning Accessories - Camping World to see a sample. Lastly, put two clothes pins on the extensions. This will wick the water away from the coach. The awning may still get wet, but it will not be from the rain gutter.

MaverickBBD · 10-14-2011, 05:23 AM

Do you happen to know what type awning material you have? Not all awning material is the same. Depending upon the type of material you can try various treatments but nothing is going to beat fresh dry air and sunshine but then that is murder for a lot of material too.

RELHUB · 10-14-2011, 05:40 AM

I carry a small swifter type cloth on a extension pole and clean the awning both sides each time we have it rolled out. I do this again just before I am ready to roll the awning in for our journey home. This keeps it cleaner in between our heavy cleanings about three times a year.

336muffin · 10-14-2011, 06:46 PM

Acrylic awning won't do this, I have rolled mine up in the rain and traveled with no problem. I don't practice this but some times it happens. The difference in material is worth it to me. Acrylic is like a cloth and breathes and dries itself rather than holding water.

Full.Monte · 10-16-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaverickBBD

Do you happen to know what type awning material you have? Not all awning material is the same. Depending upon the type of material you can try various treatments but nothing is going to beat fresh dry air and sunshine but then that is murder for a lot of material too.

The material seems to be a heavy vinyl or something similar. It smells like plastic, and when wet, mildew. Unless I can keep the water out, it looks like I'll be opening the awning a lot more than I planned.

tvman44 · 10-16-2011, 08:44 AM

The awnings do wick in the water when it rains while they are rolled up. Some people say they take a 2 liter pop bottle and cut it and slip them over the ends to prevent that.