How to Stop Water from Pooling on an Awning

You invest in an outdoor awning or canopy for the protection and shade it offers. If an awning is not properly installed or adequately maintained, it may not last as long as it should. This is often the case for awnings made with low-quality fabrics and framing.

Awnings that aren’t built to last are more susceptible to wear and tear that can lead to water pooling, sagging or leaking. It can be frustrating when your backyard canopy or commercial awning doesn’t work how it should.

What Causes Water to Pool on Awnings?

An awning is intended to shield a patio or doorway from rain and provide a dry reprieve for homeowners and customers. When the rain begins to collect on an outdoor canopy or awning, it can destroy the fabric and/or frame over time.

The first step to keeping water from pooling on your awning is understanding the potential causes:

• The awning fabric is over-stretched and worn out. Heavy wind and rain can cause an awning to eventually lose its resiliency, especially if the fabric is not UV resistant or waterproof. 

• The awning frame is weak and unsupportive. Tension is vital for canopies and awnings. If the fabric is stretched flat and tight over the frame, chances are water won’t pool.

Can You Fix a Sagging or Pooling Awning?

If you’re not ready to spend money on a brand-new awning from a reputable company like Arizona Awnings, there are a few quick fixes that might help:

• Enhance or adjust the awning’s support. If your retractable awning or patio canopy tends to sag and collect water in certain areas, you can try stringing something like a pool noodle across the underside of your awning to even the fabric out. Another temporary solution would be to build your own support system using wood, PVC pipes, etc. Keep in mind, this is only a short-term repair and it is not intended to support the awning for an extended period of time.

• Tighten the awning’s fabric. In some cases, you may be able to tighten a sagging retractable awning by cranking the handle in reverse until the fabric is tight again. Of course, this fix can only work on retractable awnings. Stationary awnings that are installed in a fixed position may need to be partially or fully replaced.

• Angle the awning or retract it completely during a storm. If your awning can be retracted, try repositioning it to a different angle to prevent rain from pooling. If what’s underneath the awning is okay to get wet, you can always retract it to prevent any further damage during a monsoon.

Is It Possible to Prevent an Awning from Leaking or Pooling?

If your awning isn’t waterproof or water-resistant, leaking may not always be preventable, but there are steps you can take to maintain it. Of course, low-quality awning fabrics will need to be replaced much more frequently than an awning made with durable materials.

Regardless, here's what you can do to better take care of an outdoor awning:

• Clean the awning regularly to prevent the build-up of mold, dirt and pollutants that may speed up the corrosion of the awning’s fabric and hardware.

• Patch any rips or tears in the awning by using special tape, patches or waterproof adhesives.

• Protect your awning against sun damage by regularly sweeping off any debris and hosing the fabric down with soap and water.

High-Quality, Durable Shade Solutions in Phoenix

Whether you’re looking to replace an existing awning or add a canopy to your backyard in the Valley, Arizona Awnings is the company to call. We are a built-to-order awning company serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe. Our products are manufactured with the highest quality fabrics and toughest metals so you can enjoy your outdoor awning for years to come.

From retractable patio awnings to shade structures, we offer residential and commercial services throughout the Valley.

Give us a call at 602-252-3430 for a free on-site consultation and personalized estimate.