Have you ever been sitting on your deck, enjoying a beautiful day under your awning, when suddenly—WHIRR, CLICK—your awning starts retracting all by itself? No wind, no storm clouds, just your awning seemingly deciding it’s had enough of providing shade for the day?
If you’re nodding your head right now thinking, “YES! This happens to me all the time!” then you’re definitely not alone. In fact, you’re part of about 90% of our service calls here at Atlantic Awning.
The Plot Twist: It’s Not Actually Broken!
Here’s the thing that might surprise you—your awning isn’t malfunctioning. It’s actually doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. But before you throw your hands up in frustration, let us explain why this happens and, more importantly, how you can prevent it. (READ MORE HERE)
Meet the Culprit: Your Wind/Motion Sensor
Picture this: somewhere on your awning system, there’s a small device that’s working 24/7 to protect your investment. This little hero is called a wind/motion sensor, and it’s basically the guardian angel of your awning. But like any good guardian angel, sometimes it can be a bit… overprotective.
Here’s How Your Somfy System Really Works:
Think of it like a conversation between two friends:
• Your Somfy motor is constantly chatting with your wind/motion sensor
• They’re checking in with each other regularly, like “Hey, how’s the weather up there?”
• The sensor is always monitoring for movement, vibration, or wind acceleration
• When it detects motion beyond its programmed threshold, it immediately tells the motor: “DANGER! Close now!”
But here’s where it gets interesting: • If the sensor can’t reach the motor (communication breakdown), the motor assumes the worst • It thinks: “If I can’t hear from my safety buddy, something must be wrong—better safe than sorry!” • Result? Your awning retracts automatically, even on a perfectly calm day
The Real Reasons Your Awning is “Misbehaving”
We’ve seen it all over the years, and these are the most common culprits:
Dead Battery Syndrome
What happens: The sensor’s battery dies quietly (they don’t send you a low-battery warning!)
The result: Complete communication blackout between sensor and motor
Your experience: Awning closes randomly, seemingly for no reason
The fix: Replace the battery (yes, it’s usually that simple!)
The Missing Sensor Mystery
What happens: The sensor gets knocked off, falls down, or someone “tidies it up” into a drawer
The result: Motor can’t find its safety partner
Your experience: Awning works when you open it, then closes shortly after
The fix: Find that sensor and put it back where it belongs!
Salt Air Sabotage (For Our Coastal Friends)
What happens: Ocean air and humidity are tough on electronics
The result: Batteries corrode faster, sensors fail prematurely
Your experience: More frequent mysterious closings
The fix: More frequent battery changes (every 6 months instead of yearly)
Communication Breakdown
What happens: Interference, age, or environmental factors disrupt the signal
The result: Intermittent connection between motor and sensor
Your experience: Inconsistent behavior—sometimes it works fine, sometimes it doesn’t
The fix: Professional diagnosis to determine if sensor needs replacement or repositioning
Our Atlantic Awning Prevention Plan
The Annual Battery Ritual
Mark your calendar right now! Pick a date each year (we suggest when daylight saving time begins or ends) to change your wind sensor battery. Think of it like changing your smoke detector batteries—it’s a small investment that prevents big headaches.
For coastal properties: Make it twice a year. That salt air is beautiful to look at, but brutal on electronics.
The Common Sense Rule
Here’s something we tell every customer: Your wind sensor is smart, but it’s not psychic.
• Sensors can fail without warning
• Power outages can disable your system
• Extreme weather can overwhelm even the best protection
• When in doubt, retract manually
The Storm Strategy
Our golden rule: When you see dark clouds or feel strong winds, don’t rely on your sensor alone. Take control and retract your awning manually.
Why? Because Mother Nature is unpredictable, and even the strongest awning systems have their limits. We’ve seen perfectly good awnings damaged because owners relied solely on their sensors during severe weather.
When to Call the Professionals
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the problem persists. Here’s when you should give us a call:
• Battery replacement doesn’t solve the problem
• You can’t locate your wind sensor
• The awning behavior is completely erratic
• You’re uncomfortable working with the sensor yourself
• You live in a coastal area and suspect salt air damage
The Bottom Line
That mysterious awning behavior isn’t so mysterious after all! In most cases, it’s actually your awning system working hard to protect itself. A simple battery change once (or twice) a year can save you from frustration and potentially expensive service calls.
Remember: your Somfy system is designed to err on the side of caution. It would rather close unnecessarily than stay open and risk damage. Once you understand this logic, those random closings start to make perfect sense.
Your Next Steps
1. Check your wind sensor battery today (when’s the last time you changed it?)
2. Set a yearly reminder for battery replacement
3. Locate and secure your sensor (make sure it’s properly mounted and hasn’t fallen off)
4. Keep our number handy for when you need professional help
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Still having issues after trying these solutions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Atlantic Awning. We’ve been solving these mysteries for years, and we’re here to help you get the most out of your investment. After all, you bought that awning to enjoy your outdoor space—not to play detective every time you want some shade!
Contact Atlantic Awning today for expert service and peace of mind.