5 Easy Steps to Protecting Your Patio Umbrella in High Winds
Having a patio umbrella is a great way to enjoy the sunny days comfortably. But what about the rain and storms? Despite withstanding bad weather, a high wind situation can topple the parasol or, worse, blow it away.
You probably know about wind resistance if you have been bothered about the patio umbrella getting damaged or blown away due to windy weather. In addition to having a wind-resistant patio umbrella, you should also follow some procedures to extend the lifespan of the product.
After all, it can be quite frustrating to see your patio umbrella fall over due to the wind. Plus, you should not be pushing the limits of your patio umbrella by keeping it open in a high-wind situation.
This article will tell you about 5 ways to protect your patio umbrella in high winds. Read on to learn so you can make your umbrella last longer!
1. Secure the Umbrella to a Sturdy Table
To ensure your patio umbrella does not fall over from the high wind, the first thing you can do is use a solid base. A durable patio table can help you in this. By securing the umbrella to the patio table, you can provide better support for the standing sunshade.
In addition, this will provide you with the perfect space for keeping your food and drinks under the shade.
The best way to do this is to find a table with a hold in the middle where you can insert the pole of the umbrella. Solid cast aluminum is a good material choice for the patio table.
2. Tighten the Bolt to Secure the Umbrella
After you have found the right patio table for placing the umbrella, you need to ensure it is tightly secured in its place. This will also prevent the umbrella from unnecessary spinning.
You need to choose a table with a thumbscrew or bolt and tighten it properly, so the umbrella remains in the same position. Look for the screw and see if it is loose.
Remember that the bolt or screw will tend to become loose with time. As a result, your umbrella will lose its firm stand. So, after a while, you may want to check whether the screw is tightened correctly and replace it with a new one if needed.
3. Add More Weight to the Base
Apart from using a robust patio table to help the umbrella stand, you should also add some weights to the umbrella base. This will add more stability to the device, keeping it in place even under high winds.
Patio umbrellas allow you to dig them directly deep into the ground. But that is not the best solution.
Ideally, you should use weights of about fifty pounds or more. You can use some bricks to add weight to the base. But this will not work under high wind conditions, as the umbrella will vibrate due to oscillation.
You can use a hollow plastic base with the umbrella and fill it with water to add the necessary weights. However, the best option would be to use wet sandbags. These are heavy enough to keep the umbrella stable in all situations but easily movable.
Unlike metal weights, you can remove the sand in smaller quantities when you need to shift the umbrella.
4. Get an Umbrella Cone Wedge
Using an umbrella cone is perhaps one of the best methods of securing the device under high wind conditions. It is also helpful if the umbrella base is too big for the pole size.
Note: The hole in the patio table is often made big enough to accommodate all umbrella pole sizes.
Using the cone wedge method can ensure that your umbrella stays secured in this scenario, protecting it from breakage.
The cone wedge is a simple rubber device you place on the umbrella shaft. It connects the table and the umbrella by filling the gap between them. This way, it stabilizes the long shaft of the umbrella and prevents falling over or breakage.
However, it may work best if the pole of your umbrella has a diameter of about 1 ½ inch, which is the standard pole size anyway. If the pole is bigger than 2.5 inches, this technique will not work.
5. Keep the Umbrella Closed When It's Too Windy Outside
Of course, the best solution to keep your umbrella protected in high winds is to not keep it open in the first place. Patio umbrellas are known for their durability under outdoor weather conditions, agreed. But even that has a limit.
Usually, a 15-20 mph wind velocity is nothing to worry about. But if the range crosses 20 mph, you might want to close the umbrella.
Now you are probably thinking if 20 mph wind speed is too much! Even the National Weather Service does not inform unless there is a chance of sustained winds of 30 mph.
But consider this as a thumb rule for keeping your umbrella safe. If it's not comfortable for you to stay outside in the wind, it is not safe for your umbrella either.
Wrapping Up
Your patio umbrella is a great asset to have. It will serve you under every weather, given you maintain it properly. Just because it can withstand the outdoor climate does not mean you should put it through extremities.
With these easy steps, you can ensure better protection for the umbrella, especially under high wind situations. Nonetheless, some of these tips will be useful under regular weather conditions as well.
Just make sure to get a sturdy umbrella with a solid frame and base, and keep the joints and screws tightly secured. You can expect the parasol or cantilever to last for a long time if you can maintain these basic precautions.
