Why Won’t My Patio Umbrella Close?

Do you have a patio umbrella that won’t close? Wondering what the problem is? If your umbrella won’t close, it could be because of one of these three issues. 

  • The first problem could be that the umbrella is not properly weighted. patio umbrellas need to be weighted down in order to stay open, and if your umbrella is not weighted down properly, it will not close.  
  • The second problem could be that the fabric of the umbrella is caught on something. If the fabric is caught on a nail or a piece of metal, for example, the umbrella will not close.  
  • The third problem could be that there is something blocking the path of the umbrella. If, for example, there is a plant in the way, the umbrella will not close. 

If you are having trouble closing your patio umbrella, take a look at these three potential problems. If you can’t determine what the problem is, try calling a patio umbrella repairman. 

If patio umbrellas are not properly weighted, they will not close, so be sure to check the patio umbrella thoroughly for any weights or gravel bags that you might have put in it.  

If patio umbrellas are not properly weighted, they will also tip over in the wind very easily. Make sure patio umbrellas are weighted down before reopening them after a storm.  

If patio umbrellas are still stuck open after being checked and double checked for weights and gravel bags, then take a look at what might be obstructing the path of the umbrella. Perhaps there is something blocking the umbrella’s path through each opening and closing process?  

Check that all of the parts are in working order 

Check that all of the parts are in working order, including the crank, pole hinge, and canopy ring. 

Patio umbrellas are a great way to add some shade to your outdoor area, but only if they’re working properly! If you’re having trouble closing your patio umbrella, take a look at these three potential problems and try to determine what the issue might be. If you can’t figure it out on your own, it might be time to call in a patio umbrella repairman. 

How to fix patio umbrella that wont close? 

Ok, so you have this great patio umbrella, but for some reason it won’t close. If you tried pushing the button on the pole and nothing happened you might want to try this trick. 

I discovered this by chance while looking for a solution to my problem. I had two large holes in the umbrella ribs and the umbrella would not close. I tried shoving a broom stick through the holes, but that didn’t work. 

Then I decided to try finding a piece of copper pipe that would fit inside the holes and use it to push down on a spring type thing located on the pole. I found a 6″ piece of 5/8ths copper at my local home improvement store and used it. It fit perfectly over both broken parts of the rib and worked perfectly. I drilled a small hole in the middle of it so I could put some rope around it and hook it onto the pole. 

After that all I had to do was drill some holes in the top of the umbrella ribs to put rope through and tie them onto the pole as well. Problem solved! 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, patio umbrellas will not close without being able to be pushed down by either weights or the crank itself. If patio umbrellas are stuck open after all of these conditions have been checked, then there might be something blocking the path of the patio umbrella.  

Before calling in patio umbrella repairman , check for any weights that may be left within the patio umbrella and also check for anything that might be obstructing the path of the patio umbrella before finally resorting to patio umbrella repair man services.