With the outdoor living craze comes the desire to add televisions to outdoor entertaining areas. While this sounds great, it isn’t always ideal for the television. While other outdoor components can withstand the humidity, wind, and occasional heavy thunderstorm, your outdoor television is not made for that. There are some outdoor televisions made specifically to withstand the elements, but they are often much more expensive.
Related Read: 9 Best Outdoor TVs for Your Patio or Garden
Ways to Protect an Outdoor TV Made for Indoors
Most homeowners in the Kansas City area choose to install a regular television and just protect it. However, keep in mind that regular TVs are affected by temperature as much as humidity.
Placing your TV in a covered or shaded area will help with that, but we will warn you that the elements will eventually take their toll and you will have to replace your TV when it finally poops out.
Additionally, television manufacturers will refuse to honor any warranty or guarantee claim if they think you kept the TV in a humid, extremely hot or cold, or dusty environment. With that being said, here are five ways the Fusion Electric team has come up with to help you protect your television outdoors this summer:
1. Screen It In
If your outdoor television is on your covered porch, why not just make that porch a screened in one.
Many screened in porches also give you the flexibility to switch out the screens for glass panels.
This is a great way to protect your outdoor television. Having the ability to switch from screen to glass panels also allows you to enjoy your outdoor porch and television all year round!
2. Install a Cabinet System
2. Install a Cabinet SystemAnother great concept to keep your television out of harm’s way it to install a cabinet system around it.
You can big a build cabinet system that gives you more outdoor storage, or you can just install a one-door piece that keeps your outdoor television out of the elements when it’s not in use.
You may want to open it up occasionally if it hasn’t been used to make sure air is circulating and moisture doesn’t accumulate inside the cabinet.
Related Read: Outdoor Patio Ideas for Spring 2015
3. Use a Slipcover
An easy solution is also to use a slipcover to safeguard your outdoor television. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but it will do the job.
Just make sure you use one that covers the entire television, front, back and sides, and that it secures tightly around your tv and attached cables and wires.
One drawback to this solution is that you cannot lock your TV up from would-be TV snatchers.
4. Make a Window into a TV Screen
If you’re lucky enough to have a window in the right place for outdoor watching, you can turn it into a TV screen cover. Just point the TV screen out an existing window and install outdoor speakers.
Simple, cost-effective, and smart. The problem with this solution is that your TV screen will not provide the quality you’re used to. A helpful tip is to open the window when you want to use the TV.
5. Take It Down & Bring It Inside
Lastly, if installing and covering isn’t your style, or you are just too afraid to keep a valuable piece of technology outdoors in the elements, install a television stand outside that allows you to easily remove your television whenever you want.
This way you can take it down and bring it inside when you know that a storm is coming, extreme temperatures are in the forecast, or that you’ll be gone from your home for an extended period of time.
