As an owner of multiple TVs, I know how important it is to store them correctly to ensure their longevity and performance. Recently, I’ve become increasingly frustrated with trying to find the right answer to the question: can TVs be stored in the cold or outside? After doing some research, I’ve come up with a list of pros and cons, tips and tricks to help owners like me, who are looking for the best way to store their TVs. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing the results of my research and some other solutions I’ve discovered.
| Type of Television | Considerations | Pros and Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Regular TVs | – Designed for indoor use | Pros: None |
| – Susceptible to heat, humidity, dust, and insects | Cons: | |
| – Operate within specific temperature range (50 to 90°F or 10 to 33°C) | – Cannot withstand extreme temperatures or outdoor use | |
| – Warranty may prohibit outdoor placement | – Susceptible to damage from dust, insects, and voiding warranty | |
| Outdoor TVs | – Designed to withstand elements and extreme temperatures | Pros: |
| – Operate within wider temperature range (-20 to 120°F or -20 to 48°C) | – Can withstand extreme temperatures and outdoor conditions | |
| – Sealed and protected from bugs, insects, and debris | – More durable than regular TVs | |
| – Check IP rating for weather resistance | – Come with IP rating for protection against dust and moisture | |
| – Store in a location protected from direct sunlight or rain, or use a waterproof/weather-resistant cover | Cons: | |
| – Match TV’s temperature range with the environment’s temperature fluctuations | – May still be damaged by extreme temperatures and direct sunlight |
Table of Contents
Types of Television
Whether or not you can store your TV outdoors depends on its make and model. Televisions come in a wide range of specs and features, such as build and durability. As a result, you should carefully inspect it before placing it in your backyard.
Here are the things that you might want to consider before putting your television outside your home:
- Regular TVs
If you have a regular television, we advise you against placing it outside.
First and foremost, standard televisions are optimized and designed specifically for indoor use. For this reason, they’re highly susceptible to the elements, including heat, humidity, dust, and insects.
In addition, regular televisions are built to function within a specific temperature range of around 50 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 to 33 degrees Celsius. With that in mind, exposing your standard television to extreme heat or cold may result in permanent damage.
In fact, manufacturers warn against placing or using an indoor TV outside. This is because it can corrode some essential components of your device, including the LCD panel and circuitry.
Most importantly, regular TV warranties prohibit placing the appliance outside for safety and longevity reasons. As a result, you might void your TV’s warranty if you violate it.
- Outdoor TVs
On the other hand, outdoor televisions are specifically designed to survive the corrosive elements that would otherwise ruin standard TVs.
An outdoor TV can typically operate in temperatures between minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit and 120 degrees Fahrenheit or minus 20 to 48 degrees Celsius. In other words, it won’t be as susceptible to the cold or even direct sunlight as other models.
Not to mention, the overall construction of outdoor televisions is sealed and protected from bugs, insects, and debris that might enter and damage the internal parts of the TV.
Therefore, moving these kinds of TV sets outdoors won’t cause too many difficulties or issues.
- Weather Resistance
Another thing to look out for is the weather resistance of the television you’re planning on moving out.
Weather resistance in devices is typically reflected by their IP rating. An IP rating, or ingress protection rating, is a system of measurement in electronic devices in terms of how well they withstand external factors that can potentially damage them.
For instance, a TV with an IP 56 certification has level 5 protection against harmful particles and level 6 protection from moisture and humidity. This means it’s protected against dust, debris, and condensation.
Ideally, for televisions you would place outside of your home, you would want to have an IP rating of 66 to endure prolonged exposure.
An IP rating of 66 means your device is completely protected from outside particles and elements and is robustly temperature and water-resistant.
So, make sure to check your television’s IP rating before thinking about exposing it to the elements.
- Location
One last thing to consider is your location.
If you reside in an area where significant temperature changes are frequent, we recommend storing your TV indoors, particularly if you own a regular model.
In the case of an outdoor TV, you still have to decide on a place to store it. Keep in mind that although they’re manufactured as an “outdoor” device, they’re not entirely impervious to damage.
Thus, covering it with a waterproof and weather-resistant wrap or blanket might be the best course of action. In addition, using protective measures, such as weatherproof TV enclosures like TV Shield, can significantly reduce direct exposures and extend the overall longevity of your TV.
On the other hand, if you don’t like spending, it’s best to place the device in an area that can protect it from direct sunlight or rain, such as porch awnings or garages.
Finally, you also have to watch out for the range of temperature fluctuations in your area relative to the temperature resistance of your television.
As mentioned above, televisions function at a specific temperature range. So, you have to take note of the highest and lowest temperatures in your environment and match them with your TV’s temperature range for the best results.
Pros and Cons of Storing TVs Outdoors
- Pros:
- Outdoor televisions are specially designed to withstand extreme temperatures and the elements.
- They are more durable than regular televisions and can last longer.
- Outdoor televisions come with an IP rating that protects them from dust and moisture.
- Cons:
- Regular televisions cannot withstand extreme temperatures and are not designed for outdoor use.
- They can be damaged by dust and insects, and may void their warranty.
- Outdoor televisions may still be damaged by extreme temperatures and direct sunlight.
Conclusion
So, can TVs be stored outside or in the cold? It depends.
As mentioned above, standard and outdoor TVs vary in durability when facing the elements.
To make sure your TV can be stored outside, you must first determine its make and model. Next, check the IP rating and temperature range of the device. Last, but not least, choose the best location possible for your TV to prevent any potential damage.
