Installing an outdoor TV is the perfect addition to your outdoor living space, and provides entertainment for your friends and family of all ages. In order to have the best outdoor entertainment experience possible, it’s important to keep in mind logistics such as where you would add it, what type of TV you have in mind, and how to get the most out of your investment.
Outdoor vs Indoor TVs
Knowing the difference between the two types of TVs and their features is a good first step in the installation process. Moving an indoor TV outside may seem like the cheaper option, but making the investment in buying and installing an outdoor TV is often worth the cost. Unlike indoor systems, outdoor TVs are equipped with features to protect against the elements including fans to keep them cool in the harsh heat, and heaters to keep them warm in the winter. Bringing your indoor TV outside will void its warranty because it’s not built to protect against threats like moisture and insects. Additional factors like wind, rain, salt air, humidity, and extreme temperatures can quickly ruin the average TV. Plus, mixing the TV’s electricity with water poses an electrical hazard. So, researching and buying an outdoor TV with the right features is worth the time and money rather than buying several indoor TVs.
Where to Install Your Screen
Before buying a TV to match your budget, it’s important to know where the TV will be placed. Picking a location with electrical access is important in itself, but there are other factors to take into account such as the size and the brightness of the screen. Generally, it’s good practice to install the TV in a fully-shaded or partially-shaded location because of brightness issues. If the TV is installed in direct sunlight, the picture may be too dim for viewers to see during the day. An indoor TV’s brightness usually falls around 350-450 nits (the unit measurement for TV light), but outdoor TVs can offer brightness up to 700 nits. The size of your outdoor living space makes a difference in how large a TV you should purchase. For example, if you have an expansive outdoor living area, you’ll want a larger TV to ensure that everyone can see the picture. But if it’s a smaller, more intimate setting, a massive TV may overwhelm the space.
How to Protect It
There are other measures you can take to protect your TV that don’t involve the TV’s built-in defensive features. Even with a well-equipped TV, exposing it to the elements 24/7 can take a toll on its hardware over time. So, to make your TV last even longer, installing it within a cabinet not only protects it from the weather, but it also guards against theft. By lining the crevices with weather-proof strips, you can better lock out moisture and other potential threats. Another good way to protect your TV is by purchasing the proper mount because, without a heavy-duty mount, your TV may come crashing down. Outdoor TVs tend to be heavier than their indoor counterparts, so buying a sturdy, weather-proof TV mount assures owners that their TV is in safe hands.
Additional Features
Not only is having a great picture ideal for the perfect outdoor entertainment system, but having a great outdoor surround sound system also adds to the experience. Understandably, having the whole scene loaded with boxy speakers may not be ideal for your indoor-outdoor oasis, but luckily, there are many disguised speaker options. You can buy weather-resistant speakers to look like planters or rocks in order to maintain that comfortable, great outdoors atmosphere.
Having the perfect outdoor getaway is essential for summer cookouts and parties alike, and adding an entertainment system that’s safe to use outside adds a new level of luxury. So, making the right decisions regarding buying and installing can ensure that your TV and sound system will last for years to come.
