What Protects Best - An Outdoor TV Cover Or Outdoor TV?
27th Feb 2020
Outdoor TV Cover vs Outdoor TV: The Best TV Protection Options
Outdoor TVs have become very popular in recent years and so have the ways in which you can protect them from the weather. When you’re buying a TV for outside, you’ll need to decide whether you need an outdoor TV cover or a full enclosure to maintain your investment.
Traditionally, if you want to watch TV outside, you had to grab a buddy and haul your living room set outside, find somewhere to plug it in, and then carry it back inside when you were done. Now, with today’s smaller, lighter screens and protective technology, you can enjoy a permanent outdoor viewing setup without having to recreate the wheel or worry about damage to your TV.
Having a TV outdoors has become increasingly popular, offering the luxury of entertainment in the comfort of your backyard or outdoor space. The key question for outdoor TV owners is how to protect their valuable electronics from harsh weather conditions and other outdoor hazards. This choice often boils down to selecting between an outdoor TV cover or a more robust outdoor TV enclosure. But which is the best option for ensuring the longevity and safety of your TV?
There’s no doubt your TV needs protection. Rain, sprinklers, storms with flying objects, moisture, theft, hot and cold temperatures, and bugs are just a few threats to electronics outdoors. But in the outdoor TV cover vs enclosure debate, which one do you really need? Let’s look at some specifics.
Table of Contents:
Outdoor TV Cover vs Enclosure: What’s the Difference?
Bottom Line: Outdoor TV Enclosures are the Superior Choice
Outdoor TV Cover vs Enclosure:
What’s the Difference?
An outdoor TV cover is a piece of cloth or material that is made to fit over a TV. They come in different sizes to give you a “best fit” option for your TV, with the goal of protecting your TV’s screen from some minimal weather elements, debris, and other damage when it’s not in use. When you want to use your TV, you do have to remove the cover, then replace it when you’re done. Removing and replacing it every time you want to push the power button and watch TV can be a pain. Also, this is not all that practical if your TV is hung in a location that you will need to get a ladder to remove and replace it. However, the cloth used does give it a layer of water protection, but does not protect the screen from flying objects, bugs, theft etc. Longevity is a consideration too. We have probably all had water resistant covers on our patio furniture that may have lasted a year or two before needing replacement, if it is a really good outdoor fabric. Typically, this is the same material used for an outdoor TV cover.
Outdoor TV enclosures are like permanent armor for your TV, offering a major upgrade to the TV cover. TV enclosures provide 360-degree protection against weather, bugs, debris, vandalism, and other hazards, and don’t require removal for you to enjoy your TV.
On the other hand, outdoor TV enclosures offer comprehensive protection. These enclosures are akin to permanent armor for your TV, safeguarding it against all sorts of threats, including weather extremes, bugs, debris, and vandalism. They are designed to withstand impacts and don’t require removal for TV usage, offering a hassle-free and more reliable protective solution.
Ultimately, while outdoor TV covers are less expensive, they may not offer the best value in the long run. Frequent replacements due to wear and tear can add up. Conversely, investing in a high-quality outdoor TV enclosure can provide lasting protection, making it a wise investment for anyone serious about safeguarding their outdoor entertainment setup.
Important Details to Consider
Even if your outdoor TV is weatherproof, you’ll need a way to safeguard your screen and media devices from non-weather-related hazards, such as theft, vandalism, bugs, and debris. As you’re comparing your options for outdoor TV protection, consider the following points to help you make the best decision.
Protection
Outdoor TV covers can be effective in keeping out moisture and minimizing exposure to outdoor elements, but their protection can’t compare to an outdoor TV enclosure. Covers are susceptible to getting holes from wear and tear and don’t seal your TV. They also offer no protection against impact.
An outdoor TV enclosure is made to withstand impact and protect against bugs, rain, moisture, debris, and even vandalism. Plus, you can include external media devices, such as a Blu-ray player, in the enclosure for added protection.
Convenience
Outdoor TV enclosures are “permanent” fixtures. Though they can be removed if needed, most people leave them in place year-round. There’s no need to remove covers or clean and adjust your TV when you’re ready for outdoor viewing, which isn’t the case when you opt for a TV cover.
Price
Outdoor TV covers and enclosures vary in price, with covers being the less expensive option. But purchase price doesn’t always align with value. Replacing your outdoor TV cover due to wear and tear can get expensive and the cover doesn’t offer nearly the defense of an enclosure in the first place, so you run high risks of ending up with a broken TV and frequent TV replacement as well. Or worse, if you’ve invested high dollars in a weatherproof outdoor TV (which costs significantly more than an outdoor TV enclosure and TV) you may have to replace your expensive outdoor TV if it sustains impact damage from lack of proper protection.
An outdoor TV enclosure’s higher level of protection means you only have to make one purchase for ongoing protection. It might be a higher initial investment, but its benefits will last for years to come.
Bottom Line:
Outdoor TV
Enclosures are the Superior Choice
When it comes to protection AND value, an outdoor TV enclosure wins over an outdoor TV cover. Ready to explore the most popular outdoor TV enclosures for homes and businesses? Browse our The TV Shield outdoor TV enclosure options…. We manufacture The TV Shield and our other enclosure lines in the USA, have been the leading manufacturer of TV enclosures for over 10 years, and we’re available any time to answer your questions and provide support.
FAQs
What are the main benefits of using an outdoor TV cover?
Outdoor TV covers provide basic protection against minimal weather elements, debris, and damage when the TV is not in use. They are a cost-effective solution for shielding your TV’s screen, especially in mild weather conditions. Hard covers (often called TV enclosures) provide better protection than soft covers.
How does an outdoor TV enclosure differ from a TV cover?
Unlike TV covers, outdoor TV enclosures offer comprehensive, 360-degree protection against weather, bugs, debris, vandalism, and other hazards. They are more durable, do not require removal for TV use, and protect against impacts.
Can outdoor TV covers protect against severe weather conditions?
While outdoor TV covers can keep out some moisture and minimize exposure to elements, their protection is limited compared to enclosures. They are not designed to withstand severe weather conditions like heavy storms or extreme temperatures.
Is it worth investing in an outdoor TV enclosure?
Yes, investing in an outdoor TV enclosure is often a wise choice for long-term protection. Though more expensive initially, they offer a higher level of defense against various outdoor hazards, reducing the risk of frequent replacements and potential damage to your TV.
Do outdoor TV enclosures accommodate additional media devices?
Yes, outdoor TV enclosures can include external media devices such as Blu-ray players, offering added protection for your complete outdoor entertainment setup.