How to Protect Outdoor Speakers From Rain and Moisture (2024)

FAQs

How to Protect Outdoor Speakers From Rain and Moisture? ›

Utilize dedicated outdoor speaker covers when the speakers are not in use. These covers are designed to provide a protective barrier against rain, snow, and other environmental factors. Ensure the covers are made from weather-resistant materials to effectively shield the speakers while allowing for proper ventilation.

Installation Considerations: If you can, install outdoor speakers in locations that provide some level of protection, such as under eaves, on covered patios, under pergolas or garden structures. This helps shield the speakers from direct exposure to heavy rain.

Unless your sound system is labeled “Safe for Outdoors” or “Weatherproof” or “Waterproof” or something like that, keep everything dry. Water can get into electronics through ventilation slots, and some loudspeakers have cones that would be damaged by getting wet.

You can make your own water repellent spray to protect your speakers. Just mix a teaspoon of silicone spray with a cup of rubbing alcohol, pour it into a spray bottle, and voila! Give your speakers a gentle spritz for some added water resistance.

Norm always uses plenty of silicone-based caulk to seal outdoor installations. He recommends filling the hole around the speaker wire, wiggling the wire around to expose any gaps, and then hitting it with a second layer.

Not necessarily, however, if you live in an area prone to extreme weather such as sub-zero temperatures, you may want to cover the speakers with a plastic bag or bring them inside to help prevent components from absolute freezing during the long winter months.

If water gets into the speaker, it may temporarily affect it loudness or permanently damage it.

Play low-frequency sounds

Once all visible water is gone, the next step is to play some low-frequency sounds to push water out of the speakers. That sound will cause the speakers to vibrate, effectively shaking out any waterdrops.

The Neighbors

Don't forget nearby homes or your neighbors across the water when you're deciding on the speaker locations. Aiming the speakers from higher up down toward the patio or pool area and away from neighboring yards or houses will help focus the sound in your immediate area.

Waterproof Speakers: Are covered or treated with materials to prevent the permeation of water so that they can come into contact with water without damage. Water-Resistant Speakers: Provides lower protection against water, with coated or treated materials that don't allow water to pass through easily.

Can water vapor damage speakers? ›

It's important to note that even a small amount of water or moisture can cause damage to the speaker. Additionally, water damage may not be immediately apparent, as the speaker may initially continue to function normally.

First, they help keep dirt and grime away from your delicate driver components to help maximize speaker life. Second, by forming a tight mounting seal around the speaker, the baffle can actually help reduce panel-to-frame resonance for better sound.

Most outdoor speaker systems run off an existing indoor receiver. Since the receiver is a sensitive piece of electronics, you almost always want to set the receiver up indoors.

If you live in a place with frigid winters, consider taking your speakers inside for the winter. At the very least, cover your speakers with tarps or plastic bags to keep snow, ice, and rain off them.

Speakers can recover from water damage if you take action quickly, but water can cause permanent damage. It depends on your particular phone and what type of water exposure it had. The only way to truly know is to try fully drying out your phone for a few days.

You can hide home audio speakers using furniture with cabinets designed to obscure them. If you don't have the right furniture, hide speakers behind large plants, or place them on a recessed shelf with books or trinkets in front of them. Cover your speakers in breathable fabric, such as a decorative tapestry.