I searched but couldn't find this already posted so SIAP.

I have read several articles on this and they all say you should not buy an indoor TV for outdoor patio.

We are wrapping up our backyard pool/patio/yard remodel and the last thing is to buy and mount a TV. Before I buy just wanted to get others perspectives who have already been down this road. Thoughts and suggestions?

Is it going to be under a cover and generally out of the elements? I support the buy cheap/disposable level TVs and replace as necessary.

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I have read several articles on this and they all say you should not buy an indoor TV for outdoor patio.

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I'm pretty sure these articles are funded by the companies that make those expensive outdoor TVs.

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Is it going to be under a cover and generally out of the elements? I support the buy cheap/disposable level TVs and replace as necessary.

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I looked into outdoor TVs when putting one in my gazebo outside. As long as it's not sitting in the rain, an indoor TV will be fine. You can get a 55" TV at Costco for less than $500. This comes with a 2 year warranty. You can add additional 3 years for $35. If within 5 years your TV craps out while outside, bring it indoor and call SquareTrade. They send someone out to your house and will replace it on site.

• $34.99 - SquareTrade 3 Years (For TVs Under $500)
• $64.99 - SquareTrade 3 Years (For TVs: $500 to $1,000)
• $99.99 - SquareTrade 3 Years (For TVs Over $1,000)

I hung an indoor tv under the overhang of my roof and I cover it with a canvas cover, I got off amazon for $30, when not in use. I have had it about 6 months and not had a problem at all with it. Like others said, TVs are cheap enough that if something goes wrong I can easily replace it.

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I looked into outdoor TVs when putting one in my gazebo outside. As long as it's not sitting in the rain, an indoor TV will be fine. You can get a 55" TV at Costco for less than $500. This comes with a 2 year warranty. You can add additional 3 years for $35. If within 5 years your TV craps out while outside, bring it indoor and call SquareTrade. They send someone out to your house and will replace it on site.

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I forgot to say I got a 55" TCL from Costco with an added 3 year warranty (5 years total). I've had it out there for 4 years now without a problem.

siptownAg93 said:

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I searched but couldn't find this already posted so SIAP.

I have read several articles on this and they all say you should not buy an indoor TV for outdoor patio.

We are wrapping up our backyard pool/patio/yard remodel and the last thing is to buy and mount a TV. Before I buy just wanted to get others perspectives who have already been down this road. Thoughts and suggestions?

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I've started a thread over in the Nerdery with some questions as I'm about to start this. (https://texags.com/forums/30/topics/3049907) Curious what you're doing from a wiring perspective? Cable/Satellite out to the TV. Just streaming via wifi?

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I've started a thread over in the Nerdery with some questions as I'm about to start this. (https://texags.com/forums/30/topics/3049907) Curious what you're doing from a wiring perspective? Cable/Satellite out to the TV. Just streaming via wifi?

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With Smart TVs you should not have to hard wire anything but your base unit. Everything else should just stream over WiFi. If you don't have a strong enough internet signal where your TV is outside, buy an extender and stick it inside a window in your house facing the outside TV. Don't go cheap on your extender.

I have found contact cleaner helps out a lot. Spray all the ends of every connector (USB, HDMI, COAX, etc) on every cable and every port on the TV itself. I even sprayed the HDMI connector portion of a Roku stick.

I have been using a super cheap HDMI cable for a while now. I sprayed everything on initial install and hit everything again about once a year.

The ports on the TV that do not have anything plugged can build up with dust and corrosion, Contact cleaner really helps keep it at bay.

I do not know if the contact cleaner has helped extend the life of a cheap Viso or I jam just lucky.

Thank you! All very helpful tips.

It is going above and outdoor fireplace under a full roofed covered patio.

I was mainly concerned about indoor TVs not resisting the elements and not enough backlighting for the brightness of outdoors.

Sounds like the TCL has been good for most on here. Any other make/model suggestions?

Like the others, I've had a cheap 32" under my covered patio for about 3.5 years with no issues. Buy one of the canvas covers from Amazon and make sure to keep it covered up when not in use.

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I forgot to say I got a 55" TCL from Costco with an added 3 year warranty (5 years total).

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this is the jam. plus, if you have xfinity, the app on roku is sweet for not having to worry about running cable out there.

Get a cheap, throwaway TV.

50-inch for $179

It's mind boggling how cheap TVs are these days. Doesn't seem that long ago I plunked down over 3k for a 50 inch 720p. Wish other technology or appliances would trend the same way.

rlb28 said:

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Get a cheap, throwaway TV.

50-inch for $179

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I have the slightly smaller version [edit: 43-inch] of this TV mounted in my garage. For the price, it's a great TV for football games in the fall.

SJEAg said:

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It's mind boggling how cheap TVs are these days. Doesn't seem that long ago I plunked down over 3k for a 50 inch 720p. Wish other technology or appliances would trend the same way.

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Yeh I just picked up a Toshiba 50" 4K UHD amazon fire tv edition for $250, yet I paid $1000 for my 60" Vizio 7 years ago.

I would never spend over about a grand on a tv though.. even back then when tvs were more. $3k is just throwing money away! I'd deal with a smaller screen.

2007 bought a Sony for $1,200 for a 47".

Still have it, solid picture, moved across the country twice. And heavier than a couple cinder-blocks.

Thought about putting it outside but might as well spend $200 on something thinner, lighter, and modern.

Haha...landed up paying a junk company $150 to take my old rear projection. Couldn't move it myself (even with a friend it would have been a nightmare) and couldn't give it away. Freaking new TV is about the same price as disposing my old one.

The covered patio contractor I used for my project exclusively uses "cheap" indoor rated tvs on his projects, unless the TV is going to be exposed to the elements (direct sun, wind blown rain, etc)

siptownAg93 said:

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Thank you! All very helpful tips.

It is going above and outdoor fireplace under a full roofed covered patio.

I was mainly concerned about indoor TVs not resisting the elements and not enough backlighting for the brightness of outdoors.

Sounds like the TCL has been good for most on here. Any other make/model suggestions?

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Is this a wood fired or gas direct vent?

If it's an "old school" wood fireplace, be careful you don't melt some of the components in the TV. You'd be amazed how hot it gets 3' above the fireplace when you've got a big fire going in there.

If it's a gas fireplace, you're probably safe.

It is wood with gas starter but I have a very large beam mantle that should deflect the direct heat. Honestly I probably burn 2-3 times a year but certainly good to keep an eye on. Thanks for the heads up.

Finished our pato almost a year ago and ended up moving our 4 year old "inside" tv (that my daughter tried to clean with a toothbrush and scratched the **** out of, but no matter) outside to our covered patio and it's still going strong.

I have a Roku hooked up (we cut the cord a few years back) and it works great. Agree with the above that whenever it dies I'll go pick up a TCL Roku TV for 3-400 dollars and get another several years out of it.

62strat said:

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SJEAg said:

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It's mind boggling how cheap TVs are these days. Doesn't seem that long ago I plunked down over 3k for a 50 inch 720p. Wish other technology or appliances would trend the same way.

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Yeh I just picked up a Toshiba 50" 4K UHD amazon fire tv edition for $250, yet I paid $1000 for my 60" Vizio 7 years ago.

I would never spend over about a grand on a tv though.. even back then when tvs were more. $3k is just throwing money away! I'd deal with a smaller screen.

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I bought a 57" HDTV (rear projection) in 2003 for $2500. It still works (although DVI input died). We're getting ready to sell our home and won't be taking it with us. I probably won't able to give it away for free.

Got 4 years out of my first one and on year 3 of the second one by buying cheap and hoping for the best

Ok I just bought a 55" TCL 4K Smart TV on amazon for $329. That's just silly. My last 55" Samsung was $2k.

Thanks for the advice Ags.

I know you've already made your decision

But just adding that I'm on year 3 of a 50" Vizio under our patio cover.

caddy said:

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I hung an indoor tv under the overhang of my roof and I cover it with a canvas cover, I got off amazon for $30, when not in use. I have had it about 6 months and not had a problem at all with it. Like others said, TVs are cheap enough that if something goes wrong I can easily replace it.

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I am going to put a tv under the roof overhang also. Is there a mount you would recommend?

I've had a Roku tv on my patio up against the wall under the patio for a few years and haven't had an issue. Just bought a cheap 4K at Best Buy. Bought extended warranty as a precaution but all is going well. It runs my xfinity app just fine over WiFi

SJEAg said:

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Haha...landed up paying a junk company $150 to take my old rear projection. Couldn't move it myself (even with a friend it would have been a nightmare) and couldn't give it away. Freaking new TV is about the same price as disposing my old one.

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I had a 38" tube HD tv from around 2003 that weighed about 100 lbs. The weight wasn't a lot but hard to pick up and move. Had a furniture company take it after they delivered something -- talked them in to it and said they could keep it in their warehouse. The delivery guys might have caught crap about it from their boss but worst case, they just took it to some dumpster bin. Or someone took it home.

SJEAg said:

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Haha...landed up paying a junk company $150 to take my old rear projection. Couldn't move it myself (even with a friend it would have been a nightmare) and couldn't give it away. Freaking new TV is about the same price as disposing my old one.

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We still have our 65" rear projection in our bedroom. I often contemplate trying to get rid of it while it still works v. Trying to haul it off after it finally craps out. Going on 15yrs now.