The Ring Doorbell is a popular option because it adds convenient smart functions and home video monitoring to your front door. But when terrible weather strikes, can this smart device hold its own in the rain? This is a common question that people have when they think of this nifty little device. Since you do use it outdoors, can the Ring get wet? What about other inclement weather?
A Ring Doorbell can handle some rainy weather, even though it’s not necessarily waterproof. The Ring Doorbell is rated as only water and weather-resistant, however, it can handle extreme temperature situations fairly well.
Your Ring can be in some nasty weather situations. When a thunderstorm rolls in or a blizzard blows through, your Ring usually sees the worst of it. For this reason, it needs to handle some water. To learn more about the Ring, and some things you should know about its weather proof-ness, read on!
The Ring Doorbell is Weather Proof
Think about how you use your Ring Video Doorbell (on Amazon). Yes, it needs to handle the extremes of the outdoors, but how often will it be completely submerged? For this reason, the engineers who designed the Ring made it weather-proof, not water-proof. When it comes to these terms, there isn’t an industry standard and things can get confusing quickly as a result. To help gain some clarity, let’s cover the basics of what these terms actually mean.
- Weather-Proof—This usually denotes a device made of material that is somewhat impervious to the effects of inclement weather.
- Water-Proof—Water-proof is an term that signifies the resistance to the ingress of water.
Water-proof can have a rating on the Ingress Protection Rating Scale—or IP Code. Devices carrying an IP Code will have a 0-8 rating, not unlike solar lights which also have to be rated for outdoor use (our explanation of this system). This will let you know how well it keeps out water. Unfortunately, the Ring does not carry such a rating and is merely weather-proof. Weatherproofing helps resist damage that electrical fluctuations and temperature changes could cause, but whether it can take serious amounts of water is a different question.
Your Ring will likely have to deal with inclement weather – there’s no doubt about it. In conditions like rain and snow, the weatherproofing should be more than sufficient to keep the inner electronics safe. There are plenty of environments where waterproofing is necessary. All of this is good news for a simple reason, that being that your ring will likely never be in a situation where it’s fully dipped into water. In other words, your ring will likely never be submerged to the point that ingress water would be an issue.
Engineers at Ring have had to understand this to make their products effective, affordable, and more importantly, reliable over the long term. Water aside, there are other stressful situations your Ring will have to endure. As you may know, extreme weather is more than just water. The team at Ring has developed safety features to keep your video doorbell up and running in almost every scenario. Let’s explore some of these situations.
How Can Rain Affect Your Ring Doorbell?
Whether it’s a downpour or a slight drizzle, your Ring is protected. Since it is weather-proof, it can handle almost any weather situation out there. As we’ve just explored, your Ring is built to last when it comes to extreme weather. But, they are not entirely impervious to water. If you are concerned that water damage could ruin your Ring, you can take some extra precautions. Additionally, there are some other issues you may run into with rain.
This happens when a rainy day causes your camera lens to condensate. This can bring an unwelcome water droplet or two on the inside of your camera. Naturally, this is something you want to avoid. It can prevent you from having an unobstructed camera feed. If you are worried about condensation or just looking for extra precaution, you may want to consider a cover. There are plenty on the market, and most are fairly inexpensive. Here are just a couple to look out for:
- Popmas Ring Doorbell Cover (on Amazon)
- Plastic Rain Cover (on Amazon)
- UHPPOTE Waterproof Rain Cover (on Amazon)
Like we touched on earlier, the Ring Doorbell does not carry an IP rating, so it’s not entirely built for situations where waterproofing would be needed. Explained simply, this means you can’t completely submerge it in water. But, for what purposes we actually use this device for, a little rain shouldn’t cause any damage. Now that we’ve got rain covered, what about other environmental risks like heat? Will the ring be able to take higher temperatures?
What Temperatures is Ring Doorbell Designed For?
Ring recommends you operate your camera in between -5°F to 120°F. That is a pretty large range, but what most people don’t take into account is the heat from the sun. Moreover, in areas with extreme cold -5°F may not cut it. If you are worried about your Ring overheating, there are some strategies to employ. The first thing you’ll want to consider is placement. If your front door gets the brunt of the midday sun, it, unfortunately, might not be a good place for your Ring.
Additionally, the same modification for rain may prove beneficial for extreme heat. The strategy here is to keep the direct sun from constantly bearing down on your video doorbell. Products like the UHPPOTE Rain Cover have the coverage you need to keep out those damaging sun rays. Since it is made of solid black plastic, it has the necessary protection to block excessive heat. When it comes to the cold, there isn’t much you can do to prevent over-exposure.
Fortunately, heat damage is not the same as extreme cold. That is to say: you have a better chance of pushing into the negative temperatures and see no damage. There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that you can push the -5°F rating without too many issues. Another thing to consider is what type of Ring you have. While most Ring doorbells are battery-operated, if you use a Ring Pro (on Amazon), it will be hard-wired. The hard-wired version means you don’t have to deal with overheating batteries.
How does Direct Sunlight Affect the Ring Doorbell?
As we have already explored, excessive heat can cause some damage to your Ring. The one factor that most people don’t take into account is direct sunlight. While weather extremes can bring some excessive heat, being in direct sunlight is undoubtedly the hottest. On a hot summer day, your ring can quickly get up to 120°F+ if in direct sunlight. Another factor to consider is sun damage. Not only does excessive heat cause issues, but the sun can also:
- Cause plastic to discolor
- Make components less reliable
- Materials can crack and warp
If you have ever left anything out in the sun for an extended period of time, you know what kind of damage can happen. This usually occurs over the course of several years, so for some, it’s not a worry. If, however, your Ring is in direct sunlight, you could be shortening the lifespan of your device. This is especially the case if you are in a hot climate and your Ring is in an area without proper shading. Moreover, direct sunlight can cause a less than stellar image.
If your Ring is in direct sun for several hours a day, that may mean that using the video feed function is next to impossible. This is because the sun can cause an obstructive glare on the lens of the camera. Fortunately, for most homes and environments, the Ring will operate just fine. While you should be conscious of sun damage and direct sunlight, for the most part, your Ring should do fine.
What’s the Best Place to Mount Your Ring Doorbell
When it comes to the placement of your Ring, there are certain recommendations. Consider some of the factors mentioned above. Ask yourself whether you need to set it up with an Echo Show (our guide), or whether your Ring will be in direct sunlight or have to face rain and snow regularly.
While all of these things can inform you of the best place to mount your device, in reality, you don’t have too many choices. If you think about where your Ring is supposed to be placed, we all usually come up with the same answer: the front door.
Since this device aims to replace your existing doorbell, it is the preferred placement for most people. The only problem is when your front door is in a less than perfect location. It is true that the Ring can stand up to a lot, but the more extreme the environment, the more toll it takes on the lifespan of the device. Keep this in mind if you live in a place with either extreme cold or heat. You may be able to get some good years out of your device. But, that harsh environment will undoubtedly cause some damage.
Here are some tips for mounting placement: try and find an area with an overhang; this will protect the ring and locate the best shady area near your door. Remember, direct sunlight can damage the device, If you can, find an area that shields the device from the rain. Your ring is weather-proof but not impervious to water damage. You may, or may not, be able to follow these tips.
If you can’t, don’t worry too much. The Ring is a relatively durable and tough product. Even if you can’t find a spot in the shade, you should be able to use your video doorbell just fine for years to come.
Wrapping Up
The team at Ring designed a fairly robust product. With the understanding that it needs to be outside, there are a lot of durability features built-in. This includes weather-proofing. While this may not mean waterproof, it can still withstand a lot. If you are worried your Ring might be in some more hazardous environments, you can always opt for a cover.
When it comes to extreme heat and excessive cold, the Ring can hold its own. There are certain situations where some damage can happen, but it’s not a worry for most of us. As long as you keep things like direct sunlight in mind, you should expect plenty of years of use from your Ring.